AboutJay Cutts Expertise Preparation for LSAT, GRE, MCAT, GMAT. Personal statements, letters of recommendation, graduate application process, practice tests.
No Questions about Undergrad Admissions Please (unless you are planning to go to law, business, medical or grad school eventually).
Note that I change private questions to public so they are available to others. If you have something that is truly private, let me know.
Experience Over 18 years full time graduate entrance exam prep with over 1500 students nationally and internationally.
Education/Credentials BA, Linguistics with Honors and Distinction, University of Michigan
MA, Special Education with an Emphasis in Learning Disabilities and Giftedness, with Honors, University of New Mexico
Question QUESTION: Hello, I'm in the process of applying to graduate school. My overall GPA in undergrad is 3.57, however, I scored very low on the GRE. I would like to know if the admission's committees look at the other materials, such as statement of purpose and GPA over my poor GRE score? Also, I should state that I have already taken it two times, could one more time help? Or should start to create a back up plan just in case I am not accepted into any graduate school programs?
Thank you for your help.
Vanesa
ANSWER: Hi, Vanessa.
You didn't say what your graduate field is, which can make some difference. You also didn't say what your GRE scores actually were.
In general the committees do look at the personal statement. However, the GPA and GRE score are usually the first barriers. If those are too low, they will not look further.
The balance of those factors varies from program to program. If you let me know what field and what your scores were, I can be a bit more specific.
It is possible to improve significantly on the GRE. I have been helping students do that for 18 years. If you have already worked on it on your own, you probably need some expert instruction to learn new strategies and new insights into the test.
Most commercial GRE prep programs are not terribly effective because the instructors usually have only a season or so of very part time experience teaching it, if that much. Although they did well on the test, they don't understand many of the underlying patterns of it, the specific strategies that a person who is not doing well needs to learn, or the tools for helping someone learn those strategies.
For more info on improving on the GRE, please see my site:
I have to add that it can take a good bit of time to make significant improvement on the test. It doesn't happen overnight. I've had some students make improvement in a month. Some have made very significant improvement in two months. Many people need longer than that.
Feel free to contact me directly about your plans and I'll see if I can make some suggestions for you.
Best,
Jay Cutts
Cutts Graduate Reviews
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Thank you for your speedy response. I am a little ashamed of my GRE scores. Together, I made just around 800. The program I would like to study is African American Literature and I would ultimately like to go on to get my Ph.D..
Answer Hi, Vanessa.
Ok. Thank you. This helps. I wish I knew how the 800 broke down between the two. I know it can be embarrassing.
For a literature program they are unlikely to be too concerned about the math score. You can always call and ask them if they look at it at all, if there is a minimum they need, etc.
The Verbal score, however, should probably be a bare minimum of 500 and better in the high 500's. I assume the current program is a masters. The PhD program might need scores in the 600's.
There is a lot you can learn about the verbal section in order to improve. It's a little slower than improving on the math but it's not unrealistic to improve 100 points or more.
If you'd like to call me, I'd be glad to go over this with you, talk about what you're facing and what your options are. You can call day or evening at 800-353-4898. I'm here now.
