Going to grad school is a dream for many college seniors. As graduation is drawing near, it’s only natural to consider where you want your career to go. You might have realized that most masters programs require high GRE scores for an applicant to be considered. But some don’t care whether they have a score or not, yet they still get in. Although it is always advisable to keep your options open as long as possible, if you’re starting to think about graduate school and haven’t taken the GRE, don’t panic yet. There are some ways around this problem, so applying to grad schools might not be a lost cause for you.
How To Get Into Grad School Without GRE Score
Graduate schools require scores from applicants to assess the degree of difficulty and their preparedness for graduate coursework. Many students take the GRE when they’re in college, not knowing that they might not need it at all. This is why some do not bother to register for the test or don’t even sign up until it’s too late. However, there are still ways of getting into grad school without a high score. Here are some helpful tips on how you can work your way around this requirement:
Check For Graduate Schools That Don’t Require GRE Scores
You can find graduate schools that do not require GRE scores in their application. This is good if you’ve missed the test but still want to apply somewhere. Many schools that do not require the GRE provide their entry exams or short essays. Instead, they require that you submit your transcripts and letters of recommendation to show your capabilities for graduate work. Hence, you could still get in if your application is strong enough. As long as your GPA is decent, you can easily get in.
Take The GRE Later On
If you’re serious about applying to grad schools, then taking the GRE might not be a bad idea. If the deadline has already passed for most test dates, you can always take it later. You can register online or through the mail before the actual date of your test. Some study during breaks between classes if you’d like, so they have additional time to prepare. Since some students are usually busy working during their college years, you could even wait until graduation to sign up for the test again. Your college career is over anyway, and taking it one more time won’t hurt as long as that’s what you want to do.
Participate In Extracurricular Activities
Most schools require applicants to have strong extracurricular activities as part of their applications, so this is another great idea if you don’t have a high GPA or GRE score. Graduate school admissions boards look at these kinds of things, and they view students who show signs of leadership and have strong support networks to be more promising. Hence, you could do volunteer work or sign up for student organizations relevant to your field of study so that you can beef up your application even more.
Know Which Courses To Take For Grad School Application
If you want to go to grad school, but you know that your GPA is not quite enough for you, then studying for a master’s degree in a related field might be a good idea. Some courses can help in applying to graduate school. For example, many subjects create strong foundations for students who plan on going to grad school. If you’re planning on pursuing law or medicine, classes such as philosophy and biology give you much to work with when it comes down to your application. Not only will taking these courses to increase your knowledge of the subject matter, but they can also make graduate schools take notice of how serious you are about their professional programs.
Obtain A High GPA In Your Major Field Of Study
This is the basic formula to land a spot in graduate school since most schools require that applicants have at least a 3.0 GPA or even higher. If your major field of study also falls under the professional program, you plan on entering. Then this will help. Hence, it’s highly recommended that before considering taking courses for grad school application, try to do well in your major subjects first and foremost. When you start receiving high marks on exams and coursework submissions, you’ll find out how much work has been put into your chosen subject.
You’re a college senior, and you want to go to grad school, but no GRE score. No problem. Many options are available just for people like yourself, such as taking the GRE later or applying to schools that accept the waiver option. If your GPA is above average, then you might even be able to get in without taking the test at all. If this is of interest, speak with an adviser about improving your chances of getting accepted into their graduate program.
