Sending your scores: when do you have to decide?

[BountyHuntress]

Now this might be an utterly stupid question as noone else seems to have worried about it, but I am unsure about how the score reporting works with ETS.

 

Obviously, I'm taking the test for the first time and I know that you can immediately see the results for VR and QR after completing the test at the test center - however, do you have to decide WHETHER and WHICH INSTITUTIONS you want to send your scores to BEFORE you can actually see them? Or you can you first check them out and then decide if you want to use 1 or all of the 4 "free" score reports? I've been researching this for hours now and can't seem to find a clear answer. On the computer-based practice test I was asked if I wanted to report or cancel my scores BEFORE being able to see the results, but I am confused as to whether that is the same thing as actually choosing the institutions you want them to be sent to.

 

I'm in a bit of an unusual situation because I don't actually have to take the GRE. I'm applying for a scholarship and I've been told that having good GRE scores would benefit my application, but obviously I'm worried that mediocre results would weaken it more than not submitting any scores at all. I know that there's also an option to send the scores for an extra fee after you've received them, so please it would be great if anyone who has taken the test could enlighten me!

 

Thanks in advance!

Edited December 20, 2014 by BountyHuntress

[MathCat]

This is not a stupid question! I wondered the exact same thing. You do have to choose whether or not to cancel them before you see them, but you get to pick the 4 schools to send the free reports to after you see it - and you don't have to select any at all! There is really no reason to cancel a score now that they have the ScoreSelect option - if it's terrible, just never report that one to anyone.

[BountyHuntress]

Thanks so much for the quick response - at least there's one less thing to worry about!

[Robo_Lizard]

You can choose universities after you get V and Q scores in testing center.

[Icydubloon]

If you don't know what to do, use the ScoreSelect option as previously mentioned.

Edited December 24, 2014 by Icydubloon