Why GRE Scores Are Important

To get admission in Graduate School in U.S. Universities, one of the major requirement is GRE scores. But,

have you ever wondered why Universities, Colleges give so much importance to GRE Scores?

The GRE (Graduate Record Examination) is prepared and conducted Education Testing Service (ETS). The GRE test has three major parts plus one optional section.

GRE Tests consists

1. Verbal section that tests vocabulary knowledge and verbal comprehension skills
2. Quantitative section – Algebra, geometry and pre-calculus math to test mathematical analytic skills
3. Written essay/analytical writing section to assess the writing skills of the test taker.

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The general GRE test takes about three hours to complete and costs $150 each time a person takes the test.  ETS will automatically send scores upto 4 graduate programs (department or sometimes schools) that a person taking the test wishes to send the scores to. But, GRE test takes has to be prepared with universities to forward the scores. See how you can save $80 by forwarding GRE scores.

Importance of GRE Scores -1

First, GRE scores are a standardized tests which forms the basis for comparing applicants to programs. Faculty who are on admissions committees do pay attention to college grades when making graduate admission decisions, but grades are not standardized estimates of how well an undergraduate student learned the material in a class.

Some professors are easy graders and give a high proportion of A’s. Other professors are difficult and an A is measure of exceptional ability rather than the average class grade.You can influence professors decision by sending email to professor, but read the article twice before you reply contact professors.

Professors who are making graduate admissions decisions at University Y have no good idea of how to compare a student with a GPA of 3.62 obtained at University Z vs. a student with a GPA of 3.62 obtained at College C . If the student from University Z has GRE verbal and quantitative scores of 540 and 560 while the student from College C has GRE verbal and quantitative scores of 630 and 720, now the comparison of the two students seems clearer.

When professors find it hard to estimate the value of GPA within U.S. Universities, certainly it will be very hard to find the value of grades for schools in foreign countries.

Importance of GRE Scores – 2

The second reason for the importance of GRE scores is that most university graduate schools require GRE scores as part of the graduate admission process. Thus, GRE scores are used by all types of departments, when making admissions decisions. Thus, the GRE test is relevant to anyone interested in pursuing an advanced degree whether the graduate degree is in Physics, mechanical engineering, Computer Science or pharmacy.

For most universities, applicants to a graduate program must have GRE verbal + GRE quantitative scores more than 1000. Moreover, various departments often compare the quality of their graduate programs by comparing the average GRE scores of the graduate students who are in their programs.

Importance of GRE Scores – 3

The third reason for the importance of GRE scores in the graduate admissions process is the most important reason to you as an applicant. GRE scores are your best predictors of whether you will be accepted to a program or not. Your probability increases as a direct function of the sum of your GRE verbal and quantitative scores as well as your undergraduate GPA.

Many Graduate School programs report the average GRE scores and undergraduate GPA of the applicants accepted into their programs on their web sites. You should look at those scores. If your scores are lower than average by one-half of a standard deviation or more, then your probability of being accepted to that program is so low. You will have to think twice, whether it is worth your time and money to apply to that program.

If your GRE scores and your GPA are all above the mean, then your probability of at least getting is an interview is at least reasonably high, and other factors, such as your research experience as measured by publications and conference presentations and your letters of recommendation, will an impact.

Also other factors like Statement of purpose, leadership skills, research experience, experience relavent to field you are applying are important. But if you do not have a good GPA and high GRE scores, none of those factors are relevant. These factors are used to differentiate among students with good grades and high test scores. These factors will not make up for poor grades and low GRE test scores.

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