Lousy AWA score, what to do?

[Paints22fast]

I've always been a good writer so I prepped hard for the V and Q, but then didn't work much on preparation for the writing. I got 168V and 164Q, and was really happy until the writing score came back, it was 2.5!!!! I'm sqeezing in a retake in a few days. I read that GRE will superscore, is this a good idea? Should I send both scores, assuming that I bring up the writing? I'm hoping that the V and Q don't go down, but who knows?

Edited November 28, 2014 by Paints22fast

[perpetuavix]

A lot of schools don't use the writing score, especially if you're sending in a writing sample. Some of them explicitly say this, but another way to check is to see if the department reports the AWA scores for accepted/incoming students. If they don't, it probably doesn't really matter. 

If you really want to take the GRE again, you can probably bring up your AWA score, but make sure you take the test AT LEAST 4 weeks before your applications are due. I don't trust the ETS to send out score reports in a timely manner, but maybe you do. 

[grad_wannabe]

>I got 168V and 164Q

 

This is a great score on the two sections that they actually care about, and seeing you're not applying for humanities or writing-based programs, I wouldn't bother retaking at all. 

[Paints22fast]

Thanks very much for the responses, and you may well be right about not needing to take the test again, but I'm truly mortified and paranoid about my score. I'm applying to top programs and don't want to give them any reason to weed out my application, I've read that a score less than 3.5 sends up red flags. I'll be taking it again on Dec 4th, so it'll be 4 weeks before most apps are due. 

 

I've already registered for the test so there's no going back now. Has anybody used the super score option for the GRE? 

Edited November 29, 2014 by Paints22fast