Tricky GRE Question

[Firenze]

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Hi! I'm a long time lurker (you guys are brilliant) who's finally starting the application process! I've found myself in a strange situation with my GRE scores, and I couldn't find the answer I was looking for on the interwebz.

Last year in April I took the GRE's: I scored about average, which is my own fault for not studying at all, nor preparing in any way other than to make the appointment. I was so unprepared I hadn't even decided to which schools I wanted my scores sent. As a result...no institution has been informed of my scores at present.

I'm taking the test again next month (sheepishly, this time with books and flashcards and math practice). I'm confident I'll do better this time, but I was wondering how my old scores will be relevant?

If I never opted to send the old scores to any schools, will they still be sent along with my new scores? I am signing up with a new email, no longer through my university, and as a resident of a different state: if I don't go out of my way to track down the old scores, will ETS still know to connect me with them? I know schools tend to average the scores, and I didn't do TERRIBLY the first time, but if I could be tricky, it would be nice to know if those scores could just be lost to the ether...

I don't have much hope 😀 But I was wondering how they'll know to connect my old scores to my new test?

 

[jtom]

All the exams you took are on the same report sent to the schools. Actually I only know of one school that averages scores (purdue). The rest take the highest scores you recieve if you take it more than once. So your first time will be irrelevant as the admissions staff will only show the decision makers your highest score, assuming you score higher next time.

I do not think you can get away with trying to take the exam under a different person. There is no reason to do this anways.

 

[NStarz]

Hi! I'm a long time lurker (you guys are brilliant) who's finally starting the application process! I've found myself in a strange situation with my GRE scores, and I couldn't find the answer I was looking for on the interwebz.

Last year in April I took the GRE's: I scored about average, which is my own fault for not studying at all, nor preparing in any way other than to make the appointment. I was so unprepared I hadn't even decided to which schools I wanted my scores sent. As a result...no institution has been informed of my scores at present.

I'm taking the test again next month (sheepishly, this time with books and flashcards and math practice). I'm confident I'll do better this time, but I was wondering how my old scores will be relevant?

If I never opted to send the old scores to any schools, will they still be sent along with my new scores? I am signing up with a new email, no longer through my university, and as a resident of a different state: if I don't go out of my way to track down the old scores, will ETS still know to connect me with them? I know schools tend to average the scores, and I didn't do TERRIBLY the first time, but if I could be tricky, it would be nice to know if those scores could just be lost to the ether...

I don't have much hope 😀 But I was wondering how they'll know to connect my old scores to my new test?

Unless you legally change your name, I think you're not going to be able to finagle this. Old scores are sent along with any new scores that you send, within the last 5 years (I think it's 5 years). Everything's electronic now, so I don't even think moving to a different state and changing your address will do it. Especially if you've attached your SSN to the GREs in any way.

Additionally, if this were somehow possible, and the schools were to find out about it, they would most likely reject you, rescind any offer of admission, or even kick you out if you had already matriculated. I don't really think it's worth that risk, IMO 🙂 And most schools will either look at the last test date or the highest cumulative score, so you should be set!

 

[StartingoverVet]

Additionally, if this were somehow possible, and the schools were to find out about it, they would most likely reject you, rescind any offer of admission, or even kick you out if you had already matriculated. I don't really think it's worth that risk, IMO 🙂 And most schools will either look at the last test date or the highest cumulative score, so you should be set!

👍
NStarz is being a little too kind though. Let's face it, you are trying to lie/cheat. Not to mention you will be committing fraud by signing electronically a document that you know to be fraudulent.

You might want to switch to Finance. I know a lot of places you will fit right in.

Man (or woman) up. Take responsibility for your lazy attitude and deal with it.

 

[twelvetigers]

Aw, SOV, that's a bit harsh.

Op, I took it once without studying really, got 1150. Took it again without studying, assuming I would do better because I knew what was going on... did worse (1120?). Third time, 1290, called it good. So, just do better. It's irrelevant how you did before anyway, except for Purdue.

 

[bunnity]

I'm with SOV... why would you think you don't have to deal with consequences when everyone else does?

When I took the GRE I had to give my driver's license and have a photo taken and I'm pretty sure they took my social security number. So good luck making a fake driver's license...

 

[LetItSnow]

Aw, SOV, that's a bit harsh.

Why? Remember, it's not just what ETS reports to the schools -- you have to put the scores on your application, too. So in order for the schools to "not find out about" the original GRE score, the OP would have to intentionally omit the information from the application in addition to ETS losing track of them. And since you submit your application certifying it to be true to the best of your knowledge, that would be outright deception/fraud.

 

[twelvetigers]

But finance? Suggesting that is just cruel.

No, I read the OP again, and yeah... it sounded worse the second time. I just didn't want to change my post at that point.

Firenze, clearly you can see that to try and evade ETS's score reporting would be unethical. We've made it pretty clear where we stand. We won't think poorly of you if you come back and tell us you decided not to do it. I just don't think you realized what a big deal it could be (or how unfair it would be to everyone else).

 

[nyanko]

I agree with SOV and the others - what you want to do is highly unethical and even if you got away with it initially, if somehow they found out later it may even be grounds for removal from the program.

But the reason I am posting this is because you shouldn't assume that they will connect your two scores if you have taken the test in different states with different addresses. I actually reported both of my scores on my applications and then was notified after submission of my application that the schools had only received the latter one. I had to call ETS and get them to group the scores together for future reference, and said some not-nice things in order to get them to send the scores for free that time rather than making me pay for their error.

Again, absolutely not condoning lying/cheating like you suggested to do, but just as a word of caution to anyone that is in the situation that I was who might assume they will automatically group the scores - sometimes it doesn't happen and make sure you follow up!

 

[LetItSnow]

But finance? Suggesting that is just cruel.

lol. TT, I <3 U. You crack me up.

 

[StartingoverVet]

But finance? Suggesting that is just cruel.

Hehehe. Yes, that could be a cruel punishment for any caring, compassionate human being. But at least you get to curse a lot!

 

[teatime]

I agree with SOV and the others - what you want to do is highly unethical and even if you got away with it initially, if somehow they found out later it may even be grounds for removal from the program.

But the reason I am posting this is because you shouldn't assume that they will connect your two scores if you have taken the test in different states with different addresses. I actually reported both of my scores on my applications and then was notified after submission of my application that the schools had only received the latter one. I had to call ETS and get them to group the scores together for future reference, and said some not-nice things in order to get them to send the scores for free that time rather than making me pay for their error.

Again, absolutely not condoning lying/cheating like you suggested to do, but just as a word of caution to anyone that is in the situation that I was who might assume they will automatically group the scores - sometimes it doesn't happen and make sure you follow up!

Exact same thing happened to me. For some reason they are reported by address and not ssn. Stupid if you ask me, people change addresses all the time, which I told them in a very unpolite manner. Got em resent for free, so yeah def follow up.

 

[sunnyshine]

After I took the GRE the second time I actually had to call ETS and have them put both of my tests together. They split them into two seperate tests becuase on one they counted the suffix on the end of my name and on the other they didn't. Had to resend all of the scores all over again because they fudged it up.

But back to the original question, I agree completely with SOV. It is highly unethical and illegal to try and present only one of the scores. Besides, having both may pay off in the long run as some schools will actually take your best scores from different tests. And most of the others will almost always take just your highest score.