Should I retake the GRE?

[JessePinkman]

Hi..I am applying for MS in Civil Engineering (Construction Engineering and Management) for Fall 2015! I took the GRE last year and scored 323 (V:160, Q:163, AW:4.0). However I was disappointed with my quant score as I was scoring a lot better in the practice tests. I scored 169 and 170 in Quant in the ETS powerprep tests! I dont have any scope of improving other aspects of my profile as I am a recent graduate (last month) and can't really write a research paper! I will have about 2 months work experience by the time I apply and about 10 months by the time I leave for MS! So the GPA and work experience is sorted and i cant do any publications. So only thing remaining is the GRE! I'm pretty sure I can go above 166 atleast in Quant..Verbal score will remain more or less the same! My score would remain in the range of 323-328 with increase in the Quant score! So should I retake the GRE just to increase my quant score by 3 or more points? Or would it all be a waste even if it increases by that much? I am aiming for top schools like Texas A&M, Virginia Tech, UC-Berkeley, UT Austin! Thanks!

[bsharpe269]

I think that retaking would be a waste of time and money. Thats a great score!

[peachypie]

I don't think it is worth it to retake the gre.  Your scores are already "good enough" and adding 3 points isn't going to get you in or out at this point.  A letter of recommendation would have more sway than those points.

[JessePinkman]

Thanks guys..and what if I increase it by 5 points or more..say i get 168+! Any slight difference it could make? 

[bsharpe269]

Thanks guys..and what if I increase it by 5 points or more..say i get 168+! Any slight difference it could make?

Hmm I doubt it. I'm in biophysics so quant is important for me too. I am a perfectionist sort of person (sounds like you are too!) so if I scored a 163 I think that I would also be on the fence and would slightly want to retake. Honestly, from an outside perspective though, that is a great score and there are so many other parts to the application that I don't think retaking would be worth it, especially for MS programs. If you think that the $200 is worth the peace of mind to not worry about the score during the application process then go ahead and retake so that you don't have to worry about it! Honestly, I think that a 170 really wouldn't even make any difference in the application process though.

[vicky25]

Start applying with the scores you have in hand I am sure you will find some good college for admission if you don't then you can give it again. Most colleges mention their GRE score requirements on their site check to see if you fulfill their basic prerequisites.