Does a good General GRE score help at all?

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In the discussion about applying to graduate school in physics, particularly for Astrophysics and cosmology, it is emphasized that the GRE subject test score is significantly more important than the general GRE scores. A good general GRE score may not positively impact the application, while a lower score could be detrimental. The verbal GRE score is generally deemed less relevant, especially since many applicants achieve high scores. The consensus suggests that focusing on improving the physics GRE score is crucial for enhancing admission chances. Concerns about potential rejection and the need to retake the GRE physics exam are also raised, highlighting the competitive nature of the field.
Matterwave
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So, I'm applying to graduate school in physics, and my GRE physics score wasn't ideal (not a complete failure, but not ideal), anyways would a good general GRE score help counteract that at all? Or will physics schools only look for good Physics scores and generally not care about the verbal GRE score (I know they do care about the Quant)?

Also, I'm applying to specialize in Astrophysics/cosmology, is that a relatively rare field and will that also help my chances?

I ponder this because I would like to know if I have a high chance of being rejected from the schools I am applying to and would therefore have to take the GRE physics again to apply next year...which means I need to get studying soon >_>
 
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No one really cares about your general GRE score. If it's too low, it might hurt, but a great score really won't really help. The subject GRE is much more important.

P.S. - If anything, I'd say the verbal is more important than the quantitative, if only because virtually everyone going to graduate school in the sciences and engineering has very close to 800... there is no useful information in that score for the majority of applicants.
 
Well, I did pretty well on both so i was hoping it'd help my application a bit heh...
 
TMFKAN64 said:
No one really cares about your general GRE score. If it's too low, it might hurt, but a great score really won't really help. The subject GRE is much more important.

P.S. - If anything, I'd say the verbal is more important than the quantitative, if only because virtually everyone going to graduate school in the sciences and engineering has very close to 800... there is no useful information in that score for the majority of applicants.

Verbal does not matter. I got in with 670, many people from foreign countries get in with much less.
 
Well, guess I better get to studying hehe
 
hamster143 said:
Verbal does not matter. I got in with 670, many people from foreign countries get in with much less.

Doesn't a 670 verbal correspond to a percentile in the 90's?
 

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