GRE - Worth taking again?

[earresponsible]

Hi all!

 

Taking the GRE is expensive and that makes it even trickier when deciding to take it for a second time. My question is, do people typically improve or do worse the second time around? I know it goes both ways, but I would like to know what people's experiences have been. I know someone who increased +21 combined in quantitative and verbal... *imagining her reaction when she saw her new scores* 

 

And I also know someone who decreased -8 combined. 

 

If you have any advice or would like to share your comparisons that would be great.

 

Thanks!

[Istoleart]

1. The second time usually gets you a better score...unless your score was already impressive to begin with or you are known to plunge into a Van Gogh-like psychosis during the exam.

 

2. I guess the question has to be how good/bad are your scores? Do you have stellar undergraduate GPA to offset a mediocre GRE score? Or is it the opposite and you need GRE to offset a mediocre GPA?

 

3. If your scores are below average for your targeted program then you should re-take it. The objective is to do good enough for your program and focus squarely on personal statement.

 

My example: My first try on the GRE I scored 155V/159Q/4.0AW. This was below average for most of the chemistry programs I applied and I needed to use it to negate my 3.1 GPA; plus I'm international so I need higher marks. So I did a second time with a score of 160V/160Q/4.5AW. That puts me right in the middle of the pack for all of my schools and that's good enough. GRE is time consuming and not important enough to go beyond that. I focused the rest of my time doing personal statements. Thank god for that or I wouldn't have enough time to complete applications before deadline. In a few months I'll find out if this approach works.