Retake GRE?

[nomattic]

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I just took the new GRE today and the result was bittersweet. 161 Verbal (620, 90th percentile), but 153Q (680, 65th percentile). I'm feeling good about my verbal score but not amazing with my quant. I won't know my AW score for a few weeks.

My pre-req gpa is a 4.0, but cumulative is a 3.35 due to being a jackass as an 18 year old. I wanted an indisputably rock solid GRE score to overshadow my weak cumulative, so hoping for some insight. Should I retake it in 2 months?

 

[optionpaloma]

First of all, congrats on the score you got today -- you should be proud if it!

How much did you study for the test? If you didn't study much, will you have time to study "harder" for it in the next 2 months?

Your score is competitive, so you certainly don't need to retake the GRE, but if you truly think you could improve it (say, if you studied more, did more practice problems, learned more vocab, etc.), I say go for it because it looks like you're aiming for programs with high average stats.

I came from a similar place last year -- my undergrad GPA was a 3.1 because I cared more about my social life than classes, but my overall GPA was raised to a 3.46 because I took a boatload of community college classes after graduating, most of which were fun classes and not pre-reqs. My pre-req GPA was 3.9, but I really wanted a baller GRE score to balance out my not-so-hot undergrad transcript.

One of my summer jobs during college was to tutor kids for the SAT, so I was very familiar with test-taking strategies (I was one of the last to take the older GRE). I studied for 6 weeks straight after taking my last final and got a score that really helped me stand out. Whatever you decide to do, best of luck!

 

[rtr6]

I made a 149 V and 155 Q with a pre-req gpa of 3.8 and overall 3.48 and got into my top 3 schools.. I think I would stick with that GRE

 

[nomattic]

@optionpaloma:

Thanks for the encouragement and for responding, I really appreciate that first of all.

I studied for about 2.5-3 weeks. As soon as finals were over, I crammed and studied as much as humanly possible (not constantly as I have a part time job). I feel like if I had a bit more time I could have really grasped some of the concepts that I never got around to. The Kaplan books I read never mentioned anything about quartiles, standard deviation, or interest rates, and my FIRST 3 questions were about all 3 of those things! I had a complete panic attack and tried to calm myself down to finish out the other 17 questions, but I know it really hurt my score overall.

I'm taking a Trigonometry class right now and really wish I had taken this BEFORE the GRE, considering everything we're talking about makes up a large portion of what the test covers. However, considering I'm taking 2 classes and working, I doubt I'd have much extra time to put into studying for the GRE all over again. It's not out of the question, especially since this math class I'm taking will reinforce a lot of the concepts, but I may just have to live with my score.

I'm glad to hear you did so well and wish you the best of luck applying!

 

[Tom4130]

I made a 149 V and 155 Q with a pre-req gpa of 3.8 and overall 3.48 and got into my top 3 schools.. I think I would stick with that GRE

I am exactly in tthe same boat as you were, only I had about 2 points lower on the GRE but a slightly higher CGPA. Would you mind listing the schools you applied to and were rejected or accepted? I am studying to retake the GRE again and really don't want to considering the school I really want to get in to does not even require it.

 

[rtr6]

I applied to UAB, South Alabama, Belmont and Univ of Tennessee Chattanooga. I got into UAB, South, and Belmont and was waitlisted at UTC. Good luck on your app process

 

[Weibo]

I applied to UAB, South Alabama, Belmont and Univ of Tennessee Chattanooga. I got into UAB, South, and Belmont and was waitlisted at UTC. Good luck on your app process

Dude congrats!!!!!

 

[jdaniels360]

rtr6, what were your stats if you don't mind sharing?

 

[jdaniels360]

*edit

 

[jdaniels360]

Couldn't figure out how to delete the post, but did you decide which school you will be attending?

 

[rtr6]

Thanks everyone. I will be attending UAB .. I finished with a 3.55 155 Q 149 V (roughly 1130-1150 old scale) 100 hour vol mostly outpatient I played college baseball at an SEC school ( my profile pic gives it away) and got to volunteer a lot of places through that.. Best of luck to everyone

 

[jdaniels360]

Hey rtr6, mad respect man! I know it's not easy playing ball and going to school and doing as well as you have! I play d2 basketball and we never stop! keep up the great work my friend! did you use being an athlete as an advantage/tool in any part of your application process?

 

[rtr6]

Thanks jdaniels, yeah I've had 3 surgeries related to baseball so I talked about how that lead me to PT. Also, I talked about how an athlete's demanding schedule has prepared me to handle the stress/ time commitment of PT school.