URGO
- GRE FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Does the GRE matter?
It’s
probably safe to say that the GRE, if required, always
matters.
Stellar GRE results can bump
you into the
“admit” pile and translate into fellowship and
assistantship dollars; sub-par
scores can plunge you into the “admission denied”
pile or decrease your chances
for funding.
What weight is given
to GRE scores in the admission decision?
It
depends on the program.
More competitive programs
receive applications from many highly
qualified candidates and can afford to deny admission on the basis of
low GRE
scores.
For less competitive
programs—the majority of programs—the GRE is just
one of many pieces
influencing the admission decision.
When in my
undergraduate career should I take the GRE?
Ideally,
no later than August of the fall application
cycle.
Graduate school deadlines are
as
early as December 1.
Preserve your time
in fall semester for finalizing graduate school choices, completing
applications and keeping up your grades, not studying GRE vocab. In
the event that you under-perform, you will
have a cushion of time to retake to exam.
Can
I retake the exam?
Test
takers are allowed to retake the GRE one month
following the last exam (see next question).
Should
I retake the exam?
Adequate
preparation the first time around should inoculate
you from a retake.
The only reason you
would retest is if you are convinced
that something will have changed to warrant a higher score. For
instance, you won’t be ill with the flu
this time, you won’t freeze up during essay writing, you have
done additional
studying and know from taking practice exams (PowerPrep practice exams)
that
your score will be higher.
Note: If
your first test scores are low and then
your retake scores are equally low, you have, in a sense, confirmed to
the
admission committee that the scores are an accurate reflection of your
aptitude.
In contrast, if you only take
the test once and under-perform, you and your letter writers may have
an easier
time arguing that your test scores are an anomaly, not an accurate
reflection
of your ability.
If you are deciding
whether you should or should not retake, speak to a faculty member in
your
department and/or contact URGO.
Do I have the option
of sending only my best scores to graduate programs?
No.
You do have an option to send solely the GRE General
Test score(s) or solely the GRE Subject Test score(s).
What
you are not allowed to do is pick which
General score or which
Subject score you want sent.
In other words, test scores
from all the
General Tests you have taken in the past five years will be included on
a
General Test score report (also holds true for Subject Tests on a
Subject Test
report).
Which section of the
GRE (verbal, quantitative or analytical writing) is most important to
the
graduate admissions committee?
It
depends on your major and the program’s
competitiveness.
Never assume one
section is more or less important until a graduate school tells you as
much.
Unfortunately, graduate
schools don’t
publish this information on their websites; however, many graduate
faculty or
graduate advisors will tell you if asked.
Also, some students after
taking a practice exam automatically--and
often incorrectly--conclude that they should devote the bulk of their
preparation time to bringing up the lowest section score.
This
may not be a wise study plan as you
could be spending the majority of your time on the least important
section.
What is the minimum
score I need to be admitted into graduate school?
There
is no magic number that holds true for all graduate
programs.
In fact, few programs will
publish this number anywhere on their websites or admissions
literature, but
you can usually find this information by directly asking a graduate
professor.
What you will find on many
websites
is the average score of the students admitted to the program in the
past.
If your scores are lower than
that average,
then you want to counterbalance them with a higher than average GPA, an
exceptional personal statement, and/or outstanding letters of
recommendation.
Note: Every year in
graduate programs across the country students get admitted to graduate
programs
with GRE scores lower than the average or required minimum.
Do I need to take a
subject test?
Visit
the website of several graduate programs to see if a
subject test is required.
If a school says that
a subject test is merely preferred should I take it?
It
depends.
If your
score is strong, or you know it will be strong, then send it. The
reverse is
true if your score is low.
Keep in mind
that you can always take the subject test but choose not to have your
scores
sent.
Within some departments the
subject test has minimal impact on the admission decision but serves as
a
diagnostic tool, revealing to graduate programs what coursework
incoming
students have mastered.
What if I can’t
afford to take the test?
There
are fee waivers available to students who meet very
strict financial criteria outlined by GRE on their website. If
you meet the criteria, you need to obtain
verification of eligibility through
Augsburg
’s
Financial Aid Office in the
Enrollment
Center
.
