Current History Major: Should I retake the GRE?

[C&C]

• I'm a current history major with a 3.73 GPA.
• I've taken plenty of 400 level classes.
• I've worked as an undergraduate "TA."
• I've been inducted to Phi Alpha Theta.
• I'm writing an honors thesis.

 

I took the GRE a few weeks ago, and as I left the test center I was feeling pretty good about my 163V and 147Q. (I'm beyond pitiful at math.) However, yesterday I finally received my AW score of 4.0, and I was devastated. I had a meltdown. I KNOW I'm a good writer, and not having a 4.5+ on those essays kills me.

 

What it comes down to is...Should I retake the GRE in the hopes of getting a better score on the essay? I'm not that worried about the quantitative section since I'm hoping to enter either a MA or MA/PhD program for US History (specializing in the South), but I don't want my top schools to write me off just because of my essay score. (No pun intended.)

 

My top choices are UVA and UNC-CH, and my essay is below their average by ~.5 (They haven't updated their scores since 2011 though). I have a true passion for what I do, and I have good faith in my academic record. I'm worried that if I retake the exam I either won't improve or I'll do worse and waste the $185.

 

I've read through the forum and it appears that people are saying that your academic record typically outshines a lackluster GRE. Does anyone have experience with this?

 

Thanks in advance for any advice! 

[guinevere29]

I also got a 4.0 on the writing the first time I took the GRE, and was devastated as well. I got a perfect score on the ACT writing my first time taking the test and as an English PhD applicant, my entire application was about my writing abilities. I hadn't prepared at all for the writing section, and that was my big mistake. The writing section really grades your ability to follow their guidelines for structuring an argument, not your overall writing ability, and I think most admissions committees are well aware of this. 

 

That being said, I didn't want to get thrown into the "questionable" pile at any of my schools before my writing sample was given full consideration. For this reason, I did retake the GRE and ended up getting a 5.0 on the writing. I still don't believe this is an accurate reflection of my writing skills, but it was in the 93 percentile (I also got a 163 Verbal and 154 Math) and I didn't think it was worth spending an all the extra money to try again. 

Good luck to you, and I wouldn't get too down over the 4.0 score...at least that's what I tell myself 

[C&C]

Thank you for you help! I definitely don't want to be in the "questionable" pile. Looks like I might want to go for it again and really focus on the essay prep.

[sarab]

Well, does your program require a writing sample? If so, they might weight the writing sample more heavily. If you're submitting your honors thesis (or part of it) then they will be able to see what you're History writing in an academic level is like, which i think is far more important than your writing skills on a 30 minute test of something irrelevant.

[C&C]

I'm submitting as much of my thesis as they'll take! I certainly hope you're right!

[Arcanen]

No one cares about your AW. The marking is incredibly subjective and is marked by drunk grad students throwing darts at a dartboard (English good => random score between 4 and 6, English bad => random score between 1 and 3.5).

 

That said, you should probably take the GRE again since you could be written off because of your other scores. The GRE is easily the least important part of your application, but your scores are definitely at or below  the point where you should worry about being at "throw out before giving proper consideration" level. Given that your GPA isn't particularly strong, you want to at least meet the verbal average for your programs. While I'm sure you wouldn't use any math skills (not that the GRE even really tests such) in your program, a 29th percentile score isn't exactly encouraging either.

 

My intention isn't to be mean, graduate admissions are competitive. You need to do all you can not to give adcoms an excuse to throw you out.

[C&C]

Arcanen, the reason why I was debating retaking it is because my other scores are AT my best school's average. The only segment significantly lacking was the essay, but their averages were still below a 5. (Not that they've updated since 2011 though. Some new stats would be much appreciated.) Unfortunately, most of the schools I'm looking at didn't even have average scores posted on their sites so it looks like I'll need to email to find those.

 

I also take great pride in my GPA since I'm a first varsity all-conference student athlete, and I had an awful first year as a animal science major before transferring to a liberal arts school and finding my niche in Southern US History. It's not like I just go to classes, and then don't get a 4.0. (My school is also on a 4.3 scale which is incredibly annoying.) I workout 20hours+ a week and compete, and then I'm still a leader in my history classes. My GPA is also above the average score for my top schools so I'm not sweating it.

 

That being said, I appreciate your bluntness and honesty! Those are two traits I cultivate myself (not necessarily intentionally), and I appreciate it when other people "tell it like it is" like myself. So THANK YOU for your post! You've definitely given me a good bit to think about. 

[C&C]

Just found something that might help those who are in the same situation as myself!

 

http://www.insidetheadcom.com/applications/should-you-retake-the-gre-or-gmat/

Did you do well on the GRE or GMAT?

I often ask candidates with weak test scores if they are true representatives of the candidate’s ability and they invariably say no.  When the test was more than three or four months earlier than the conversation, I expect a candidate will have retaken it, scheduled a retest, or have a great reason why that is not feasible. Candidly, most of the time people do not answer this question well.  It is unsatisfying when a candidate had several months to continue preparing for the GMAT or GRE and failed to put the effort into it, especially when they say the first test scores do not accurately represent their ability.

Based on this, and everyone's wonderful advice so far, it looks like I'll be retaking the GRE again as soon as I get back from a week of volunteering. At least that way I'll show that I put up a good fight. The only thing that worries me is that I know I won't have time to retake it once the semester starts so I need to nail it this time. 

Hope this link helps!

[Arcanen]

I looked up UVa's (my alma matter ~WAHOOWA~) history program and checked their GRE averages before my last post, you're 5 percentile points below the verbal average (they are 95th percentile, you're 90th)and like 30 percentile points below the quant average (they are 60th percentile, you're 30th). I admit I didn't look up your other schools, but considering you said it's one of your two top choices I stand by my suggestion to retake.

 

With regard to the GPA comment, I'm specifically talking with respect to graduate school admissions. I fully understand that you're proud of your achievement and all you did during your degree (and congratulations to you), but grad schools will not give the slightest hoot about your sporting or other extracurriculars. A 3.7 is pretty average for grad school. If it's average, it isn't "particularly strong". With a GPA that doesn't stand out, you at least want to try to stand out in the other quantitative measurement used in the admissions process, the GRE. You currently don't, so retake.

[C&C]

I actually just completed the registration as you posted that. Nice timing! So long $185. Aug. 23 is my day of reckoning. Now it's time to hit those wretched prep books and sites again. I guess this time I'll relax with the verbal a bit and throw myself into the other two sections more.