Which GRE scores would you use?

[dgschafe]

Hey Everyone, Thanks for giving me a chance to ask for your advice.

So I took the GRE twice this Fall and got these scores:

167 / 157 / 4.5

165 / 161 / 4

I seem to have really flubbed the writing the second time. I guess I wasn't trying too hard. The second one would be stronger if it wasn't for that. Does analytic writing matter, like, at all?

Assuming the school doesn't allow combinations of best scores, and just wants one set... Which one would you all use?

[svent]

I was just about to say "writing isn't a big deal unless you're in poli sci or something." Then I noticed that you are. Are your scores Q/V/AW or V/Q/AW? If the former, then I'd use the first score. If the latter, I'd use the second score.

[dgschafe]

Those scores are V / Q / AW.

So you think despite the weak AW score going with the higher Quant score?

 

[svent]

4 isn't that weak. It's pretty average. Above average if you take internationals into account. 160+ is important on math, and 165 is still fantastic verbal. You're writing a statement of purpose. They can find out if you write well or not from that.

Or you could just submit all and let them decide which one they want to consider.