GRE: how bad is it really?

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Hello all --- :)

So I am taking the GRE Nov 20th for admissions to a MSN program! I hear its a lot like the SATs and I had to do a lot of review classes for that...so my question is, how bad are they really ? Anyone not so good at math and still do okay? I have the McGraw Hill review book and so far so good with that...just looking for someone who's been through it! Thanks in advance ;) :)

Specializes in Mental Health.

69th percentile for quantitative is nothing to scoff at.

http://www.ets.org/s/gre/pdf/concordance_information.pdf

That's a 730 using the old scale. Actually a very good score! The percentile ranks for Quant are really screwed up due to how easy the section is for STEM majors. Just look at the percentiles vs. Verbal. I think scoring above 600 on each section is competitive

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Well, my verbal percentile was 91st and my AWA was 93rd, so hopefully my overall score will be enough to overshadow my less-than-stellar grades from my first few years of undergrad.

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Specializes in Mental Health.
Well, my verbal percentile was 91st and my AWA was 93rd, so hopefully my overall score will be enough to overshadow my less-than-stellar grades from my first few years of undergrad.

Sounds like you did very well on the GREs. I had a similar score and also have bad grades from first few years of undergrad. I am applying this year but not very worried. As I told someone else here, last year I applied for fully funded clinical psych PhD programs which are much more competitive than MSN programs. I received 3 interviews (which is very hard to do) but then realized that I want to pursue Psych NP instead. My first 2 years of undergrad has a GPA of 2.4.. but my GPA since then, including post-bac coursework, is 3.8... and like you I did very well on the GREs. So really you shouldn't worry. As long as your last 2 years of undergrad (and your pre-reqs) has a high GPA, you should be all set. Just write a stellar personal statement and get good letters of rec.

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My last 60 hours' GPA is 3.5, and I've worked full-time the whole time (and had a kid a year ago, phew!), and I think my personal statement was pretty rockin'. Hopefully that'll be enough!

What programs are you applying to?

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Specializes in Mental Health.

Awesome. I am applying for Psych NP direct entry programs since I already have a Bachelors. Boston College, Vanderbilt, Yale, MGH, and Seattle. How about you?

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I'm applying to UIC's MSN program in Midwifery/WHNP, and UAB's MSN in WHNP. I'm considering applying to Drexel, but I'm not sure yet.

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I thought the GRE was pretty easy, as long as you devote some regular time to studying for it. I think I studied for 3 months or so? The most annoying thing was writing practice essays, ugh. The key thing to do is to regularly study! And vocab flashcards helped a ton!

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