Should I retake the GRE?

[renrx]

I am applying for the 2022 fall admissions cycle at SIPA, MSFS , SAIS. Narrowing down a few more schools but I think those are my "reach" schools. 

Last year, I took it basically blind. A little bit of studying but nothing serious, and was not in the right mindset bc of covid.

V: 158 Q: 158 W: 3 

I'm a few years out of undergrad. I had a 3.9 gpa, research and internship experience,  have won a few national awards including a Fulbright and Boren. I also saw that the GRE would not be required, but "recommended" at some of the schools. I know I can do a better job, but I am hesitant to spend the fee again. Is it worth retaking it? Would not sending in my GRE hurt my application? 

Edited August 7, 2021 by renrx

[GradSchoolGrad]

On 8/7/2021 at 11:09 AM, renrx said:

I am applying for the 2022 fall admissions cycle at SIPA, MSFS , SAIS. Narrowing down a few more schools but I think those are my "reach" schools. 

Last year, I took it basically blind. A little bit of studying but nothing serious, and was not in the right mindset bc of covid.

V: 158 Q: 158 W: 3 

I'm a few years out of undergrad. I had a 3.9 gpa, research and internship experience,  have won a few national awards including a Fulbright and Boren. I also saw that the GRE would not be required, but "recommended" at some of the schools. I know I can do a better job, but I am hesitant to spend the fee again. Is it worth retaking it? Would not sending in my GRE hurt my application? 

So your real question is if you want to get scholarship or not. You are less likely to get scholarship money without submitting a GRE school (although it is possible depending on how competitive the applicant pool is). I doubt you'll have trouble getting in. 

I'm also assuming that you have sufficient quant in your undergraduate career.