Old GRE score, do-over or don't?

[Loric]

I've been out of school for a few years and a new graduate program in the field I want to work in appeared like a wild pokemon . I have previously been accepted to 2 graduate programs for theatrical design (went to one, it was awful, left). I want to go into SCAD's themed entertainment design graduate program.

 

SCAD says GRE scores are entirely optional. They also say honors scholarships are given to 600+ verbal, 740+ quant, and 5+ writing.

 

I took the GRE as a "because it's required" at the other two schools. I had interviewed with the departments and barring massive failure on the GRE I was admitted, just waiting for my file to be complete. I didn't study, took it the next available test date, and knew nothing about what I was getting myself into.

 

My 3-something year old scores are verbal 600 scaled / 160 (estimated), quant 680 / 153, and writing 4.5.

 

Worth redoing..? Worth submitting..?

 

Essentially I don't know if these will look good, look bad, or do me any favors or not if I send them in to my new application. Part of me thinks if they're good or I study and retake and have "good" scores they'll counteract the bad transcript from my last school that I withdrew from. B-, W, W, and then "spring" which i never attended with "FFF"

 

I like to think any admissions advisor who sees W's first and then F's the following semester goes "oh, they dropped out." But... ya know?

 

So, what do you think? Worth it to retake? Those scores are ok on their own?

[sacklunch]

I wouldn't retake unless you have reason to believe those scores are not good enough for said program. Those scores are 'good enough' for most programs, even top ones. I would spend more time focusing on your SOP and explaining how/why you ended up leaving the other program. I imagine it will throw up a ton of red flags with those W's and esp. the F's. A high GRE score will not assuage for your recent academic record, I think. Focus on improving the rest of your application.

[Loric]

I'm very much of the mindset "never give them negative, let them find it on their own." That's what I just spent a little while posting over to the SOP forums for other folks with various issues they wanted to "explain away."

 

I do very much appreciate your response though

 

I'll keep it in mind - and if they ask, they ask. GRE is supposed to be an indicator of the quality of my education and ability to succeed in graduate study, no? I didn't take the classes (yes, i was registered and didn't drop, that was my irresponsible stupid moment) so i don't feel the F's reflect me at all. In my mind, a reasonable person should see that looking at the transcript.

Edited September 8, 2013 by Loric