<p>Are these programs generally less competitive? It seems like most schools/programs require them so I am curious why some don't. Thanks</p>
<p>They possibly consider that GRE is a bad indicator of graduate school performance. I’d not count on them being less competitive. For example, as far as i know MIT does not require GRE scores, but it is certainly not considerably less competitive than most schools.</p>
<p>I’d also like to throw out there that many programs have no choice to but require GRE scores for admission - it might be mandated by the university.</p>
<p>I think some high level technical universities such as MIT do not not require GRE because:</p>
<p>1) the QR section of this test is very simple. I don’t want to boast or offend anyone, but the tasks in this section are on the same level as we solved in the 9th grade of the school I studied at in Russia (that is when we were 15). Even trigonometry is not included. Not to say about differential calculus.</p>
<p>2) the VR section for international applicants is mostly about their vocabulary rather than ability to find logical links. Vocabulary and good language are good but that’s not what MIT needs in the first place.</p>
<p>I agree that QR section is simple, but some schools would still require it because they want to filter out students who can’t even ace the “simple test”…</p>
<p>Yeah, I’m surprised they don’t have a special test for engineering students. The QR is clearly designed to test basic quant skills for social sciences etc., not the advanced math engineers need.</p>
<p>what about when 95 percent of the grad programs at a certain college require the GRE but not the one I am applying to. Does this not mean that they are desperate for more applicants?</p>
<p>I wouldn’t worry about it. Perhaps they feel the GRE doesn’t help predict success of their applicants.</p>
<p>You’re not boasting or offending anyone, sd1074. The GRE math section is designed to be mostly math that is covered by most American students by the time they hit 10th grade at the latest, because it’s a general test and not one aimed at math students. Some students (like English, philosophy, history) don’t take a single math class beyond high school, so it’s impractical for them - financially speaking, if they want the widest pool of users - to make the math beyond high school math. It explains this on the GRE website. This is why most competitive quantitative-based programs require or recommend scores in the 700s.</p>
<p>But, as already stated, whether or not a program requires the GRE isn’t a good indicator of its competitiveness or worth as a program. Look at placement rates. Are students getting jobs after they graduate? Where? How much are they making? Is there a generally accepted ranking for your field, and if so, where does your school stand? Ask professors, employers, and general workers in your field what they think of the school. Those are better indicators.</p>