What Graduate Programs Require GRE and How to Practice

Getting into your dream graduate program requires a lot of effort on your behalf. You need to be a studious scholar who is willing to put in the extra hours of work to get your grades up. Similarly, you need to go beyond just the classroom and show that you are a well-rounded person who deserves a spot based on other merits.

Using tests to determine which students are and are not graduate program material has been a common practice for decades, and the GRE is one of these tests. Here you can see the ones that do, some that do not, and why it is important to study it.

Do All Grad Programs Require the GRE?

The problem with the GRE is that it varies from school to school. There is no guarantee your program needs it, so a review of UTSA GRE prep course shows you have to take it while applying for FSU’s MBA program does not require it. It also depends on the program, where some law schools at certain universities will require, some may encourage it but not need it, and some will not need it at all. So in short, not all require it, but some still do.

Which Programs Do?

If you want to know which ones do, the answer is not as simple. There are plenty of institutions out there with multiple grad program offerings. Law school requires the LSAT, medical school requires the MCAT, and business schools require the GMAT. Many of these programs may still require the GRE, like UC Berkeley, University of Iowa, University of Michigan, or the University of Pennsylvania. The GRE is an important test, and even some schools may encourage students to take it, so they can improve their chances of admission.

Which Programs Don’t?

Many grad programs in the U.S. will not require it and many are dropping it from their application process for various reasons. Among schools that do not require it, many of them are MBA programs. Some notable schools that do not require it include, Liberty University, Johns Hopkins University, Boston University, and the University of Southern California, among others. Sometimes it can help you find a school that you do not need to take to allow you to focus on other studies and extracurricular ways to enhance your admissions ranking.

How Do I Study for the GRE?

The GRE is not an easy exam, but it is also not hard either. You can help yourself by taking one of many GRE preparation courses or practice exams. They help you improve your odds of passing, but also give you a better opportunity to see where you are strongest and weakest. Completing these practice exams in advance will allow you to get the best possible score on the major components. Similarly, you can also hire dedicated tutors for GRE related materials.

The GRE is an interesting test because it is not a universal need for graduate programs. Some schools require it, some encourage it, and some do not use it. Even then, some only use it for particular programs. All in all, it is still good to understand what it is, what to study, and how it can be helpful for you in your future pursuit of education.