Could taking GRE be a hindrance in admission?

Parents Forum
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<p>I am considering taking GRE subject tests [Bio, and Biochem] this year to support my college application [MIT, Brown, JHU, Princeton - in not specific order :)] in case of waitlistment. </p>

<p>I am living in Poland, so I have to go to Czech Republic to take computer based test, since paper based scores are sent too late.</p>

<p>And now the problem…
I have written in application that I am considering taking in April…
MIT said that they will use GRE score as a supplement, but if I were waitlisted.</p>

<p>Is it possible that it would act as a psychological factor [Let’s check if he is that good, etc.] that made Admission commisioner to waitlist such an applicant? And what in such case, if he would not take GRE CB? - Rejection - he has not send anything, so he is not interested…</p>

<p>The problem with CBT is such that I have graduation on 18th April, and test is just before the graduation… I should not to go anywhere at this time I have final exams that are admission exams to local universities, so first:
My parents are going to kill me if I would go to Czech R. in April…
Second: I might have end in an non-selective university that teaches only economics… :frowning: :frowning: :(</p>

<p>Should I contact colleges and ask them to add that It cannot be CB, so I am not going to bring them GRE score, unless they ask me to go to Czech Republic and test standby, because let’s say they would admit me if I score in 80th percentile [which is fairly possible. But I hope for something higher :)].</p>

<p>I am a bit afraid to ask universities, since it might be read as lie - I might be quitting from sending them scores, because I might be not that good in Biology and Biochem as I claim :confused: [I am not lying. GRE is an easy test for me - I am sitting in it since 14 year of life, but I have it undocumented… All that I have are recommendations, knowledge, projects, and non-funds research…]</p>

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<p>Don’t worry about it. There are a lot of international applicants who submit GRE scores as part of an undergraduate application.</p>

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<p>But not subject tests… They do?
The pool of intl applicants is about 15000 for top colleges… [estimation].</p>

<p>There were 10000 Biochem test, and 20000 Biology tests between 1997-2000 [there is a conversion table in the practice test.].</p>

<p>10000 for a year… If we subtract the number of GRE ST examinations taken for applying for graduate courses, there last not that much. It seems impossible, that international applicants are steam for Graduate Record Examination. But that’s not the point at all ;).</p>

<p>I am asking about this psychological factor that may couse waitlistment.</p>

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<p>Maybe some other suggestions? How should I contact universities with such a situation? Should I even bother them?</p>

<p>Being in the center of it makes harder to look objectively at the situation.
Hence, please answer :/.</p>

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<p>jpsi:</p>

<p>You should contact the Graduate Admission offices of the universities in which you are interested as well as the directors of admission committees (or Chairs of departments) at those universities to explain your situation. Sometimes, departments may be willing to cut some slack to international applicants but are bound by the rules of the university; so they might make the admission contingent on getting the GRE (but it would not be considered during the admission process). Let me remind you, however, that most admissions for graduate programs are being processed in late January, early February. That is why if you were to take the GRE in April, it could only be used if you were waitlisted. You can wait until you find out, some time in March if you are; in that case, you could plead your need to stay in Poland. Alternatively, you could ask right now if the GRE is mandatory for graduate school admission and explain your situation.</p>

<p>Hope this helps.</p>

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<p>I am applying to college, for undegraduate courses. It is not mandatory, but with such a competition it is reasonable to take something better than SAT, since ‘everyone’ gets 800 or something close to.</p>

<p>I do not know whether I stand out, or not by terms of essay and the rest of application. GRE in 95th percentile in 18th year of life, should be quite ok to make a difference between me and other applicants. But…</p>

<p>Question:
Adcom is sitting and reading my application. He thinks: ‘Well, he is ok, but I am not sure.’ ‘Ok, let’s admit him, but… one moment… He considers taking GRE subject test. ok, so we will waitlist him, and check how he would score…’.
Here taking GRE, and mentioning it in application caused waitlistement. BUt the GRE score will not come on time, since in Poland there is no Computer Based tests, and paper based test results are mailed too late! What if the score would not come? Rejection? </p>

<p>Is such situation possible?</p>

<p>That’s my question. Whether I should call university and ask for deleting this one verse, or ask for adding “Paper Based GRE, unless you ask me to take the CB GRE”.</p>

<p>I reaaaaaly should not take such a risk of missing school just before finals and go standby to czech republic, that has CB test…</p>

<p>I also cannot pay for both tests, since my parents are refusing to pay it all… Maybe ask for a fee waiver?</p>

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<p>JPSi, the schools where you are applying are all super reaches, particularly for international students. They will assess you application on the information that is on hand and make a decision that way. In the very unlikely event that your admission hinges on that GRE test result, and I seriously doubt if it would, you would have to take those tests and submit them while you are still on the waitlist. You may be better off reapplying next year with the test results in hand. Many internationals do take GREs in place of the SATs but to have them considered, they are on file well on time. The adcoms are not going to hold up anything just to wait for your results. </p>

<p>At this point, I would make a decision as to whether you want to jeopardize your grades, which I strongly advise against to take these tests after all of the decisions are already made. You will know in the first week of April whether you are accepted, waitlisted or rejected. My inclination would be to get the required tests under the belt and reapply with them the following year. You did not have all of your ducks in a row this year.</p>

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<p>MIT told me to send GRE in case of waitlistment.</p>

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<p>Look at the numbers for accept/reject/ waitlist and where you stand. Also look at how many kids get off the waitlest at MIT. A needle in the haystack. If you are waitlisted, you will know in April. If you are not well prepared for the GREs , you will not do so well. and if you mess up your final grades, your future options will be jeopardized. You are putting an awful lot on that needle. I would take my chances as they stand and reapply next year with all of my info together if I did not get in this year. The chances of getting waitlisted at MIT, doing so well on the GRE, getting great final grades-and they will want to see this for getting off the waitlist as well, and being the few that get off the waitlist, all as an internatioal does not sound like a good investment to me. Better you finish up the year in flying colors, take the GREs in leisure, with plenty of time to study, and redo the app process this time with experience in the whole thing. There have been a number of international students who have had to do this because they simply did not have a handle on the intracacies of US college admissions. Several did get in the second time around. They were all highly qualified, just didn’t have some things quite ready the first time around.</p>

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<p>Well… Thank you. I am passing university exams this year for MIT, by the end of month. I hope that it would help me… I will never have flying colours. In average I will be in the top 5% - best in school in science, slightly above average in languages, and well above average in other humanities. I am not that kind of man, simply neurobiogically, my brain is not wired for being great in everything. Just great science and quite good other things. :/</p>

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<p>Well, see where that places you this year. If it gets you in, terrific, congrats and you are on your way. If not, try again next year where you will have some advantage, knowing the system better. You should probably include some tech schools like Drexel, or Illinois Tech or other such schools that are more forgiving of lower verbal scores. You can see if there is any way possible to take the SAT1s. Also, are you appling for financial aid? Because it is particularly tough for international students who need money. You need to really plan your strategy carefully if that is the case as few schools (MIT and Princeton are) needblind to internationals and that will come strongly into play unless your credentials are sterling.</p>

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<p>I need financial aid. BUt I might have possibility of paying for my studies after one year, by registering some patents… :(. In Poland it is tougher and takes longer.</p>

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<p>Dear applicant from POLAND: I think you have an excellent chance, as your admissions officer accent sounds like he is from Poland also.</p>