Sending scores to same universities multiple times ?

[ahmadka]

Hi guys .. So I'm thinking of giving GRE 2-3 times within the coming 2-3 months. I think GRE allows you to send scores to some universities (I think 4) for free right after the GRE test itself, and sending them later on is $25 per university ..

 

Although I have not finalized my list of target universities (not even close to deciding), I wanted to just apply to same universities in every attempt, to save money in sending just the best score later on ..

 

So if I send the same university my GRE scores multiple times, I assume they'll accept the best ones ?

 

Or to play it safe, should I just wait for my best scores and then send them to my final universities for $25 per university ?

[Gvh]

Hmm. To me it makes more sense to *plan* only to take the GRE once. There is an abundance of practice tests you can purchase (6 from Manhattan Prep for $30) in addition to the two from ETS - doesn't it make more sense to prepare well with practice tests and then take the real GRE? If you need to take it again, then you can always do that if you chose to.

 

In terms of your question, it might be worth asking the department to make sure - but usually they only accept your latest score, not your best. 

[geographyrocks]

If you want to save money, I recommend not taking the GRE several times as it runs around $180 each time you take it. Study your butt off and then take the test. If you don't like your scores, study more and then take it again.

In other words, I agree with everything Gvh said.

[themmases]

If you're worried about it, don't use the free score sending feature and use Score Select later on. ETS allows you to choose which of your past scores to send, so you can just send them the best score yourself. You'd forego the 4 free schools and spend $25 per report, but you'd already be spending a ton of money just to take the GRE multiple times. If you're willing to spend $480 and take the GRE three times just to have a few scores to pick from, you're just undermining your efforts by sending all three scores to schools where you'll have no control over how they'll be evaluated.

 

I agree with everyone else though, it's not a good idea to plan to take the test three times. Prepare fully, plan to take it once, and take it early enough that if your score was unexpectedly bad you have time to retake once. There is lots of other stuff to do during an application season, and much of it is harder and more time consuming than you might think. It can also get more expensive than you expect, with department-specific application fees or transcript fees that are poorly communicated until they're due. Unless you do horribly, you will find much better uses for your time and money than retaking the GRE.