Why GRE Scores are Important to Graduate School Acceptance and Financial Aid

What Scores Are Best?

There are many options available when choosing your college for your masters degree. With all of the information out there, how does one decided which school is right for them? Below are the main four considerations when choosing a graduate school. I can attest to this, from my own experience looking for a graduate school in the late 80's. I also discovered that the higher your GRE or Graduate Record Exam scores were, the higher your chances of getting accepted to your school of choice and getting the financial aid you desire.

1) Probably the first thing to consider is what are your GRE's or Graduate Record Exam scores. This is a major consideration when deciding where to attend graduate school. Some schools require a GRE score of 1200 or more. The school will also take into consideration what your GPA was. A GPA on your undergraduate degree under 3.0 makes it very difficult to get into graduate school. Research shows that most people with a grade point average below a 3.0 wouldn't even consider graduate school in the first place. They would probably find this type of degree too difficult for them. I found that a school that requires a 3.0 GPA and a GRE of 1000 were usually your best choices. Many of these schools offered wonderful graduate programs. However, if you are bent on going to a top ten schools, your GPA should be above 3.4 and your GRE should be around 1200. Only then will Harvard or Yale consider you.

2) The competition at a school is another thing to consider. Harvard is considered a top school for business and law, and John Hopkins for the medical field. Your GRE scores need to be above 1400 to get accepted to these school. But with a little research, you can find backup schools that are excellent and might serve as a choice, should your Ivy League school turn you down. Some people have their mind set on one school and will take nothing else but the best. Go for it, but keep a back up plan ready. And as there are deadlines, don't wait too late to apply to your alternate schools. Just remember, that the more prestigious the school, the higher your Graduate Record Exam scores need to be.