Grad School Admissions: Entrance Exams

Entrance exams can play a significant role in graduate school applications, serving as a critical measure of academic preparedness and potential. While your Peace Corps experience demonstrates invaluable qualities like adaptability, cultural competence, and a commitment to service, entrance exams such as the GRE, GMAT, or LSAT provide a standardized way for admissions committees to assess your readiness for the rigors of graduate study. Entrance exams are not equally important for all graduate schools or programs. While many traditional graduate programs, particularly in fields like business, law, and the sciences, require entrance exams such as the GRE, GMAT, or LSAT, the emphasis placed on these scores can vary widely. 

For certain programs, especially in professional or applied fields, practical experience, such as that gained during Peace Corps service, may be weighed more heavily than standardized test scores. Additionally, a growing number of graduate programs have moved towards “test-optional” policies, particularly in response to concerns about access and equity. This trend means that, while entrance exams can still play an important role in demonstrating academic readiness, they are not universally required or equally important across all graduate schools and programs.

WorldView asked university admissions leaders for their hot tips on test prep and whether you should take or submit test scores.

Hot Tip #1

Entrance exams can cause a lot of anxiety when applying to graduate school. Some people are not good test takers, or it may even have been a significant time since you have taken a test and your skills are rusty. My best suggestion for entrance exams is to check with the institutions you are applying to and make sure that the entrance exams are a requirement for your application. There are some schools that may waive or not require specific exams, like the GRE and GMAT. If you provide test scores but they are not required, those scores cannot be removed from your application. If you are required to provide an entrance exam and you have the ability, I would recommend joining a study group or taking several practice tests online before you take the exam for your scores. The tests can be expensive, so please check to see if there are any fee waivers available to you!

—Tereza Lopez, Assistant Director, Graduate Recruitment, Clark University

Hot Tip #2

Be sure to check the test score requirements or recommendations for the program/s you’re applying to. If they are optional, I offer this advice: If your test scores would help your application, submit them. If not, do not. For example, if you have a low GPA or some low grades in courses on your transcripts that are from many years ago, submitting recent test scores can bolster your application and show your current skills.  

—Jill Stoffers, Senior Director of Institutional Partnerships, Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey

Hot Tip #3

For test-optional schools, submitting strong test scores can enhance your application by adding positive data. Check the program’s average score range, and if your results are within or above that range, submit them. If not, it won’t hurt your application. Consider taking the GRE or GMAT if you have an inconsistent academic record, as strong scores show you’re academically prepared and committed.

—Stephanie Worden, Assistant Dean for Enrollment, Marketing and Communications, Josef Korbel School of International Studies, University of Denver

Hot Tip #4

Most if not all graduate programs are GRE optional. On the other hand, English Proficiency exams might be required for some international students. Yes, if taking any of those tests, please prepare in advance and take practice tests to get familiar with the test. 

—Renata Ximenes, Assistant Director, Graduate Admissions and Recruiting, Indiana University