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Bad analytical writing international student

Posted: Wed Oct 21, 2015 3:55 am
by dianav91
Hi all,
I am from Costa Rica and I got a low score in the writing section of the general gre and I wish to know how bad is it for my application. My test scores are:
PGRE: 830 76%
General Gre:
-Quantitative: 163 86%
-Verbal: 161 87%
-AW: 3.5 38%
TOEFL: 111, 25/30 in the writing section.

I double majored in physics and electrical engeneering, and graduated with honors from both with 9.01/10 and 9.18/10 respectively.
I did research since my second year in undergrad, and have 2 papers in EE and will have 1 more in physics by the end of the year.
I think I have great recommendation letters,
I'm planning to apply to some top schools like stanford. I wish to do experimental condensed matter.

Re: Bad analytical writing international student

Posted: Wed Oct 21, 2015 4:40 pm
by Catria
I think AW is too disconnected from the writing to be done in a physics PhD program for it to be of any use; the only real usage of general GRE scores is, beyond university-mandated thresholds, for determining who will get internal fellowships...

Re: Bad analytical writing international student

Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2015 10:45 am
by dianav91
Thanks for replying!
I have an update: I took the exam again and got the following:
Q 161 80%
V 159 81%
A.W 4 56%
I was doing really well on Q and then froze in one of the sections, left 4 blanck :cry:

Before I got :
Q 163 86%
V 161 87%
A.W 3.5 38%

TOEFL iBT: 111
W: 25
S: 27
L: 30
R: 29


Which one do you think I should send? Or should I send them both?