by Imed Bouchrika, Phd
The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) has been a standard component of the criteria for entering graduate programs for a significant amount of time. This exam is challenging, it requires a significant amount of time spent studying, and it takes a whole day to complete. Because of all of these factors, it is one of the aspects of an application for graduate school that causes the greatest anxiety (Best Masters Programs, n.d.).
According to an article published in the American Spectator in the year 2020, a growing number of graduate institutions have begun to treat the GRE as an elective or voluntary requirement. Based on the survey, certain educational institutions place a higher value on students' strong academic performance than on their GRE scores (Best Value Schools, 2021). Because of the modification made to the admissions procedure, a greater number of persons will have more options to choose from when deciding which documents they want to provide.
Is the GRE required for grad school? No, and we did the work for you by listing down graduate schools and Masters programs that don't require GRE in this article.
Independent and nonprofit organization Educational Testing Service (ETS) developed and has been facilitating GRE (Graduate Record Exam) since 1948 (Grad School Center, n.d.). This multiple-choice, computer-based, standardized exam tests students' analytical writing, verbal reasoning, and quantitative reasoning skills. Scores range between 130 and 170, where the top 10% of all students score 164 on average.
Is GRE required for Masters? No, there are many prominent universities that don't require GRE, such as those offering MFA online programs. In some cases, though, a school may ask for the GRE result if an applicant has taken the test before applying.
Source: ThoughtCo., 2019
Universities without GRE requirements may still be difficult to get admitted into. They may impose more stringent and more competitive mandates, such as a higher GPA, more extracurricular activities, more relevant work experience, and so on (EDsmart, n.d.). Other factors that make a school well-respected despite not having GRE requirements are listed below.
Schools with no GRE masters programs still have a reputation to maintain. In fact, these schools only implement 'no GRE' as a part of their admission rule because they are recognized by the same accrediting bodies that endorse GRE.
Higher institutes in the U.S. need to abide with and submit to policies as other institutes, and this is why graduate schools are recognized by the same accrediting bodies.
Many graduate schools do not focus much on GRE because the latest studies suggest that GRE doesn't promise success in the future. There are also views posing that a student's potential cannot be gauged by one exam such as GRE (Grad School Center, n.d.).
Recent research also indicates that GRE is usually misinterpreted by admission committees, especially those that are too score-reliant.
Preparing for GRE can be costly and time-consuming. For some takers, it can also appear biased. One particular study published in PLOS One sheds light on how excluding GRE scores from the admission requirements can eliminate bias and harbor a more inclusive academic atmosphere. "The relationship between objective test scores and performance has been a subject of debate for many years. In addition to the concerns already described, uncertainty surrounding their predictive ability must be weighed against the cost imposed on applicants to take the test, and the advantages available to a subset of applicants who can prepare extensively ahead of time and/or take the test multiple times to obtain the desired high scores." Linda Sealy et al. authored this study titled "The GRE over the entire range of scores lacks predictive ability for PhD outcomes in the biomedical sciences."
For many years, accounting has been regarded as a stable and reliable profession. One of these graduate schools that don't require GRE for accounting may be your key to landing your dream job.
Several MBA programs are not requiring GRE anymore, and many are following suit due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. Below are some graduate schools that don't require GRE for business.
While some master's in communication programs ask applicants to present standardized test scores, others don't include GRE as part of the requirement. Here are a few graduate schools that don't require GRE for communications.
The demand for software continues to increase, so does the demand for skilled and competent software professionals. The list below shows some of the best graduate schools that don't require the GRE for computer science & technology.
There are some psychology Masters programs without GRE requirements, while others only require GRE if the required GPA is not met. Check out these five graduate schools that don't require GRE for psychology (GradSchools.com, n.d.).
Obtaining a graduate degree in the U.S. is a mission of American and international students alike. In this section, we have listed down graduate schools that don't require GRE or GMAT, by state.
Source: Institute of International Education, 2019
Various options for graduate schools in Georgia that don't require GRE are available. These programs are in education, business, or social work (Study.com, n.d.)
