GRE question

[bigblackjeeps]

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Is it really worth it to take the GRE? Of all of the schools that I have looked at, most of them don't even consider GRE scores, and the few that do don't require it. Also, if I should take it, should I wait to submit my AMCAS until I get my scores, or can I send it off, and then send my GRE scores when I get them? I probably won't get the GRE scores for another few weeks, and everything else in my application is ready to go as soon as the MCATs arrive 🙁 . If any of you could give input, and maybe save me $120, that would be great. Thanks in advance.

 

[Neuronix]

Is it really worth it to take the GRE?

For MD/PhD programs? No. As you've already pointed out, the vast majority are fine with just MCAT scores. Unless you have your heart set on some program that requires a GRE score, I would not take it.

 

[Gfunk6]

A few schools (like mine) require you to take the GREs before graduate school, just so it is on the record (this is the General GRE, BTW). You *could* take it before applying to the MSTPs, but as neuronix pointed out, it is not particularly useful.

 

[Doctor&Geek]

A few schools (like mine) require you to take the GREs before graduate school, just so it is on the record (this is the General GRE, BTW). You *could* take it before applying to the MSTPs, but as neuronix pointed out, it is not particularly useful.

WHAT? 😱

 

[clockitnow]

The only school that I found required the GRE was University of Michigan if you wanted your PhD in biomedical engineering. Since I am probably going to get my PhD in biomedical engineering, I am taking the GRE in a month. I figure that I can use it to apply to some PhD only programs as a backup.

 

[Neuronix]

I think Harvard/MIT Biomedical Engineering also requires GRE. The whole BE thing is such a grey area sometimes, and I forgot to mention that. Still, you have a bunch of BE programs you can apply to without it (Penn, Stanford, Northwestern, CWRU, more...)

 

[clockitnow]

The whole BE thing is such a grey area sometimes, and I forgot to mention that.

What do you mean by it is a grey area?

 

[Neuronix]

BE is a grey area with respect to a number of issues:

1) Is it at all integrated with the MD/PhD program? Is it even nearby?
2) Do they require GRE scores? A separate application?
3) Is there a very small number of students the program is willing to take into BE each year? At any school I know of, there's a set number of spots the program wants to take, and it's very small (e.g. Penn one or two at most).
4) Is a transfer into the department possible if you start outside BE?

There's probably more things I'm not thinking about right now. All of these answers with respect to molecular departments are usually:
1) yes
2) almost never
3) somewhat true, but not as strict as BE
4) yes

 

[Gfunk6]

WHAT? 😱

Aw yeah. Welcome back to the wonderful world of standardized testing!