Can a great PGRE make up for otherwise mediocre stats?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the role of the Physics GRE (PGRE) in graduate school admissions, particularly whether a high PGRE score can compensate for otherwise mediocre application components such as GPA, letters of recommendation, and general GRE scores. Participants explore the significance of the PGRE in the context of applying to top-tier schools.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express mixed opinions on the relevance of the PGRE, noting that while some admissions committees may not consider it, others do place importance on it.
  • One participant suggests that a high GRE score can be beneficial, but emphasizes that it cannot fully compensate for performance in an undergraduate program.
  • Another participant mentions that a 3.6 GPA is not terrible but may not be competitive for top 10 schools, raising the question of whether a high PGRE could offset this.
  • There is a viewpoint that applicants to top 10 schools typically have both strong GPAs and high PGRE scores, indicating that a high PGRE alone may not suffice.
  • A participant recounts their experience on an admissions committee, explaining that while a point system was used, the process was nuanced and varied by school, making it difficult to predict outcomes based solely on scores.
  • It is noted that deficiencies in one area of the application may not be easily compensated by strengths in another, particularly for competitive programs.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that a high PGRE score can be helpful, but there is no consensus on whether it can truly make up for other mediocre application components. Multiple competing views remain regarding the weight of the PGRE in the admissions process.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include the variability of admissions processes across different schools, the dependence on the applicant pool in a given year, and the subjective nature of application reviews.

creepypasta13
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I've heard mixed opinions regarding the importance of the PGRE. I heard from some that the PGRE has no relevance at all, as some profs on the admissions committee don't even LOOK at it. However, I've of course heard from others that its very important

I've heard plenty of people with great stats but a poor PGRE, but not really the other way around. Which is, would having a great PGRE score make up for an otherwise mediocre application? For example, getting an PGRE 850+, with otherwise mediocre stats such as 3.6 gpa, avg LORs, avg general GRE, no publications, top 5 state school?
 
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A high GRE score will help.

The idea that you can "make up for" some other area of the application makes it sound like there is some sort of point system. That's not the case. The committee looks at the applications and discusses them.
 
A high GRE score will help, but there is no way that your performance on a 3 hour test can make up for your performance in a 4 year undergraduate program.

(Generally speaking... I wouldn't call 3.6 terrible by any means, it's just not top of the class.)
 
Since I was hoping to get admitted by the top 10 schools, I'm sure a 3.6 doesn't look great, so that's why I hoped a great PGRE could make up for that
 
Top 10 school applicants will have good PGREs as well as strong GPAs.
 
Vanadium 50 said:
A high GRE score will help.

The idea that you can "make up for" some other area of the application makes it sound like there is some sort of point system. That's not the case. The committee looks at the applications and discusses them.

When I was on a committee, we actually DID have a point system formula (which I couldn't divulge the "formula" now even if I wanted to, seeing as this was about 5 years ago). Three committee members reviewed each application and also put in a readers' scores that were factored into the formula. After people were "ranked" by the system, we started at the top looking at providing support, etc. The process therefore went quickly until we started to look at the cutoff point (where some small adjustments to the ranking were very occasionally made depending on research area, etc.)... but generally a firm cutoff was set.

That being said... even for schools with point-system per-say, the systems will vary by school, so a precise answer to "can I get in" can never be made... especially since it also definitely depends on who else applies to that school that year.

That also being said, I generally agree that to be admitted to a top ten school you need to have a great application in all areas. You generally can't "make up" for deficiencies in the application when you're talking about these programs.
 

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