it's definitely not the best way to go, but i can't imagine it's an automatic kiss of death or anything like that. obviously, if you took it in april and do much better in august, it's a positive thing. yeah, it delays your application no matter whether you took it in april or not, but assuming you study your @ss off and do better (or just do well if it's the first time), i think it works out fine. in the event you don't do better...well, yeah, then it certainly isn't ideal. and then..you have schools like penn state, who ask whether you want them to wait for your august scores or not (which would be my current dilemma.....)