GRE® Waived for US Universities?
COVID-19 has been one of the major reasons for massive changes in the present education system. Specifically for the MS Abroad aspirants who are now as worried as they are confused.
To clear all the confusion, we brought our experts together and picked their brains on the current MS Abroad scenario. Having closely following every update from different universities across the world, we felt they would be the best people to ask the following questions:
- Has GRE® been waived for all universities in the US?
- Do you need to take your GRE® for Fall 21?
Here is a list of the most popular MS destinations for Indian students. Chances are you are knowledgeable about most of them. But for applying to these universities, do you need a GRE® score? Is it recommended? Does it give you an advantage? Let's find out:
1. University of Maryland - College Park
The University of Maryland Website clearly states that GRE® along with a TOEFL® / IELTS® score is a program-specific requirement for MS in CS in the school of Computer /Mathematical/Natural Sciences.
2. University of Washington – Seattle
The Allen School’s Professional Master’s Program (PMP) of the University of Washington has temporarily waived off the Graduate Records Examination (GRE) requirement for the Fall20-21 admissions season. Here is the official statement from the FAQ page of PMP:
3. University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota has clearly stated that from Sept 2020 GRE® scores will not be accepted and any GRE® score submitted will not be reviewed. Here is the official statement:
4. North Carolina State University
For Graduate Studies NC State University has laid out that all international masters applicants will need a GRE® score for applying. Here is the official statement from their Graduate Program - GRE® / TOEFL® Requirements page:
5. New York University
NYU has waived off GRE® requirements for most of the courses it offers along with it’s MS in CS course. In the GRE/GMAT Requirements page under graduate-studies, it clearly shows that the GRE® score is “Not Required” for Masters in Computer Science.
6. University of California Irvine
Donald Bren School of Information and Computer Sciences of the University of California (UCIICS) states that GRE® scores are required for submitting online applications for graduate admissions. Here’s an excerpt from its prospective graduate application process page:
7. Rutgers University
To pursue your MS in CS from Rutgers University, you’ll need your GRE® score. Here’s what their official website has to say about the GRE® requirements:
8. Texas A&M University
The FAQ section of the Graduate Studies for CSE dept. of Texas A&M University states that GRE® scores are not required for this admission season. Here’s what has been published on their website:
9. Northeastern University
MS admissions requirements page of Northeastern University states that GRE® scores are not required for admission to their MS in CS course. Along with GRE® they also waived off IELTS/TOEFL® requirements. Have a look:
TEST SCORE MINIMUMS:GRE® (NOT REQUIRED FOR SPRING 2021, FALL 2021, or SPRING 2022)”
10. Iowa State University
A GRE® score is a must for a Computer Science Graduate Admissions application. Here is what their Computer Science International Graduate Admissions page had to say:
11. The University of Texas at Dallas
The Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science of UTD states on their website that a GRE® score is a requirement for prospective students. This is the official statement taken from their website:
GRE® revised scores of 308, 153, 155, and 4 for the combined, verbal, quantitative, and analytical writing components, respectively, are advisable based on our experience with student success in the program. Applicants are admitted on a competitive basis.”
12. University of South Florida
The University of South Florida requires a GRE® score from MS in CS applicants. However, it is waived off for students with an undergraduate degree from an ABET-accredited university from the United States.
13. University at Buffalo
University at Buffalo clearly states that all graduate applicants need a GRE® score for applying. Here is the official statement:
14. Syracuse University
Syracuse University’s official webpage on graduate admissions to the school of Engineering and Computer science states that GRE® scores are optional. However, our experts suggest that submitting a GRE® score might help your application.Here is the official notification:
15. The University of Texas at Austin
UT Austin has announced that that GRE® scores will be optional for students and those who wish to submit their scores can still do so. They have also clearly indicated that applications with a GRE® score will bolster the chances of admission.Here, take a look:
Should you take your GRE? - Expert Answers
“Should I take my GRE? Is it really required for admits in the US?”
