Retaking the GRE?

[onisteverina]

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So, I'm wondering what everyone thinks about the analytical portion of the GRE, and how much weight is put on that part of your score? I noticed that a good amount of schools just list the V and Q scores as requirements.. and UC Davis (IS) only uses your Q scores. I'm debating on whether or not I should retake the GRE based on my score..

Q: 160 (78%)
V: 158 (78%)
AW: 4.0 (54%) <--- ?

Cum GPA: 3.67 (BA in psychology and then when back to school for post-bacc)
Last 45 units: 3.84
Required science GPA: 3.78 (based off UC Davis, will be a little higher with schools that require more classes)

So, do you think it is worth retaking the GRE to try to raise my writing score? From looking at people who have took the GRE again, I noticed an increase in V and Q scores, but writing has stayed the close to the same. I think my V and Q scores will stay the same because I studied a decent amount before taking it and I was scoring similarly on practice tests. I'm not good at writing about random topics under time restrictions, so I'm not feeling very confident about increasing it.

Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

 

[Emiloo4]

No

 

[WelshCob]

I second that, no!

 

[onisteverina]

I appreciate the "no" responses because I really don't want to retake it!!! Is it because the schools don't weigh the analytical part heavily, or because my GPA will balance it out?

 

[Emiloo4]

I appreciate the "no" responses because I really don't want to retake it!!! Is it because the schools don't weigh the analytical part heavily, or because my GPA will balance it out?

It's because a 4 isn't really that bad, many schools don't even require you to write that section, and the ones that do probably don't weigh it too heavily. If you are truly concerned, I would contact the schools you plan on applying to and find out if they require that section or how much it's weighted.

 

[moomooshoe]

I have a similar question. I studied for the GRE for over a month and still did horrible. I know that it's not a desirable score, but would I get thrown out because of that? I am hoping that my GPA will balance it out. What do you guys think?

My name is Steven, 21 years old, first-time applicant. California resident.
BS in Animal Science; going for Research/Food Animals.

Stats:
cum GPA: 3.8
Science GPA: 3.85
Last 45 credits: 3.86
GRE: V:153(58%) Q:155(61%) W:4(54%)

Hours:
1,200 Vet
Necropsy work at UCDSVM Comparative Pathology Lab on mice and rats.
Behavior/Welfare research assistant under VMD/PhD on cattle with bovine respiratory disease
Volunteered at my hometown animal shelter surgical suite. =assist with spay, neuter, blood draw, and vaccination all day.

800+ Animal
Living on the university's Swine Teaching and Research Center.
Internships at the university's beef barn and feedlot.

1,100 Research
3 years of research experience from research design, to setup and execution. More BRD behavior/welfare related topics.

Recommendation:
Department Master Adviser
DVM/PhD Researcher
Swine Facility Manager
Professor/DVM

Applying to:
Davis, Western, Washington, Oregon.

 

[DVMDream]

I have a similar question. I studied for the GRE for over a month and still did horrible. V:150 Q:155. I know that it's not a desirable score, but would I get thrown out because of that? I am hoping that my cGPA: 3.8, sGPA: 3.85, last 45 GPA: 3.86, will balance it out. What do you guys think?

It is hard to say without knowing about any of your other credentials... who are LOR's from, animal experience and vet experience as well... add that stuff to your post and there is a sticky at the top of the page that is a what are my chances thread.... put it in there and people will discuss that with you. Also, I am not good at looking at these new GRE scores and knowing what they mean, I am used to the old scores so percentages next to the GRE scores might help too. 🙂