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doubtful · 01-02-2008, 04:17 PM

Hey Guys,

just got my complete score for the GRE...
I was a little bit depressed when I took it on mid-december that I booked for another shot in less than one week.

I am applying to Phd in Finance/Fin.Econ/Econ, top 40 schools in Finance, top20 schools in Econ.

I got the score as I said and the percentiles are much better than expected, so apparently I got a "difficult" test on that day.. so now I am really concerned whether or not to take the risk for next week. I think that performing worse would be a very bad signal..

so I got:

Q: 780 89%
V: 580 81%
AW 4.5 54%

The problem is that I did not have enough time to study during the holidays, so I am not so sure I could do much better in the Verbal part, while improving the Q and the AW could be slightly easier...

please suggest a strategy... (what happens if I do not show up? I guess it is too late to cancel the appointment to get any refund)

Ancalagon The Black · 01-02-2008, 05:28 PM

No, if it is next week, then you can easily get a refund methinks. Also, the percentiles differ with respect to time... my friend got 97% in may 2007 whilst getting 790, I got 88% in october 2007 whilst getting 770 ... this is because in fall, a large number of students take the gre and this pushes the percentiles down.

However, I doubt whether adcoms look at these details that well. IMHO, 760+ (Berkeley standards) is good enough as long as you have research and your grades in maths / econ prove you otherwise. Having good LORs from respected academics is good (something which most international students don't have)

Published research will tip the scales in your favor.

doubtful · 01-02-2008, 07:52 PM

hi Ancalagon.. you should remember my profile.. and all the times I have given my suggestion foryour case ehehehe and remember my wish is to meet next fall in Boston

research, SOP and LOR shouldn't be a problem as they consider a guy 29yo with papers, talks at mit and cmu, even though I have been out of finance for 3 years..

btw... so what happens if I don't show up?

about the percentiles... they really care, to compare people that have a GRE done in different places, times..

Ancalagon The Black · 01-03-2008, 05:09 AM

Well, you can cancel the test online and get a refund before a certain date... Have you already sent out your GRE scores? You could do that now and then take the test next week, if the results are bad then you dont have to do anything as they will not show up on your gre score reports but if they are good, then you could send them again... thats double expense but a decent strategy.

And yes, we should meet next fall ... what say in harvard square having dessert in finale?

Oldman · 01-03-2008, 06:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ancalagon The Black

No, if it is next week, then you can easily get a refund methinks. Also, the percentiles differ with respect to time... my friend got 97% in may 2007 whilst getting 790, I got 88% in october 2007 whilst getting 770 ... this is because in fall, a large number of students take the gre and this pushes the percentiles down.

Are you sure about this? Per Kaplan, ETS using averages over a three year period.

Ancalagon The Black · 01-03-2008, 06:17 AM

Dead sure...

Ancalagon The Black · 01-03-2008, 06:17 AM

the percentile in october for 800 was 94% and now it will be 92 or 91%...

Oldman · 01-04-2008, 06:21 AM

This is from Kaplan...

A final note about percentile rank: The sample population that you are compared against in order to determine your percentile is not everyone else who takes the test the same day as you do. ETS doesn't want to penalize an unlucky candidate who takes the GRE on a date when everyone else happens to be a rocket scientist. So they compare your performance with those of a random three-year population of recent GRE test takers. Your score will not in any way be affected by the other people who take the exam on the same day as you. We often tell our students, "Your only competition in this classroom is yourself."

Ancalagon The Black · 01-04-2008, 06:32 AM

I know that but the facts suggest otherwise, ask GRE takers who got 800 in October and who 800 in say April-May 2007... there will be a difference...

Oldman · 01-04-2008, 03:56 PM

Ok, thanks for clarifying. So, to take it before the fall? Thanks.

