Taking the GRE a third time?
Posted: Sat Sep 20, 2008 4:43 pm
I took the PGRE twice last year, and scored 700 and 710, respectively. I am currently registered to take it again in October, but am not sure that I should. I have heard that it does not look good to have taken the GRE more than twice; can anyone corroborate or dispel this notion? At best, I would expect to maybe get in the 800s, but it's entirely possible that I'd again fall in the 700s. If my score improves by only a few points, it's probably not worth it (and would perhaps reflect negatively). Even if it does improve by a hundred points or so, will any gains be offset by the fact that I've taken it three times? (I highly doubt I could break 900, but I don't know; that's maybe possible if I take it in November instead of October, and study for an extra month.)
Possibly relevant information:
Undergrad institution: University of Chicago (Class of 2008)
GPA/Physics GPA (out of 4.0): 3.8/3.94
General GRE: V-710, M-780, W-5.5
Research experience: Some; no publications. A year and a half in an astroparticle group. I'm now working full time for a year in a medium energy physics group, doing laser spectroscopy.
I'm not completely sure where I want to go, but hopefully a top institution (maybe not very top, such as Harvard or Caltech (where I'm pretty sure I wouldn't get in), but maybe Cornell, Columbia, Yale, UCSB, UIUC etc.).
Apologies if similar questions have been answered before elsewhere. Thanks very much!
Possibly relevant information:
Undergrad institution: University of Chicago (Class of 2008)
GPA/Physics GPA (out of 4.0): 3.8/3.94
General GRE: V-710, M-780, W-5.5
Research experience: Some; no publications. A year and a half in an astroparticle group. I'm now working full time for a year in a medium energy physics group, doing laser spectroscopy.
I'm not completely sure where I want to go, but hopefully a top institution (maybe not very top, such as Harvard or Caltech (where I'm pretty sure I wouldn't get in), but maybe Cornell, Columbia, Yale, UCSB, UIUC etc.).
Apologies if similar questions have been answered before elsewhere. Thanks very much!