retake GRE because of AW score?

[bluesails]

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Took the GRE last month and got a 168V, 164Q. Loved those scores. Got online and found that I have an AW score of 4.0 (49th percentile). Will this hurt me badly? Would I have to retake the GRE even with great verbal / quant scores? I honestly didn't know what to shoot for with AW. A similar thing happened to me on the SAT, but I practically ignored it.

 

[Rainheart]

I wouldn't retake it! I got in with really poor GRE scores 154Q, 149V and a 4.0A. Why waste a whole day and lots of money!?

 

[felinelvr44]

Most schools (if not all?) don't look at the writing score at all. I wouldn't waste the money or time retaking it.

 

[kernel]

Even if vet schools DID care about AW, it's a total joke IMO. Not worth your time/money to retake.

((Wrote a fragmented, incomplete essay my first time around, then came back the second time to compose what I thought was an eloquent and cohesive piece... 4s both times. Bastards.))

 

[macita183]

Most schools (if not all?) don't look at the writing score at all. I wouldn't waste the money or time retaking it.

Agree - when I did file reviews last years I was told by more than one school that they did not look at the writing section (which bummed me out since I was in the 95% percentile for writing section).

 

[Emiloo4]

No way. Enjoy being done with the GRE.

 

[Filly Bay]

I agree - Don't do it! Not worth your time, money or stress. I had a 4.0 in writing as well both times I took the GRE and got into multiple schools. Some of their websites even say they don't look at the writing score.

 

[Goatmeister]

I got into Tufts, a school that actually considers the AW, with an embarrassing 3.0 (11th percentile, by the way, yeesh). I think they understand that the personal statement and essay questions are a FAR better indication of writing ability. I simply cannot make my brain focus to make a coherent argument in half an hour. I need time to think of all my angles first. Otherwise it's just all rambles, and some of them are pretty, uh, out there. I make strange connections in my head and I need time to think about how they're not really relevant

 

[Bismarck]

I'll echo what other posters have said: your other GRE scores paint a very solid picture of your verbal/quantitative reasoning skills. Most schools know the analytical writing portion to be a crapshoot (i.e. not a great predictor of your success in vet school). Another vote to not retake the test. If you are still worried for some reason, you could always call the schools you are applying to get the scoop straight from the source.

 

[StartingoverVet]

I will nitpick and say that those of you who are devaluing the writing section of the GRE are off-base.

Now, does it have anything to do with Vet school? Probably not, which is why most (not all) vet schools don't even consider it. Do your research and if the schools you are applying to don't care, then don't bother.

And your score is pretty average which is probably ok.

BUt like I said, the writing section is actually pretty useful to some degree as many people have no idea how to make a cogent argument anymore.

 

[kernel]

BUt like I said, the writing section is actually pretty useful to some degree as many people have no idea how to make a cogent argument anymore.

I see your point, although I still stand by what I said. I'm fairly certain I've demonstrated some skill in producing a written argument (if you count my professors' positive feedback and the A's on my transcript), but apparently the ETS thinks my writing skills are "average." In any case, it takes me slightly longer than 30 minutes to craft a well-written, solid piece... Two 30 minute blocks for two whole essays--whose prompts we aren't even privy to until the clock starts ticking? What rubbish.

While I agree that it is useful to be able to write (analytically and argumentatively), the GRE seriously undervalues the whole process and probably discredits some people with fantastic writing skills.


/rant. I'll get over it soon enough 😛

 

[StartingoverVet]

/rant. I'll get over it soon enough 😛

Probably not.

But most testing, especially standardized testing, is biased in favor of those who work well under pressure and who can work quickly.
Didn't say it was perfect, but it certainly has its uses.

I think most schools use it to weed out the semi-literate, and getting an average score is fine. It is unlikely to be used to finely discriminate between people. IMO

 

[kernel]

I think most schools use it to weed out the semi-literate, and getting an average score is fine. It is unlikely to be used to finely discriminate between people. IMO

You're right. Many non-science grad programs require applicants to submit at least one writing sample with their application anyway, so I would hope that the AW score takes a back seat.

 

[hygebeorht]

True fact: a lot of the writing section grade depends on the length of what you wrote. The first time, I spent a lot of time crafting an argument and did meh. Then I read an article that said essay length more than anything correlated with high writing scores. The next two attempts I spent one minute organizing my thoughts and then focused on getting words on the screen. Did great for both attempts.

Most schools realize that the writing section is a load of BS. Don't stress it.