01-02-2008, 04:17 PM	#1 (permalink)
doubtful Within my grasp! Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 406	super advice... pliz!! (GRE) Hey Guys, just got my complete score for the GRE... I was a little bit depressed when I took it on mid-december that I booked for another shot in less than one week. I am applying to Phd in Finance/Fin.Econ/Econ, top 40 schools in Finance, top20 schools in Econ. I got the score as I said and the percentiles are much better than expected, so apparently I got a "difficult" test on that day.. so now I am really concerned whether or not to take the risk for next week. I think that performing worse would be a very bad signal.. so I got: Q: 780 89% V: 580 81% AW 4.5 54% The problem is that I did not have enough time to study during the holidays, so I am not so sure I could do much better in the Verbal part, while improving the Q and the AW could be slightly easier... please suggest a strategy... (what happens if I do not show up? I guess it is too late to cancel the appointment to get any refund)

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01-02-2008, 05:28 PM	#2 (permalink)
Ancalagon The Black TestMagic Guru-in-Training Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Kolkata, India Posts: 971	No, if it is next week, then you can easily get a refund methinks. Also, the percentiles differ with respect to time... my friend got 97% in may 2007 whilst getting 790, I got 88% in october 2007 whilst getting 770 ... this is because in fall, a large number of students take the gre and this pushes the percentiles down. However, I doubt whether adcoms look at these details that well. IMHO, 760+ (Berkeley standards) is good enough as long as you have research and your grades in maths / econ prove you otherwise. Having good LORs from respected academics is good (something which most international students don't have) Published research will tip the scales in your favor.

01-02-2008, 07:52 PM	#3 (permalink)
doubtful Within my grasp! Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 406	hi Ancalagon.. you should remember my profile.. and all the times I have given my suggestion foryour case ehehehe and remember my wish is to meet next fall in Boston research, SOP and LOR shouldn't be a problem as they consider a guy 29yo with papers, talks at mit and cmu, even though I have been out of finance for 3 years.. btw... so what happens if I don't show up? about the percentiles... they really care, to compare people that have a GRE done in different places, times..

01-03-2008, 05:09 AM	#4 (permalink)
Ancalagon The Black TestMagic Guru-in-Training Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Kolkata, India Posts: 971	Well, you can cancel the test online and get a refund before a certain date... Have you already sent out your GRE scores? You could do that now and then take the test next week, if the results are bad then you dont have to do anything as they will not show up on your gre score reports but if they are good, then you could send them again... thats double expense but a decent strategy. And yes, we should meet next fall ... what say in harvard square having dessert in finale?

01-03-2008, 06:17 AM	#6 (permalink)
Ancalagon The Black TestMagic Guru-in-Training Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Kolkata, India Posts: 971	Dead sure...

01-03-2008, 06:17 AM	#7 (permalink)
Ancalagon The Black TestMagic Guru-in-Training Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Kolkata, India Posts: 971	the percentile in october for 800 was 94% and now it will be 92 or 91%...

01-04-2008, 06:21 AM	#8 (permalink)
Oldman Within my grasp! Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 242	This is from Kaplan... A final note about percentile rank: The sample population that you are compared against in order to determine your percentile is not everyone else who takes the test the same day as you do. ETS doesn't want to penalize an unlucky candidate who takes the GRE on a date when everyone else happens to be a rocket scientist. So they compare your performance with those of a random three-year population of recent GRE test takers. Your score will not in any way be affected by the other people who take the exam on the same day as you. We often tell our students, "Your only competition in this classroom is yourself."

01-04-2008, 06:32 AM	#9 (permalink)
Ancalagon The Black TestMagic Guru-in-Training Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Kolkata, India Posts: 971	I know that but the facts suggest otherwise, ask GRE takers who got 800 in October and who 800 in say April-May 2007... there will be a difference...

01-04-2008, 03:56 PM	#10 (permalink)
Oldman Within my grasp! Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 242	Ok, thanks for clarifying. So, to take it before the fall? Thanks.

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