Is my GRE score bad?

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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I just took the GRE today and got a 480 on the Quantitative section and a 490 on the Verbal. The school that I have to submit this score to (because I don't have time to take it again before the deadline) says their students usually score between 500 - 700. I wonder if my score is going to rule my application out all together.

I am applying to several other schools that require the GRE and I did not submit this score to them (just in case I did REALLY bad)...I really don't WANT to take it again, but should I?

Any of you out there in graduate nursing programs? What did you get on the GRE? Anyone out there take the GRE and have a sense of what an acceptable score is? I checked on the ETS website and it says that majors in the Life Sciences area (not sure if this exactly includes Nursing) scored around 570 on average for the Quantitative section. Does that mean I totally bombed? I've got other things going for me on my application, but I'm just wondering: how detrimental is this exam?

Thanks for any insight!! :redpinkhe

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Specializes in ICU / PCU / Telemetry / Oncology.

I have to take the GRE in a couple of months for at least one of my accelerated BSN programs. I was told that getting at least 500 on each of the verbal and quant sections would make one a competitive candidate. However, most schools take everything else in your application into consideration. I would hate to think that there are schools out there that would automatically reject you due to your score (and besides, why would you want to go to a school that would do that anyway? If that were the case, imagine what classes there would be like) ...

Do you have a strong GPA? Strong recommendations? Strong personal statement? These will also be in your favor, they must be actually if your GRE score is something that does not reflect your otherwise good profile. Your scores are close to the minimum anyway ... I would recommend calling the school(s) and asking them straightforwardly whether your score will be an automatic cut-off as an applicant and whether you should retest. There is no harm in doing that, because that will save you the trouble of applying if they say yes it is a cut-off. And if you're afraid that calling about that in the first place would be a detriment to your application, don't be. You won't have been the first or the last person to have asked them about that!

Good luck!

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Specializes in GYN/GON/Med-Surg/Oncology/Tele.

I agree with Paco386, a 1000 from what I've heard is an average score and what most consider a competitive starting point.

Good luck!

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Specializes in Urgent Care NP, Emergency Nursing, Camp Nursing.

My school has a 1000 composite as a stated minimum for acceptance. You might have a shot if your GPA is awesome, maybe, but I wouldn't count on it - there's been an upsurge in applications as people head back to school during the down economy and standard quantifiers like the GRE are easy ways for admissions committees to quickly whittle down the pile to something managable.

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Specializes in Postpartum / Mother-Baby.

I am curious about this as well... I just took the GRE and got 600 verbal and 580 quantitative... still working on pre-reqs but I have a 4.0 in Anatomy, Physio and Micro so far. Any feedback/suggestions? I haven't decided between ASBN or Direct-Entry MSNs either, the programs are all so different, but I do know that I'd like to be a FNP eventually. Any input would be appreciated!

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CaliGirl, if you're sure you want to be an FNP you should definitely do entry masters over bachelors, especially with good GRE scores, GPA etc. UCSF and calstate Long Beach both have direct BA/BS to NP programs you should look in to. Im applying to both. Good luck!.

Dylan

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Specializes in Postpartum / Mother-Baby.

Interesting, I hadn't looked into LB... thank you!!

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I say just submit and see. You never know how heavy they use the GRE score compared to the rest of your application.

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Thanks to everyone for your comments and suggestions!!!

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