StephenByer

dibsv As mentioned here, the AWA is one component of your application. You can see if schools disclose the scores of their entering classes, and see how that corresponds to what they state they're looking for. I think it's entirely appropriate for you to apply, assuming your other application elements are in place. A 4.0 isn't an egregiously low score in of itself - by your information, it's literally an average score, percentile-wise. It might be lower than they're looking for, and they would probably scrutinize other elements of your application to see if there's any other warning signs. It will not be the only writing you submit to them, and if you shine there, it will reflect far more favorably on you. An alternative is retaking the test and shooting for better scores everywhere, writing section included. Depends on your financial/availability constraints to do so. If you have great scores otherwise, I would say don't worry. I hope this helps. Stephen Byer http://www.byertutoring.com

This is ambiguously worded, and seems like it came from a resource other than the people who make the GRE. Theoretically, every single farmer with a horse could also have a cow, so the answer could be 30% of all of the farmers. It could also be fewer than the 30% of those farmers. Had the question asked something like, what's the greatest number or smallest number, it might be more clear. I hope this helps. Stephen Byer

Hainam, For reference, the Issue scoring criteria may be found here: https://www.ets.org/gre/revised_general/prepare/analytical_writing/issue/scoring_guide From these criteria, I would argue that your essay would receive a score of 3.0 or 3.5. Distinguishing between a 3 and a 4, your essay does have a clear position, but it is "limited...in presenting or developing a position on the issue..." Your examples of Apple or Microsoft speak to their potential to help others based on their size, but using a corporate reference would be more effective if you had a specific example, or gave a specific hypothetical. For instance, something like, "While Starbucks is a multinational corporation worth billions, they have built their brand on providing benefits to stakeholders who would otherwise go without. The company offers health insurance and tuition reimbursement to almost every person they employ, and every individual store has a budget to help promote connections with local organizations. The CEO, at a shareholder meeting, proclaimed that they were committed to creating an inclusive atmosphere for LGBT employees, even if that meant some customers would choose not to patronize the business; he even told a shareholder to sell off his shares if they disagreed with that view! It may be possible that Starbucks is leaving money on the table by shifting its focus so far away from the business of running a cafe; it is also possible their executives have recognized that these non-business values actually increase profitability." Then, there are "problems in language and sentence structure," and "occasional major errors," that pop up. In this "five paragraph essay," your final body paragraph is literally two sentences, one of which essentially restates your thesis in an alternative fashon. A strategy that has been helpful for students that I've tutored is the following (abbreviated): Shoot for a four-paragraph essay: Intro, two body paragraphs, conclusion. In your intro and body paragraphs, you will take a strong position while simultaneously acknowledging that there are limits to this view, and elaborating on this. Your body paragraphs will have two strong points in favor of your position. So for instance, in this essay, you can agree that corporations have a responsibility to all stakeholders for two reasons: 1. This responsibility actually ends up increasing shareholder value (see SBUX example). 2. Businesses are recipients of many public goods and infrastructure, such as well-maintained roads, utilities, public safety, and an educated populace from the local school system. They have an obligation to reciprocate by not only providing good jobs for the community, but to support the community itself via taxes and outreach. Both of these reasons are very "meaty," and can allow for disagreement. Fully developed positions and insight are inherent qualities of top-scoring essays. It is very challenging to showcase these qualities if you "completely agree" with an argument. The most effective arguments are those which proactively raise concerns/disagreements, and then effectively respond to them. I hope you found this helpful. Stephen Byer

The writing score does not affect the composite; it's an optional, but recommended score that's separate from the four main sections. Your composite will be the average of your scores in each of the four main sections. Hope this helps, - Stephen Byer

A Ph.D program in psych is one of the most intensive ones out there, bar none. You're basically devoting a minimum of 4-5 years of your life to not only classes, but essentially becoming an expert on a topic above and beyond anyone else. For business, if you're talking about something like becoming an expert in, say, management styles, that's one thing. But you can't do something like become an expert on eating disorders and expect to take that into business. I would argue that having an MBA with some kind of certificates or continuing education in psychology would show a broader appeal without devoting a chunk of your life to something without