<p>i'm thinking about taking the gre subject test in biochem & mol bio. most, if not all, of the programs i'm applying to state that a subject test is "optional but recommended." how optional is the subject test for admission into top schools for the life sciences? my problem is that the material isn't fresh in my mind and i don't want to put in that much extra effort to take an optional test.</p>
<p>what is considered a good score for a top school? how many of you out there have taken the subject test and recommend it? thanks.</p>
<p>You would want to score ~85th percentile or higher on the subject test. Some schools care more abt it than others.</p>
<p>If you have low grades and/or come from a no-name school, you have more of an incentive to write the test.</p>
<p>I have been told that a poor score will hurt you more than not taking it at all. Take that for what it’s worth.</p>
<p>From what I’ve seen, even some programs that say a subject GRE is required don’t actually “require” it.</p>
<p>yeah, i just don’t really want to spend that money/time and risk getting a low score if it isn’t really required in the first place.</p>
<p>I know some people’s opinion is that taking the subject GRE is unnecessary if your school is already well-known to provide a thorough education of the topic you want to test.</p>
<p>well in that case i’m not worried. thanks for the input.</p>
<p>The rule that was repeated to me over and over again during the biology PhD program app process: if it’s NOT required, don’t take it. (even if it was “strongly recommended,” don’t take it). If it’s required, e-mail them and double-check to make sure it’s required. </p>
<p>Or, you can take it and just don’t report the scores when given the option. Then, once you get the scores, only report them if you have done well (>85%)</p>
<p>In my experience, not taking the subject test does NOT hurt your application. It was never an issue that I hadn’t taken it (actually I did take it, but I only reported it to one school who required it).</p>
<p>It wasn’t required for me but I took it anyway. I did this because I had a low grade point average from college and wanted to assert that it didn’t reflect my capabilities. Also, if I had come from some unknown Mississippi State extension branch, I would have been eager to prove that my high GPA was valid. Apologies to all offended MS State Bulldogs.</p>
<p>Ok so let me try to understand this. If I have a high gpa and good research experience from a no-name school, if I take and do well on the subj-gre than it will improve my chances at higher ranked PhD programs?</p>
<p>i understand it as follows:</p>
<p>regardless if you have high grades, low grades, good research exp., bad research exp., come from a well known school, or come from a no name school, take the subject exam if it makes you feel better about your application. if you don’t take it, no big deal.</p>