I just took the GRE for the second time today and got the same overall score (322).

The first time I took it: Verbal (159) - Quant (163)

The second time I took it: Verbal (155) - Quant (167)

I'm applying for a Master's degree in Computer Science at some top schools (all schools I'm applying to are listed below).

The first time I took it, I was not happy with my Quant score. I wanted to be above 165, especially since I am applying to an Engineering program. However, I was happy with my Verbal.

The second time I took it, I am very happy with my Quant score, however, I'm ambivalent about my Verbal score.

Is it worth taking the GRE for the third time? I haven't started on my essays and I am applying to 12 schools, and I feel like I should devote my time now to writing great essays for these applications.

I have an acceptable GPA from UCSD undergraduate and pretty solid letters of recommendation. Is it worth spending my time to continue studying for the GRE, especially since some of these schools are now waiving the GRE? Is it better to spend my time focusing on writing great essays instead?

I am already registered to take the GRE for the third time on Oct. 22, which I signed up a while back as a backup. However, I am wondering if I should cancel this.

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

The schools I'm applying to:

• Columbia University
• NYU
• MIT
• Cornell
• University of Illinois - Urbana Champagne
• UCSD
• UC Berkeley
• UCLA
• UC Davis
• University of Colorado Boulder
• Colorado State University - Fort Collins
• UC Santa Cruz