Top Graduate Programs Without GRE | BeMo®

Graduate programs that don’t require the GRE are opening doors for applicants like me who want to focus on strong research and application materials instead of test prep. I’ve helped students get into top programs by crafting a standout graduate school cover letter, securing the right grad school letter of recommendation, and perfecting their research resume. Here’s how you can do the same and stand out, without taking the GRE.

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List of Graduate Programs that Don’t Require GRE (US)

American University Washington DC (not required for graduate certificates and some Master’s programs)
Ohio University (program-dependent; GRE-optional)
Stanford University (program-dependent; GRE-optional)
Harvard University (program-dependent; GRE-optional)
Columbia University (program-dependent; GRE-optional)
West Texas A&M University (university-wide; no GRE required or optional)
Cornell University (program-dependent; GRE-optional)
Duke University (program-dependent; GRE is optional for some programs and required for others)

List of Graduate Programs that Don’t Require GRE (Canada)

University of Waterloo (some programs recommend or require GRE)
Carleton University (some programs require GRE for international applicants)
University of Alberta (some programs require GRE for international applicants)
Memorial University
Royal Roads University

Are Graduate Programs that Don’t Require the GRE “Good” Programs?

Yes, graduate programs that don’t require the GRE are excellent programs, and some are offered by some of the best universities in the US and Canada. The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) was used for a long time (almost 80 years) to assess your skills in three main areas, namely math, reading, and writing, and comprehension, which are tested by the three different sections of the test:

Analytical Writing
Verbal Reasoning
Quantitative Reasoning

But the GRE has fallen out of favor recently for reasons we’ll talk about later. However, that doesn’t reflect on the programs that do or do not require it; it has more to do with the test itself rather than the programs. Despite the fact that the use of the GRE in graduate school admissions is becoming more sporadic, there are still programs at universities in Canada and colleges in the US that require it, so you have to decide whether you are willing to take the test to get into a dream program or choose a program that does not require the GRE at all.

The GRE requirement falls into three categories:

Not Accepted or considered
Considered (optional)
Required

You have to pay attention to these particular requirements. Submitting your scores to a program that does not accept them will not necessarily hurt your application, but they won’t be considered, and you’ll end up wasting time, and it does look bad, especially if the requirement is clear and made explicit.

The Considered requirement means you can send your GRE scores if you have them and they are not older than five years, which is how long your GRE scores are valid. Depending on the program or school, you may also be able to submit your old scores, but you have to ask the particular program whether they have this option. The Required option is self-explanatory.

Pros of Taking the GRE

High Scores are an Admissions Edge

There is little about the admissions process that is objective. Aside from your GPA, which is a major factor, all the other ways that graduate school admissions committees evaluate your application are subjective, such as reviewing your grad school personal statement and grad school statement of intent and observing you answer tough grad school interview questions . For a program that does not allow you to submit the GRE, this will be enough. But if a program makes submitting your GRE scores optional, if they’re good scores, they can boost your application. Standardized tests have some value, despite their flaws. An excellent MCAT score or an exceptional LSAT score at the highest end of the LSAT score range will fling the doors wide open to your preferred medical or law school, and even though many grad school programs have moved away from the GRE, they are still willing to consider it for your benefit and will be as impressed as those other schools and programs.

It’s a Good Way to Develop New Skills or Improve Them

Being a grad student often requires a lot of interdisciplinary work, and you’ll more often than not require skills in several areas, not just your specialization, which is why preparing for the GRE can help you develop or sharpen these skills. We’ll get more into the GRE sections and how long it is (usually, a little less than four hours) in other blogs, but it’s not easy, and you have to prepare well in advance to be able to get a worthwhile score. The preparation involves a lot of reading, developing comprehension skills, and solving math problems, so you’ll have to prepare as you did for the SAT and ACT. But the content of the GRE is much more difficult than either the SAT or ACT, so you do need to study, especially if it’s been a while since you did any math.

Gives You More Options when Applying

The GRE is not an insignificant factor to consider when looking for your ideal grad school program. But if you’re passionate about a specific school, program, and faculty member, you shouldn’t let the GRE stop you if the program requires it. Getting into grad school is hard, and choosing a non-GRE program is one way to make the process easier, but having GRE scores in the run-up to when you apply can give you more options. You might find a program that appeals to you more than others and has a GRE requirement, which won’t be an obstacle for you, since you already have scores or are willing to take the test to get into this particular program. This option may only apply to you if you are willing and able to study for the GRE. If you’re a mature student or you already took the GRE before and have valid scores, and you’re more anxious about starting grad school than preparing for the test, choosing a non-GRE program may be the right move.

