GRE

The Ivy League, also known as The Ancient Eight, is an American collegiate athletic conference comprising eight private research universities in the Northeastern United States. As we go along the article, we explore the process of applying for the GRE for the Ivy League. 

The term Ivy League stands for the eight schools as a group of elite colleges with connotations of academic excellence, selectivity in admissions, and social elitism. Its members are:

• Brown University
• Columbia University
• Cornell University
• Dartmouth College
• Harvard University
• The University of Pennsylvania
• Princeton University
• Yale University.

GRE for Ivy League: Admission Process 

If studying at an Ivy League university in the USA has been a dream you affectionately hold on to, then you know your Master’s degree application is the gateway to your dream. Like every great thing and a big dream, this application process might make you anxious as well. 

Ivy League Universities are the prestigious higher education institutions that bring you one step closer to your dream. Getting admitted into one of the colleges might be a competitive bet. You have a way out with the proper guidance and information. You might be the next great personality to join the line of the great scientists, politicians, lawyers, humanists and businessmen that Ivy League Universities have produced. 

GRE for Ivy League Admission: Apply to the 8 Elite Universities in the USA

In the following section, you know about the process of applying to the 8 Elite Universities. Ivy League schools are private universities. For your Graduate Studies, you are applying for one of the University’s graduate schools, not the university itself. Graduate schools are part of the university. 

Some of the subjects offered by Harvard Graduate Schools are:

• Harvard Business School
• Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
• Harvard Graduate School of Education
• Harvard Law School
• Harvard Kennedy School  

The same is applicable for other Ivy League schools like Brown University, Columbia University, Cornell University, Dartmouth College, the University of Pennsylvania, Princeton University, or Yale University.

GRE for Ivy League Universities: Is the Application Process to all Ivy League Universities Similar? 

Because of the absence of a centralised system of graduate studies, the Ivy League University’s application procedure and requirements might vary.  Therefore it is advisable to always check the details of the program and the college you are applying for.

GRE for Ivy League Universities: Application requirements for Ivy League schools

To put it simply, there isn’t a single magic formula to apply to an elite American school.  Students who get accepted come from diverse academic and cultural backgrounds, but it is ultimately up to each Admissions Committee to evaluate if there’s a right mix between your goals, academic record, and experience and what the university has to offer.

Although subject to change for different schools of Ivy League Universities, some common criteria you need to meet are:

• The equivalent of a U.S. bachelor’s degree transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate academic institutions you have attended (GPA included)
• Proof of English proficiency either your TOEFL, IELTS or PTE score
• Standardised test scores like your GMAT, GRE or LSAT score
• 3 Letters of Recommendation
• Personal statement
• Resume/ CV

One important noticeable feature about Ivy League Universities: Although most Universities in the USA accept one letter of recommendation, either from individuals in academia or other professional sectors who can tell about your qualifications for the programs you apply for, Ivy League Universities ask for 3 letters of recommendations. 

Here are the requirements for the average scores for students to get accepted in one of the 8 Elite Universities with GRE for Ivy League Universities: 

• Average GPA: 3.71 on a 4.0 scale
• TOEFL: 100 or higher on the Internet-based TOEFL test
• 7.5 or higher on the IELTS test
• GRE average scores ranges: 155- 170 for all subjects
• LSAT: 173 and higher
• MCAT: 36.6 and higher

Apply for a Master’s degree at Harvard

Apart from the general requirements mentioned above for GRE for Ivy League Universities, the special requirements for Harvard include:  

• Essays: Graduate School of Humanities, Social Sciences, Journalism and the like requires an essay which answers a specific question. Some grad schools also ask for both a personal history essay and an optional statement to talk about your study and career goals and how they match the programme you are applying to. 
• Professional experience and portfolio: A professional work experience related your field of at least 2 years is necessary especially for graduate schools in Business, Engineering, Design and Architecture. 
• Interview and post-interview reflection: Depending on your previous requirements and performance, you might be called for an interview. Harvard also has a post-interview reflection which requires you to submit a written reflection within 24 hours of the interview.

Apply for a Master’s Degree at Cornell University 

Most, not necessarily all the graduate fields of Cornell University require applicants to submit Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores. Other fields also accept Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) instead of GRE scores. Also, the GRE requirements vary by field. 

