Should I retake the GRE

[diakyasmine]

Hey,

I just took the GRE, and I got scores of 151 on the Q section, and 147 on the V section. My GPA is fair. I am applying to GWU for a Master in Accounting, and I am an international student. Do you think I should retake the GRE? Help please

[emmm]

I do not know what averages are for the programs you are applying for, but competition often seems tougher for international students, so those scores could be on the low side. Especially when combined with a less-than-impressive GPA. Is there any way you can find out what typical scores for admission to your program are?

[TheFez]

I am guessing you already know the answer... Yes.

151Q is about 56% percentile, which at a competitive school, in a highly quantitative field, is not very good.

Besides, you must have plenty of time to retake - so other than the test fee - is there a downside? Do you feel the score is an accurate reflection of your ability?

[chrismagoosh]

emmm is right: the international student pool is a very competitive one. While your verbal score is decent, your quant score is a little on the low side (esp. if you are applying for a Masters in Accounting). So definitely retake. And don't despair - I've seen students improve drastically on quant based both on the material they use and the time they put into studying. I would aim for a 160Q. Bump that Verbal up to 150 and you are suddenly a much more competitive candidate .