Graduate schools that don't require GRE in Texas are on the rise. However, they require other proofs of academic excellence, such as a high GPA.
University of California-Berkeley Vice Provost for Graduate Studies and Dean Garcia Bedolla said that they are thrilled to have removed the GRE requirement in their admission process (Nietzel, 2021). Other graduate schools that don't require GRE in California are as follows.
North Carolina graduate school applicants consider costs, graduation rates, number of students, locations, and requirements when choosing where to take their master's or doctorate. Here are some graduate schools that don't require GRE in North Carolina (Study.com, n.d.).
Graduate schools that don't require GRE scores offer waivers, which vary by school. They also set other criteria that must be taken into account by applicants.
GRE requirements are usually waived for students who have previously obtained a related graduate degree. One example is a Doctor of Nursing Practice.
Work experience may be used as a substitute for the GRE test in many universities, especially those with research-concentrated programs. Admission directors of health care, medical science, business administration, and public policy persuade application from experienced students because they can put theory into practice. Many of these schools also offer doctorate programs without GRE requirements (Cromwelle, n.d.).
Students whose GPA falls under a certain range also don't need to submit their GRE scores in some graduate schools. Most graduate programs accept a GPA range of between 2.8 and 3.0.
Notably, online schools are known to exclude GRE in their admission process. Many of these schools offer high-quality master's degree programs (EDsmart, n.d.).
A master's in accounting will help you comprehend and establish viable skills in using the most advanced tools in finance.
A master's degree in business administration will make you qualified for managerial positions. This program will let you explore marketing, administration, and finance areas. It is one of the most well-known graduate programs that don't mandate GRE scores.
A master's degree in communication equips students to be ready for a career in local news firms, government agencies, and international organizations. Organizational communication and marketing communication are the two common specialization options. This program is created for entry to mid-level corporate sector roles.
A master's in computer science deals with analyzing and developing new computer systems. Groundbreaking design methodologies related to artificial intelligence and robotics will also be given attention. Other program types also allow students to write sophisticated applications associated with computers, gaming, and the internet.
A Master's in IT will provide you a wider IT-related knowledge. You will gain a deeper understanding of technology, which is the foundation of research and innovation. You will also form, plan, and administer the creation of computer applications. Moreover, you will analyze IT systems from the contexts of business and institutions.
A master's in cybersecurity delves into the legal and ethical areas of cybersecurity. Students study multiple data hack sources, unleashing parts of communication systems that are at risk of cyberattacks.
Master's in psychology and master's in forensic psychology are the two major psychology graduate programs that don't require GRE.
A master's in psychology is typically targeted at social science, health science, and education science workers. After graduation, the ability to showcase a strong background in different research approaches in psychology will manifest. The skills for implementing psychology-related and group intervention programs will also be developed.
A master's in forensic psychology will teach you to prepare reports for legal proceedings and forensic reports in different jurisdictions. Presenting reports before Courts and Tribunals will also be taught.
Sending your GRE scores to a school that doesn't require them can be done, as many of them still encourage students to do so. However, sending low GRE scores to a school that doesn't require them may not be a good idea.
Aside from GRE, there are other entry exams that may be required by U.S. graduate schools. These are GMAT, Miller Analogies Test, and TOEFL.
Most business schools prefer GMAT as their admission exam. It lasts almost 3 1/2 hours and includes the analytical writing assessment, integrated reasoning section, quantitative reasoning section, and verbal reasoning section components.
Miller Analogies Test is used by some schools offering certain degree programs. This high analytics exam is composed of 120 analogy-form questions.
Test of English As a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is required to be taken by international students that don't speak English as their mother tongue. This test assesses the reading, listening, writing, and speaking skills of students in terms of the English language.
Graduate degrees are becoming essential in these times. Professionals take these degrees to achieve their career goals or change their career path (Online Masters Colleges, n.d.). And one of the best approaches to making graduate education more accessible is to lessen the hindrances along the way.
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by Imed Bouchrika, Phd
by Imed Bouchrika, Phd
by Imed Bouchrika, Phd
by Imed Bouchrika, Phd
