GRE or Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is a standardized test designed to evaluate an applicant’s academic capabilities for graduate program admissions. Previously required at many top-rated universities and colleges around the world – particularly in USA – GRE was once required for admissions, yet now many of these institutions no longer request it at admission time or even require it. While this can provide relief to applicants who didn’t want to give or were unsuccessful on it but may make admission more competitive as universities must look for other factors when accepting applicants into programs.
GPA, Extracurricular Activities, Essays, Letters of Recommendation and Professional Experience are among the primary factors in being accepted into a Masters program. While some universities don’t require taking the GRE Test and scoring well on it is always wise to do so and can help set you apart amongst other applicants.
Here is a selection of some of the top universities in USA that accept MS applications without GRE tests, such as some of the most renowned and esteemed ones that provide master’s degrees across multiple fields.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, commonly referred to as MIT, is one of the world’s top-ranked universities for subjects such as Engineering and Computer Science. A private research institution, MIT offers several programmes which do not require GRE scores for admission.
Purdue University, one of the top 20 US universities without GRE requirements for admissions, ranks amongst them and offers a variety of courses for its students to select. Applicants need a strong undergraduate GPA and high scores on either the SAT/ACT test in order to be accepted to this University.
California State University is another great option for students who don’t wish to take the GRE exam. Situated in Silicon Valley, this university houses seven academic colleges that offer 58 graduate degrees – applicants should possess excellent academic records as well as strong Statement of Purpose and Letters of Recommendations to be considered by this university.
Some universities have an established policy of not waiving the GRE requirement, while others make decisions based on individual cases. A waiver might be granted if a candidate can demonstrate exceptional undergraduate records or has other convincing factors in their application that make them stand out from other candidates.
Universities that do not require GRE may impose higher GPA or Extracurricular requirements than universities who do require the test; additionally, such universities may consider factors like professional experience and Letters of Recommendation when making admission decisions. Therefore, if applying to such schools with optional tests such as the GRE requirement – particularly those with lower undergraduate GPA requirements – taking the GRE could prevent you from being accepted into your desired program.