Worth retaking the GRE? (Waitlisted -- Suspecting due to low GRE score)

[myoranges]

Hey everyone,

 

Recently, I was told that I was wait-listed at one of the schools, and I would really like to improve my chance of getting in (I have a complicated story behind, but I even have a chance to visit the campus and interact with the admissions committee even though I am on the wait-list). I have re-looked at my application, and I am suspecting it's due to my low GRE score. I am applying to an engineering systems program, but it has a very strong policy component in it, and for that matter I started thinking that my verbal score might play a role.

 

I took it two times, and I received 154V(62%)/167Q(98%)/4.5W and 152V(53%)/170Q(98%)/5.5W. So I am suspecting it might be due to my even lower verbal score on the second test.

 

I am working full-time at the moment, but I think I will be able to take the test in three weeks. Any suggestions would be highly appreciated!

 

Thank you and best of luck to all of you as well!

Edited March 9, 2014 by myoranges

[VioletAyame]

Have you been in contact with anyone at the program (for example your POIs, the DGS, the Grad Coordinator)? You may politely ask them if there's a chance to improve your chance on the waitlist and clarify 1. How does the waitlist work and how many students (percentage) usually get in per year, and 2. Is there anything you can do this late in the process. I'm not familiar with your field but I don't think they will allow you to resubmit your GRE score as that wouldn't be fair to other students and I suspect they would care that much about your Verbal score being in Engineering and all (your AWA score is very high though!). So in summary, I don't think you will be allowed to send another set of score and it wouldn't matter anyway. But if you insist, check with them and see what they say - they may be able to point out something you can do and it might be entirely different from what you think! Certainly don't register for the test and was your time and money before checking though.