Do You Have to Take the Gre Again

From business organization schools to STEM courses, the GRE has been a staple and a not-negotiable requirement for many graduate schools. However, standardized testing has come under fire recently, and both issues and controversies regarding the GRE take come to light in the past few years. With the global pandemic and the anti-racism movements across the country, these issues have been further highlighted. In response, California has dropped the Human activity/Sat from UC college requirements, and other similar deportment are existence considered past other states (so far, California has not dropped the GRE requirement from UC grad schools). So why would you notwithstanding have the GRE? To answer that question, we first demand to accost these controversies and concerns.

• GRExit: issues and controversies
• GRE changes during COVID-19 and the resulting problems
• The under-representation of women and people of color
• GRE scores and bookish performance in graduate studies are not correlated
• Where are we now?
• And so, when all is said and done, why would you still take the GRE?
• Personal growth and improvement
• Making up for any gaps
• Planning ahead
• Networking
• Admissions and career paths
• Better condom than sorry

GRExit: issues and controversies

GRE changes during COVID-19 and the resulting bug

In calorie-free of the contempo COVID pandemic, the Educational Testing Service (ETS) made changes that made taking the GRE easier and safer through an online version. However, this raised concerns for people who come from low-income households that tin't afford computers, webcams, or even cyberspace service. Meanwhile, those who do have access to a computer and other essentials aren't condom from technical difficulties from software bugs, connexion bug, as well as reports of unnerving proctors who would non use their webcams merely could see the testers during their exams. There were also a few more uncomfortable requirements aimed at reproducing the in-person test experience, such equally needing a whiteboard to take notes, sitting on a standard chair for four hours, and making sure the applicant is alone in the room for the entire duration of the exam. These were tougher to execute for lower income households, and were controversial in that way even though ETS explained that they were "necessary to ensure the testing experience is similar to that in a exam eye, every bit well as to maintain the security and integrity of the test."

The under-representation of women and people of color

Standardized testing in general has come up nether fire for the issues of racial and sexist biases. Studies accept shown that, more often than not, standardized testing reflects demographic characteristics and socio-economic condition than intellectual vigil. This study constitute that women score lower by lxxx points than men in physical sciences sections of the GRE, and African Americans score 200 points lower than white men. The misuse of GRE scores for selecting applicants is a part of the continued under-representation of women and minorities in graduate schools, says the report and many advocates. In addition, the application for the GRE itself can be financially challenging for applicants coming from depression-income households, equally it costs up to $230 to accept.

GRE scores and bookish functioning in graduate studies are not correlated

For almost a decade at present, there have been studies that bear witness that there is no correlation betwixt GRE scores and academic performance in graduate schools. In 2017, a study by Joshua Hall showed that of the "280 graduate students in his program, GRE scores weren't correlated with the number of first-author papers the students published or how long it took them to complete their degree." Furthermore, another written report from 2017 showed that while students who scored higher in the GRE did tend to get ameliorate grades throughout their showtime semester, it also showed that "GRE scores didn't predict which students passed their qualifying exams or graduated, how long they spent in the program, how many publications they accrued, or whether they received an private grant or fellowship."

Where are we now?

In light of these issues, many have begun a call for a "GRExit" where graduate programs drop the GRE requirement in its entirety. Many programs have been relaxing on the GRE requirement: in 2016 to 2018 alone, roughly one-third of programs in neurosciences and environmental take dropped their GRE requirements. All the same, a full-on "GRExit" has not yet occurred, with the vast majority of schools and programs withal requiring a GRE exam score to apply.

Photo by Green Chameleon on Unsplash

So, when all is said and done, why would you however take the GRE?

Let's say you have the pick to take it or not. Why would you still take the exam?

Personal growth and improvement

For those who can afford to take or want to take the GRE, doing and so might prove beneficial in the long run. While the GRE isn't a metric for how well a pupil tin perform in graduate school, it does hone problem solving skills, belittling writing, and verbal reasoning. The GRE also provides schools with a "quantifiable way of comparing you to other applicants". This not only helps schools decide an applicant's power, merely it also helps the student compare their ain scores with other students and work on their weaknesses. And while the GRE can't fully determine a student'south abilities, it does demonstrate where their strengths lie.

Making up for whatever gaps

If a program does not have a GRE requirement, presenting one anyway might brand up for any weaknesses in a student'south overall application. For case, having a GRE score above their target school's median might better i's chances of getting accepted into a graduate program if their awarding contains a low undergraduate GPA.

Planning ahead

Another long term benefit of the GRE is that the test scores remain official for five years. That means they'll all the same exist valid five years from now if the bidder wants to delay their awarding, apply again if they were rejected in their showtime attempt, or apply for another degree.

Networking

Surprisingly, the GRE can help students with their networking. Having a good GRE score can help you connect with people or gain access to several opportunities, such as merit-based funding, fellowships, and faculty recommendations. It tin also help someone country a job not but through their network but by having that score noted down as an accomplishment for their chore applications. "Although credentials are not required for professional success, they tin can assist you lot go your foot in the door, both for admissions committees and while forming creative or entrepreneurial teams."

Admissions and career paths

Due to the nature of the GRE being extremely general, it helps determine a student'due south abilities from unlike academic disciplines. A good GRE quant score tin testify your math proficiency when you take an English degree, for instance. Having a decent or high GRE score can help one leverage their overall grades, scores, and professional experiences into a compelling portfolio, peculiarly if you are switching careers or disciplines.

Amend safe than sorry

Finally, like it or not, the GRE has been around for decades and many schools even so use information technology as a way to sift through waves and waves of student applications too as gauge a student'southward ability. Taking the GRE now can offering security in regards to hereafter applications if a educatee e'er runs into a program that does require a GRE score.

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Source: https://blog.achievable.me/gre-exam/grexit-gre-requirements/

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