For most PT schools in california, or in general, is the GRE used as just a cut-off point, or does the higher score you get improve your chances of getting in? What is the weight of the GRE in your application?

for example most schools say "A minimum of 450 in Verbal, 500 in Quantitative, and a score of 4.5 in the Analytical writing is required."

Thanks

I'm sure every school is different but this is what is on the website for one school in Chicago..maybe it will help you out a bit..


The Admissions Decision
The following elements of evaluative criteria are used by the Department of Physical Therapy Admissions Committee when reviewing applicants.

The Admissions Equation:
Total Selection Index Points = TSIP = 100 points

Graduate Record Exam verbal and quantitative scores (15%)
GRE Analytic Writing score (5%)
Last 60 undergraduate hours GPA (15%)
Prerequisite GPA (25%)
Academic preparation (15%)
Additional factors (25%)

Graduate Record Exam (15%) will be based upon the sum of the scores in the verbal and quantitative.

GRE Analytic Writing (5%) will be based on the score of the GRE Analytic Writing section.

Cumulative GPA (15%) will be computed based on the last 60 hours of undergraduate courses.

Pre-Requisite GPA (25%) will be computed based on grades earned in the prerequisite biology, chemistry and physics courses, the calculus course, the statistics course and the psychology courses.

Academic Preparation (15%): will be based on

School attended: (competitive vs non-competitive )
Course load taken/factors affecting course load (e.g. full time work)
Number of credit hours per term
Whether more than one science/math course was taken per term
Additional science courses taken; caliber; type; grade; relevance; lab
Recentness of prerequisite science courses; update of old prerequisite science courses; work experience refreshing old sciences
Type and amount of prerequisites left to complete and plan for completion
Graduate course work taken and gradesAdditional Factors (25%): will be based on

Mitigating circumstances issue
Efforts since last application to program: additional course work; additional work/volunteer experience
Specific facts presented in personal statement and the letters of recommendation
Work/volunteer experience
Cultural diversity
Other language fluency
Generic abilities

I've applied to 4 schools in different areas of CA. CSU Sacramento's graduate program requires GRE scores, but it's PT school itself doesn't use them as a factor. You could ace it or bomb it and it makes no difference. They feel GRE scores have no bearing on how you will succeed as a PT student.

Western University of Health Sciences did not require them.

Univ. of Pacific and CSU Northridge required them.