How much would a near-perfect GRE score help?

  • Thread starter Thread starter FluffyFriend
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Gre
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the impact of a high GRE score on graduate school admissions, particularly for applicants with a low undergraduate GPA (below 3.0). It explores the roles of recommendation letters and research experience in the admissions process, with a focus on both domestic and international students.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest that a high GRE score may not significantly compensate for a low undergraduate GPA when applying for financial assistance.
  • Others argue that graduate schools prioritize performance in relevant subjects over standardized test scores, implying that GPA carries substantial weight in admissions decisions.
  • It is noted that recommendation letters are considered a crucial component of the application, especially if they come from individuals with whom the applicant has conducted research.
  • Participants express that having a GPA below 3.0 can complicate the admissions process, even with strong recommendations, and that many graduate programs have minimum GPA requirements for admission.
  • There is a discussion about the importance of GPA in specific courses relevant to the intended field of study, particularly in physics and mathematics.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that a low GPA poses challenges for admission, but there is no consensus on the extent to which a high GRE score or strong recommendation letters can mitigate this issue. Multiple competing views remain regarding the relative importance of GRE scores, GPA, and recommendation letters.

Contextual Notes

Participants express uncertainty about the specific weight of different components in the admissions process, such as the exact influence of GRE scores versus GPA and the variability of requirements across different programs.

FluffyFriend
Messages
8
Reaction score
0
If someone has a relatively poor undergraduate record (below 3.0 GPA), but at the same time posses a high GRE score (without sub), would he/she still have a chance being granted with financial assistance? What about the same situation regarding international students?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
my guess is not much. my general GRE was near-perfect but everything I've heard has been that grad schools don't care how much of a whiz you are at IQ tests, they want to know how well you work in a particular subject
 
ChemHopeful said:
my guess is not much. my general GRE was near-perfect but everything I've heard has been that grad schools don't care how much of a whiz you are at IQ tests, they want to know how well you work in a particular subject

Thanks. So the GPA weighs like over 70% all along in admission huh? :) I don't quite catch you on "in a particular subject", do you mean an excellent record on specific course or a couple of published thesis?

Fluffy
 
Actually, the most important thing is recommendation letters.

But with below a 3.0 GPA... it's not going to be easy, even with stellar recommendations.
 
TMFKAN64 said:
Actually, the most important thing is recommendation letters.
Particularly if they come from people you've done research for. (Research is the other major factor in getting in.)

I don't quite catch you on "in a particular subject", do you mean an excellent record on specific course or a couple of published thesis?
If you're applying to a grad school in physics, your GPA from your physics (and math relevant to physics) courses (probably) can't be below 3.00. There's leeway with courses outside your major, but not much.
 
TMFKAN64 said:
But with below a 3.0 GPA... it's not going to be easy, even with stellar recommendations.

Agreed... most university graduate schools require a 3.0 or a 3.25 overall GPA to be admitted to the university. If you're below this, the program would have to petition the university to let you in. In my experience, this rarely happens.
 
story645 said:
Particularly if they come from people you've done research for. (Research is the other major factor in getting in.)

Absolutely. I apologize for not being clearer in my post... I was thinking about letters from people you have worked for, and I should have said that clearly.
 

Similar threads

Admissions Chance of admission to Imperial QFFF and LMU MSc Physics
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
1K
Schools How much grad schools cares about GRE?
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
1K
Admissions Help evaluating my physics grad application scores & GPA
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
4K
Admissions Need advice on how realistic my graduate school prospects are
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
3K
Admissions Latebloomer with many past mistakes applying to graduate school
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
3K
Testing What are my chances of getting into a PhD program with a poor Physics GRE score?
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
5K
Irrelevant internship vs. GRE preparation Please help decide
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
3K
Should I retake GRE for Medical Physics (Master's)
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
What is the importance of the General GRE for grad school admissions?
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
3K
Schools How high a GPA is necessary for grad school?
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K