Good score but ran out of time on quant - should I retake?

[gellert]

I just took the GRE this afternoon and got a pretty decent score of 1370 (710V, 660Q) but I'm wondering if I ought to retake it.

Before you reassure me that my GRE score is perfectly fine, let me add the note that I actually ran out of time on the quant. I had five minutes left to answer ten questions, so the past seven I just answered randomly. Didn't even read the question, just clicked an answer.

I'm already signed up to take it again on the 19th so I've already paid the money anyway (I was worried I'd bomb the first time). I'd love to bring my quant score up in particular. I was making 1420-1580 on all my practice tests, so I do feel like this score isn't up to my personal best given that I ran out of time. (Plus I'd only been studying for three weeks, so I feel I could improve with another two and a half.)

However, it is above cutoffs for all the schools to which I'm applying. I know it's definitely not going to keep me out of anywhere, but if I'm capable of making a score that would make it easier for me to get fellowships, I'd like to.

So tl;dr my score is fine, but I ran out of time so I know I can do better. Also, a 660Q is low for the programs I'm apping (clinical psychology Ph.D.). Plus I want money.

Thoughts? (For reference: GPA 3.7 from a top public school, 4 years excellent research experience and LORs, honors thesis, etc.)

Thanks in advance.

Edited June 30, 2011 by gellert

[lyonessrampant]

If you really think you can do better, are already signed up, have already paid the money, and want to be more competitive for fellowships, sure, take it again. If you think your score might go down, don't. Schools take a total GRE, not the best you do on multiple tests, so if your verbal goes down and quant goes up, they take the total test with the lower verbal and higher quant, if that's the one you self-report on your apps.

[gellert]

I'm pretty sure it depends on the school as far as which score they accept (highest, most recent, combination, average of multiple scores), but your point still stands.

I really can't decide. One of my PIs says my score is above cutoffs so it doesn't matter, and another says that since seeing two scores in the 700s has a positive psychological effect on adcomms, it would behoove me to take it again. I might take a few timed practice tests and see how my quant score does. If I can figure out how to pace myself, I figure as long as I don't get overly anxious on the second go, it couldn't hurt.

[paradigm]

Gellert,

We have similar conundrums. In your case, I'd probably go for it, if you feel very strongly like you will do better. It sounds as though your scores on practice exams were much higher than the score you received on the GRE. Have you been studying diligently since the last GRE? If you have, and feel really sharp right now with respect to your preparation, I'd probably retake it. I don't know that randomly guessing on the last few questions in your verbal section affected your score as much as you might think, because getting questions wrong late in a section has far less effect on your score than getting questions wrong early in a section. So that is also something to think about.

Best of luck to you, and thanks for weighing in on my post earlier.