This question is quite common but our experts feel the confusion is justified. As is evident from the list, for every university that has waived off its GRE® requirement there are many universities that still explicitly demand GRE® scores from its applicants.
Here are our reasons:
1. GRE® helps even the odds
Not every student can produce a stellar record of excellence. Every student can’t be the first in class, have a 9+ GPA, internships from reputed institutions, multiple paper publications, and a shining profile.
This factor especially is very relevant for students from the western parts of our country. From our experience, the universities in the region are not known to be liberal with the GPAs and scores they provide their students. An average GPA does very little to prove your unique abilities to the universities. A GRE® score on the other hand is a wonderful way to showcase your analytical skills.
While an extraordinary profile can get by without a GRE® score an average profile is bolstered with a GRE® score. As is evident from the official statement from the University of Texas at Austin:
“Students may continue to submit official GRE® scores for consideration, but they will not be required to do so. Providing GRE® scores can bolster your application if there are aspects of your application that you feel may be not as competitive as others.”
2. No better way to showcase your analytical skills
A good GRE® score reflects your Quantitative aptitude and Verbal reasoning skills. Without a GRE® score, however, you leave a blind-spot in your profile where you fail to communicate your analytical skills to the Admissions Committee.
No university would feel inclined to accept the applications of a candidate who they feel might not be a competent match for their university. Why give them that chance?
3. Simply stay open to more choices
In very simple terms, aspirants without a GRE® score can only apply to universities that have waived off their GRE® requirements. A candidate without a GRE® score automatically gets disqualified by other US universities that require a GRE® score.
Voluntarily contracting your pool of opportunities might not be a wise choice.
University admissions in the USA are significantly different from that of other countries. US universities are very selective of the international students they accept in their folds. To secure an admit, it is advisable to apply to as many universities as possible.
For most of the US universities, the GRE® score also acts as a filter which helps them weed out unsuitable applications. Based on their International ranking and behavior, US universities can be classified into 3 tiers:
Tier 1 Universities (Rank 1 - 30)
The universities under this category hold the best possible global rankings in different fields. The limited number of seats available for their specialized courses are very competitive and only academically proficient students apply. Since these students already possess a spectacular profile and a high GPA, a GRE® score does little to help the profiles stand out.
Hence, a GRE® waiver hardly matters to the tier 1 universities and the students with an exceptional profile.
Tier 3 Universities (Rank 120 - Unranked)
These universities, much unlike tier 1 universities do not exist in the ranking-boards. Because of their remote location, sub-standard infrastructure, or any other reason they do not receive a lot of international applications. Having a strict GRE® requirement makes it further difficult for them to attract students from around the world.
A GRE® waiver is more of a boon to these universities but they do not promise a lot of future opportunities or success.
Tier 2 Universities (Rank 30 - 120)
The universities in this segment are not the elite education institutions the USA has to offer but they are fairly popular with International students. These universities want to attract competent students for their specialized courses and GRE® helps them do just that.
A high GRE® score helps Tier 2 universities handpick good students. These universities are the best option for students who do not have an extraordinary profile to make it to the ivy league but want good prospects for their future.
GRE® is only one of the many factors universities look for. But for tier 3 universities it is the one factor that carries a lot of weightage. So for the best possible opportunities, take your GRE®, showcase your abilities with a top score, and have the freedom of choices.
But you might want to hurry
Because the priority deadlines for Fall 21 are almost here. Applying before the priority deadlines increase the odds of you getting an admit. To apply before the deadline expires start preparing for your GRE® today.
Get the best possible result for your GRE® with personal attention. Find out what helped 60,000+ students cross the GRE® barrier with flying colors.
Thank you so much for the lovely blog with valuable information. I want to ask, are there chances for international students to get funding at US universities before arriving in the US? As many students are unable to provide financial documents due to their financial background, what are the possible ways to get funding to show that you have funding from US universities instead of showing financial documents which most of the students cant afford?