Worth retaking the GRE for top clinical psych/neuro programs?

[urbesc526]

Hi all,

 

I recently took the GRE and received: 169 Verbal and 161 Quant (haven't gotten back my writing score yet).

Would it be worth retaking the GRE to improve my quant score if I'm considering applying into top clinical psych and/or neuroscience programs? i.e. I saw that for the average quant score for UCLA clinical was 163 (http://www.psych.ucla.edu/graduate/prospective-students/clinical-student-data), and I'm wondering if my 161 would set me back for most of the top clinical psych/behavioral neuro programs.

 

Any thoughts?

[dondraper]

Thought i'd chime in here...

 

I don't think you need to re-take it. You already have very strong scores and I don't think being two points off from the average (or whatever percentile that puts you in) is much of a big deal. Remember, it's an average... So some successful applicants have higher scores while others have lower scores than yours i'm sure.

 

If your grades, LOR, and personal statement are already strong then I don't see any use in spending your time, effort, energy, and money to go up two points, when that time can be better spent elsewhere. My 2 cents. 

Edited August 21, 2013 by dondraper

[urbesc526]

Thanks for your help!