Recently, Princeton University officially announced that 14 of its graduate programs will no longer require GRE scores for master's and doctoral program applications.
That is, when students apply for graduate studies, they can choose whether to submit GRE scores; GRE scores will no longer be a mandatory requirement.
These 14 programs are:
Art and Archaeology, Classics, Comparative Literature, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, English, French and Italian, Geosciences, Molecular Biology, Music Composition, Neuroscience, Psychology, Religion, Slavic Languages and Literatures, Spanish and Portuguese.
In recent years, a good number of prestigious programs have stopped requiring GRE scores, largely to attract a more diverse range of talented students and not base decisions solely on a single standardized test score.
However, does dropping the GRE really mean that graduate admissions become easier?
The Applicability of the GRE
The GRE, as the graduate school entrance exam in the U.S., tests the knowledge and skills of university graduates. In many countries, especially the U.S., GRE scores are used as an important criterion for graduate admissions.
In the past, the GRE was seen by international students as a standardized test unrelated to law and business; it was thought that business required the GMAT and law required the LSAT.
But in the last two years, many law and business schools have opened their doors to the GRE, gradually announcing that they accept GRE scores.
Judging by current application trends, almost all business schools now accept GRE scores.
99% of master's programs in finance and management accept GRE scores. Even many accounting programs are beginning to accept the GRE, such as the Accounting program at the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business.
UMich Accounting program standardized test requirements:
At the end of July this year, the traditionally conservative Yale Law School announced that it would accept GRE scores starting from the 2019-2020 application cycle in October.
As of now, there are 43 law schools in the U.S. that accept GRE scores. Among the traditional T14 law schools, with Yale's addition, a total of 10 have announced that they accept the GRE.
It can be seen that while some programs at top universities are dropping the GRE requirement, the GRE's adoption is expanding and its recognition is growing. For most students, the GRE has become the first choice for exam preparation.
Is Dropping the GRE Requirement Good or Bad?
The first question we should consider is: If the GRE is dropped, what will replace it as a standard criterion for evaluating students?
Some Princeton professors have indicated that without GRE scores, they will consider various other application materials and information, especially past research experience, essays, and recommendation letters.
Thus, whether dropping the GRE is good or bad depends on the individual. For students with strong research and internship backgrounds, eliminating the GRE might be good news, allowing them to devote more time and energy to research activities.
However, for students without a high GPA or outstanding experiences, the removal of the GRE requirement naturally means that other aspects will be scrutinized more closely.
If you lack strong qualifications and experiences, even if the school unilaterally drops the GRE requirement, it actually means your chances of admission are even lower.
The GRE Remains Important
Currently, for many schools, 'dropping the GRE' simply means making the previously mandatory submission of GRE scores optional, allowing applicants to decide for themselves.
For international students who are good at standardized tests, if an optional item is truly not submitted, it means giving up an opportunity that could have strengthened your application, and it also means you need to work harder on other application materials.
From the current admissions requirements of top universities, the vast majority of programs, especially popular ones like financial engineering and quantitative finance, still have mandatory GRE requirements.
Some other programs that don't require the GRE still accept GRE score submissions. Whether they will still consider the GRE score during the review process is unknown.
In short, a good GRE score means you have more choices in schools and programs, and greater assurance in your applications.
Furthermore, for students seeking scholarships, the GRE is an absolutely essential weapon you cannot afford to give up. Many institutions often place significant weight on GRE scores when evaluating scholarship qualifications.
Finally, I would advise everyone that in such a fiercely competitive environment for top school admissions, you need to keep adding to your strengths, not thinking about how to reduce your bargaining chips.
Studying abroad applications have never been easy. I wish everyone success in conquering the GRE and making it into their dream school!
