It’s the end of October already. How are you holding up if your GRE scores haven’t come out yet? Maybe you didn’t have enough time to prepare well for the test, or you’ve taken it once or twice but didn’t get the scores you wanted.
Recently, I’ve received many messages from anxious students, crying about how hard the GRE is and worrying that they have no hope of getting into a top school and can only take a gap year.
Here’s a shot of encouragement: even without a GRE score, there are still programs you can attend, including quite a few from top 30 universities.
Today, CheersYou（清柚教育） will list some graduate programs and special circumstances where GRE scores are not required.
Degree Programs That Do Not Require GRE
Master of Fine Arts (MFA)
The MFA, commonly found in fields like visual arts, filmmaking, theater, creative writing, design, and animation, often doesn’t require GRE scores because the core evaluation is based on the applicant’s portfolio.
Social Work
This major doesn’t have strict requirements for students’ professional backgrounds. If you’re considering a future in community work, this is worth exploring.
For example, social work programs at Columbia University, New York University, and the University of Chicago do not require GRE scores.
Columbia MSW program requirements:
LLM Programs
LLM is a one-year Master of Laws, essentially more of an advanced course in law compared to the JD. LLM programs not only don’t require the LSAT, but they also generally don’t ask for GRE scores.
Programs That Do Not Require GRE Scores
Executive Programs
Executive programs were originally designed for professionals with some work experience. They place more weight on the applicant’s previous work history, so GRE scores are usually not required. In other words, these programs are better suited for applicants with work experience.
Online Master's Programs
Many online master's programs do not require GRE scores, such as the currently popular Data Science and Business Analytics degrees. If a school offers an online delivery format, it often means no GRE is required. However, these types of programs are not yet as widely recognized.
Special Cases for GRE Waivers
Undergraduate GPA Cutoff:
Some schools offer a GRE waiver for undergraduate students who meet certain criteria. For example, at Illinois Institute of Technology, applicants with an undergraduate GPA above 3.0 do not need to submit GRE scores for master's programs (with some exceptions, such as architecture).
Other Graduate Degree:
Some programs waive the GRE requirement for applicants who already hold another graduate degree. For instance, the Library and Information Science master's at the University of Illinois exempts applicants who already have a JD or PhD.
Professional Experience:
Many schools also waive the GRE for applicants with professional work experience, especially when it is relevant to the program they are applying to. At American University’s School of Public Affairs, applicants with 5 years of relevant work experience in some programs may skip the GRE.
American University School of Public Affairs website
Sample Programs That Do Not Require GRE Scores
1. Harvard University
— Biological and Biomedical Sciences
— Biological Sciences in Public Health
— Biophysics
— Chemical Biology
— Immunology
— Molecular and Cellular Biology
— Neuroscience
— Organismic & Evolutionary Biology
— Systems Biology
— Virology
2. Columbia University
— MS Applied Analytics
3. Johns Hopkins University
— Government Analysis
4. Northeastern University
— Analytics / Strategic Intelligence & Analysis
— Entire College of Professional Studies
5. Georgetown University
— Integrated Marketing Communication
6. New York University
— Integrated Marketing
— Entire School of Professional Studies
7. George Mason University
— Civil Engineering
— Computer Forensics
— Statistics
— Telecommunications
8. Washington University in St. Louis
— Biomedical Engineering
— Computer Science & Engineering
— Electrical & Systems Engineering
— Energy Environmental & Chemical Engineering
9. Boston University
— Advertising
10. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
— Master of Science in Business Administration, MSBA
Stay Calm and Make Your Best Effort
Listing so many programs that don’t require GRE is to show you that there is still hope. However, without the GRE as a benchmark, schools will scrutinize other application materials more strictly, such as GPA, essays, and background experiences.
Your mindset is also key to success. The closer it gets to the deadline, the more you need to stay calm. Ideally, you should try your best to achieve a satisfactory GRE score. But if you can’t, don’t obsess over it—after all, GRE is only one part of the application.
A friendly reminder: if possible, avoid taking a gap year. It’s not only time-consuming and exhausting, but there’s also no guarantee of better scores next year. What you need to do now is look forward and figure out how to leverage your strengths to apply to the best schools you can at this stage.
Finally, I wish you all the best in this application season. May you receive every offer you desire~