Check the application requirements for your desired field for details on which tests are required.

The Graduate School must receive all scores prior to the field’s application deadline. One key point to remember is to use the exact spelling of your name on both your application and test score report and the details you filled in the form.

The fields of hotel administration, real estate, management, industrial and labour relations, and the Sloan program in the field of policy analysis and management accept either the GRE or the GMAT.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What do we require for a Master’s degree at Harvard University?

Apart from the list of requirements similar to all other Ivy League schools, Harvard University specifically admits students on the basis of:

• Personal Essays
• Professional work experience and Portfolio
• Interview and Post interview reflection

What are the requirements to get admission to Ivy League Universities?

The equivalent of a U.S. bachelor’s degree transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate academic institutions you have attended (GPA included)

• Proof of English proficiency either your TOEFL, IELTS or PTE score
• Proof of English proficiency either your TOEFL, IELTS or PTE score
• Standardised test scores like your GMAT, GRE or LSAT score
• 3 Letters of Recommendation
• Personal statement
• Resume/ CV

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GRE Test

The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test is a standardized test administered by the Educational Testing Service, designed to measure the overall academic readiness of a student for graduate school. Different grad programs or PhD require applicants to take the general test as well as Subject Test that assesses technical knowledge related to a specific discipline like physics, psychology or mathematics.

GRE Scholarship

A GRE scholarship is an award that a university provides to its students based on a few criteria which might include academic record, financial condition or any other achievement. The GRE is not solely an indicator of admissions to top colleges abroad. 

Not all universities offer scholarships to every course but there are a few specific courses that provide grants to international students. A GRE scholarship might reduce your tuition fee and the cost of living abroad to a great extent. 

Scholarship for GRE 

Getting admitted to a University in the US is considered a big thing for most Indian students and parents. This is mostly because moving from a developing country to a developed country provides a lot of global opportunities. 

The global exposure, world-class facilities, education imparted by experienced faculty, is what embellishes the process of choosing to study overseas. However, the cost of living in a progressive country might be high. In such a case, a reduction in the tuition fee is a great relief.

You heard it right, a high score in your GRE might help you get a full scholarship in your dream university overseas. 

GRE Scholarships for Indian Students Criteria

There is no particular official GRE or TOEFL scholarship for Indian students. However, high percentiles in your GRE exam added with other criteria set by the university of your choice might help you get a scholarship to study in Universities abroad.

To check your scholarship availability, check the financial aid office of the university you want to get admission to. These GRE, GMAT, TOEFL are one aspect of your application process that increases your chances of getting an Indian Scholarship. 

Types of GRE Scholarship

Here is a list of GRE scholarships that might help you with your admission process to your dream university abroad:

Fellowship

The fellowship does not require additional work. It only requires you to have a good grip on your subject and a holistic understanding of it. Your application should seem promising to the universities you are applying for. The competition for this fellowship is tough as the universities only provide a limited number of fellowships.

• Teaching Assistant: The Teaching Assistant or TA-ship asks for 20 hour of work per week. The tuition fee is completely waived and there’s scope for a stipend as well. The job role usually consists of assisting the faculty imparting the course education. A complete mastery over the course is typically expected for this role as you would be subject to students’ doubt or questions. As a Teaching Assistant, you are also expected to help the professor in any administrative help related to the course.

• Research Assistant: The Research Assistant or RA-ship is another type of scholarship that requires work based on the projects you are working in. This is similar to the Teaching Assistant in terms of waivement of tuition fee and inclusion of stipend. As a Research Assistant you are required to help the students understand the course material under the guidance of a professor. You will also be assisting in doing experiments, simulations, programming, writing research papers, etc.

These are few types of funding available for students wishing to study abroad.   

Importance of GRE Score Required for Scholarship

As an Indian student, your GRE score plays a crucial role if you wish to get admitted to an M.S. or PhD course abroad. A high score increases your chances of achieving financial aid. A good GRE percentile is an indication of how better you have performed comparatively.

Make Proper Use of GRE Scores to Get Scholarship

The competition for a scholarship does not end with a GRE score. Besides a decently high GRE score, there are other requirements that are to be satisfied for assurance of your scholarship. 

