Should I retest?

[+Whiskey]

I'm planning to apply to PhD programs this fall (mostly social, but a few others with ongoing research that matches my interests). I just took the general GRE and my quantitative score is not very impressive: 154 (690 old, 60th &ile). My verbal score was much better, a 168, and I think I did well in a.w. I also did well on the subject test, scoring 800. My first question is: Aren't quantitative scores weighed heavily in research oriented psych programs, like the ones I'm applying to? Of the schools on my list that disclose mean/media quant scores specifically, it looks like 750 is the target, with the verbal scores being much lower. Is my only low score the one that matters most in admissions decisions?

I know I don't have terrible scores or anything, but I was hoping for stellar GRE scores across the board because I had a disastrous freshman year and my cumulative GPA is only about a 3.4. My psychology GPA and my GPA for the last 60 hours are both 3.9. I have almost two years of research experience, including two projects that I led from initial idea through final analysis, and I'm currently working on my honors thesis. However, no one has heard of my undergraduate institution and I definitely won't have famous names on my letters of recommendation. I have presented my research a couple of times at small conferences, but I have no publications or anything else that will really stand out. Sooo....

Do I need to retake the GRE and improve my quant score to be a competitive applicant?

[Quant_Liz_Lemon]

If I were you, I would. Quant is pretty easy to prep for if you give yourself enough time.

[DarwinAG]

If you think two months of focused studying will improve your score, absolutely do it. I am in the same boat as you in terms of GPA and research experience.