Should I do another BA?
I'm the person who posted a question on here yesterday about my low GRE scores (in the 300 range for both V&Q). I've been spending a lot of time thinking about why I did so poorly after spending so many months preparing. I took into consideration everything you all mentioned (test anxiety, English not a first language, poor preparation, learning
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I wouldn't be concerned that you attended a tier 4 university. The rankings are really very mathematically suspect and of little value beyond prestige. The truth is that you can get a very good education at a low ranked university just as you can at a highly regarded one. The main factor is how you approach the educational experience and absorb the information.
That said, and as much as I personally dislike societies dependence upon standardized testing, it is a measuring stick between institutions and students. Many of the top tier schools have 'pick of the litter' advantage here since they can draw the better students initially but that doesn't stop you from excelling at a under-rated school. I blew away most of my class with the MFAT when I took it for my degree, scoring as well or better than many top tiered university students. It's all about application.
Now we know that it's entirely possible, the question returns to "why can't you" given your apparent GPA. Some of that may be legitimately a difference in thinking in regards to testing. It's well known that certain people do preform better in those circumstances and situations than others. You have a higher GPA than I do, which indicates that you probably preformed better in a classroom setting, relatively speaking (without getting into the grade inflation issues). Some of the issues may arise that what you knew and what the test happened to test on wasn't very similar. That happens, particularly if the test is English heavy or math heavy and you had very little of either. It may also be that you may not be suited to the graduate school environment and the test is correct in it's indication of that.
Sorry for not having a concrete answer for you, but I really don't think that at this time a second bachelors would do you any good, particularly not in the same field. Also taking it a second time is probably not wise until you've determined what it was that undermined your scores in the first place. Finally, as I think has been mentioned, you may want to look into alternative graduate exams such as the MAT. For some people that's just the right way to go. I've known a few people to get into graduate school with that test after they bombed the GRE.
Disclosure: I am finishing a second BS degree now but I did completely change fields and the requirements for the professional certification are stiff enough that I need enough classes to warrant the second degree plus a masters. Though I happen to be interested in a Ph.D., the ability to get those certifications has value.
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