Recommended but not required
Posted: Sat Mar 26, 2011 3:30 am
First let me say that I searched the forum and I found only one post on this, which wasn't answered. Now to the context....
I'm a domestic planning on taking the PGRE this fall, as about half of the programs I plan to apply to require it. However most of the others either say it is recommended but not required, or don't even mention it (I know they don't require it). For these schools that state it is optional, from whatever knowledge you might have, would it make a difference either way? I mean if I take it and bomb, will they assume that's the reason I didn't send it? Obviously if I nail it I'll send it in, but if not I won't. I'm just worried that "optional" or "recommended" is code for "It's not required, but, if you don't send in a PGRE score your chances will go way down". I'm have a decent app I would say, not exceptional compared to the profiles here. I started out badly, and have a very very ugly early transcript (3.2~3.4 CGPA because of it), but have a Major gpa of ~3.6, and a upper div gpa of 3.91 (3.85 if you count it out of the the last 60 creds). I also have decent research experience I think, especially considering the tiny unknown program I’m in. I don't have a chance at top uni's which is fine with me, all the schools and profs I like, that are doing research I like are ranked from 40 to 110+. So at that level, would it really matter if I don't send in a score?
Thanks everybody, and sorry if this breaks some rule around here. I've tried not to make it into one of those questions people just post links to, but I'm still new here so I might have missed something.
~Outkast~
I'm a domestic planning on taking the PGRE this fall, as about half of the programs I plan to apply to require it. However most of the others either say it is recommended but not required, or don't even mention it (I know they don't require it). For these schools that state it is optional, from whatever knowledge you might have, would it make a difference either way? I mean if I take it and bomb, will they assume that's the reason I didn't send it? Obviously if I nail it I'll send it in, but if not I won't. I'm just worried that "optional" or "recommended" is code for "It's not required, but, if you don't send in a PGRE score your chances will go way down". I'm have a decent app I would say, not exceptional compared to the profiles here. I started out badly, and have a very very ugly early transcript (3.2~3.4 CGPA because of it), but have a Major gpa of ~3.6, and a upper div gpa of 3.91 (3.85 if you count it out of the the last 60 creds). I also have decent research experience I think, especially considering the tiny unknown program I’m in. I don't have a chance at top uni's which is fine with me, all the schools and profs I like, that are doing research I like are ranked from 40 to 110+. So at that level, would it really matter if I don't send in a score?
Thanks everybody, and sorry if this breaks some rule around here. I've tried not to make it into one of those questions people just post links to, but I'm still new here so I might have missed something.
~Outkast~