Admissions Do I have a high enough PGRE score for the best US universities?

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An international student applying for a Physics PhD program in the US seeks advice on whether a PGRE score of 900 is competitive enough for top universities like MIT and Caltech. The discussion emphasizes that while a 900 score is in the 92nd percentile, admissions decisions are not solely based on test scores. The importance of understanding the broader admissions process is highlighted, with a reminder that many applicants achieve similar or higher scores. The conversation suggests that prospective students should be able to independently research and analyze their competitiveness, as US graduate programs expect candidates to demonstrate problem-solving skills beyond standardized testing.
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Hello, I am an international student who are going to apply for Physics PhD program at universities in the US. My research field is theoretical Physics, and my PGRE score is 900. Is it enough for top universities such as MIT, or Caltech? Or is it better not to report the score to the universities when I apply? Please help me.
 
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The US is not India. There is no make-or-break test score.

There are many, many threads here explaining how US admissions work. Read them.

A decent scientist should have been able to answer this question. Google will tell you 5000-6000 people will take the PGRE per year. Google will also tell you a 900 is the 92nd percentile. So ~400 people do that well or better.

How many grad students do MIT and Caltech admit? How does 400 compare to that number?

This I think is the bigger problem - perhaps you are good at solving textbook problems, but you should have been able to handle a scientific question like your on your own. US grad schools - not just MIT - expect this.
 

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