How to Increase your Chances to Get into Grad School without the GRE

Getting a High GPA

A minimum GPA is a more widely-used admissions requirement than the GRE, and you should focus on excelling in high-level, senior courses so that you get your average well above the required minimum, which usually ranges from 70 to 75%. The actual range depends on your program, but it’s common for many programs, Masters or PhD to require a minimum GPA to apply and to maintain a minimum GPA when you’re in the program. If you want to go to grad school and are worried about your GPA, you should take steps as early as possible, because you’ll need time to increase it. You should try taking courses that are easier for you or take extracurricular courses during summer break to boost your GPA to more competitive levels.

Do Research in a Relevant Area

Your reasons for going to grad school may vary, but many people go to grad school to pursue a specific research question or topic, which is why having the appropriate research experience is important for when you are applying. The research aspect is more important when you’re applying to a PhD, so during your Master’s you should explore research areas by volunteering to work on other colleagues' research projects or even faculty projects. These experiences are great to put on a CV for grad school, but they will also teach you valuable skills such as how to publish as a graduate student or how to write a Master’s thesis proposal.

Get Good Letters of Recommendation

When doing your research in the lead-up to grad school or a doctorate, you should participate but find ways to distinguish yourself as well, which is important for two reasons: it makes you stand out from others, but it also leaves a good impression on research supervisors and faculty members who you could ask for a recommendation in the future. Even though there are ways to get into grad school without recommendation letters, they are usually an indispensable part of getting into grad school at top-ranked schools and programs. Having letters written by those who have witnessed your intelligence, determination, creativity, and resilience in action and are willing to put it in writing is maybe even more important than taking the GRE.

FAQs

1. Should I take the GRE?

Whether you take the GRE depends on a lot of different factors. If the program you are applying to requires it, then it’s not a question of “should” - you must take the test. But if you are not interested in taking the GRE for whatever reason and the programs you are interested in do not require it, then you should focus on other parts of your grad school application, such as getting the right research experience, getting good letters of recommendation, and having a specific research topic that you want to pursue.

2. Why are grad schools dropping the GRE?

We talked about the reasons why the GRE is being gradually phased out, but the reasons stem from whether the test is an unfair gateway for people who do not have the time or resources to prepare for the test and the supposition that it does not accurately predict whether you are ready for grad school.

3. How hard is the GRE?

How hard is the GRE? The exact difficulty of the GRE is one of the things being called into question, with many accusing the GRE of preparing students to take the test and not to be excellent grad students. While the test is challenging, it does not require you to become familiar with an unfamiliar set of questions, as with the LSAT, and you will be tested more on your knowledge than creativity. The problem-solving and analysis on the GRE are similar to the SAT and ACT, but with a higher level of difficulty.

4. How long do I need to prepare for the GRE?

Preparing for the GRE depends on how much time you have before your application deadlines and your skill level in the areas the GRE tests. If you are way behind on your math, reading, and comprehension skills, then you should take up to three months. But many students prepare in only a few weeks, as the GRE is a more familiar exam in both content and format than other tests such as the LSAT and does not take as long to complete as the MCAT.

5. When should I take the GRE?

The GRE is offered throughout the year, and there are many versions you can take, including shortened ones that do not have all the sections. What you should focus on more when choosing a GRE test date is the application deadline for your preferred program, if you haven’t already taken the GRE. If you have taken it within the last five years, this doesn’t apply to you, but if the deadline is fast approaching, you should take it as soon as possible. If you still have time, you can choose when you want to take it based on your preferences.

6. Is there any difference between graduate programs that don’t require GRE and those that do?

No, not really. There are differences between graduate programs, in general, but many programs have simply removed the test from their admission requirements without having any significant impact on their curricula or teaching methods.

7. Is the GRE a good predictor of success in grad school?

Some argue yes, others say no. Many students who have not taken the GRE have both successfully completed their degree and been able to transition from academia to industry.

But they may not have been able to do this if their program required the GRE, and they were not admitted because of their low scores, even though they proved they were able to complete grad school. Now many programs are turning to more conventional admissions metrics such as your GPA, research experience, and how well you do during the interview.

8. How much does it cost to take the GRE?

The GRE test has different prices, as the company has released different versions of the test. But the usual fee for the normal test is around $220.

To your success,

Your friends at BeMo