Is my GRE score bad?

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!

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!

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.

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!

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

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

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

Thanks to everyone for your comments and suggestions!!!