• You must equip yourself with a good graduate or undergraduate score. A good overall academic performance.
• Along with a decent CGPA from the previous institute you attended last, a few letters of recommendation work in your favour.  
• A clear statement of purpose of why you want to avail the scholarship and how you will be a good fit for the institute.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is the GRE only applicable for universities in the US?

The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is a standardized test that assesses a student’s readiness to grad schools. It is used to assess a few basic as well as technical skills of international students. It is not limited to the US only.

How much of a GRE score is a good score to get admission to Universities?

A good score in the GRE always keeps you on the safe side. The percentile exposes how better you have performed comparatively.

Is the GRE scholarship available for Indian students?

Indian students can avail fellowships with the help of a good GRE score. There are three types of scholarships Indian students can avail of with the help of a good GRE score:

• Fellowship
• Teaching Assistant
• Research Assistant

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A PhD in the USA is a great achievement for anyone in any course. Be it Management, Humanities, Sciences or other technical subjects, there is a big rush. One milestone you need to get along the way to your PhD in your dream university is the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). getting admitted to a PhD in the USA without GRE might be a little difficult. However, there is a way out. In this blog, we explore how we get a way to PhD in the USA without GRE. 

GRE for PhD: What is GRE? Why is it Important?

The GRE General Test is a standardized test administered by the Educational Testing Service structured to measure an applicant’s readiness for graduate school or research programs. Different grad programs or PhD require applicants to appear for a subject-specific GRE test on the basis of which scholarship is granted. A GRE scholarship might reduce your tuition fee and the cost of living abroad to a great extent.

The GRE test consists of three sections, verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and analytical writing. The GRE score is valid for 5 years and is a way to almost any university in the US. However, there are a few universities that focus more on your work experience and overall academic performance. 

Scholarships With GRE scores

With a good GRE score, you can avail the following scholarships in universities overseas. 

• Teaching Assistant: The Teaching Assistant or TA-ship eliminates your tuition fee and asks for 20 hours of work per week. Your role as a TA consists of assisting the faculty in imparting the course education. Complete mastery over the course is expected for this role as you might also engage in clearing students’ doubts
• Research Assistant: The Research Assistant or RA-ship is another type of scholarship where you are supposed to assist a professor in projects, experiments, simulations, programming, writing research papers, etc. As a Research Assistant, you are also expected to help the students understand the course material under the guidance of a professor. 

However, it is important to know that students or Research Scholar getting grants is a tough call and thousands of students apply for the test and seek a scholarship. GRE should not be your sole indicator to study abroad, neither should it stand in your way to your dream. 

What would you require for PhD admission in the USA without GRE?

The Universities offering PhD in the USA without GRE scores might set other criteria for admission. Not only is meeting the criteria required but also you are expected to excel in your field for a better chance to stand out among the many students that apply. Some other criteria that you need to keep in mind while applying for a PhD in the USA without GRE are:

• A Good Academic Career: Universities offering PhD would scan through your academic reports. A decent score in your colleges and undergrads might pave way for your admission.
• Professional Work Experience if any: In case you were engaged in any subject-related work prior to the PhD, the experience might work in our favour. 
• Letter of Recommendation:  A letter of recommendation from the institute you attended last or from your internship mentor increases your chance drastically.

These are some of the basics you need to maintain for a PhD admission in the USA without GRE. Although, it is advisable that you thoroughly go through the criteria section of the university you are applying for. Along with these basics, your communication skills in the interview always has an upper hand. 

US universities without GRE for PhD

An MS or PhD in US universities is a great deal and calculating the number of students who apply every year, it is a tough nut to crack. Not all US universities provide admission on the basis of GRE scores. Some of the US universities without GRE for PhD are listed for your reference:

• Chicago School of Professional Psychology: If your interest in Psychology is booming and your dream destination of doing a PhD in the USA and GRE has not been your strength area, Chicago School of Professional Psychology is the right choice for you. It is a three-year full-time course that offers PhD in organisational leadership. 
• Walden University: From all the hustles you went through for your degree in Business Management and Administration, with GMAT or other tests, how about a Doctorate in Business Administration from one of the world’s top universities with all of your business knowledge and skills? Imagine the return on investment!    
• Colorado Technical University: A Doctorate in Computer Science without a GRE and that too from the comfort of your home. How cool is that! Along with an in-depth knowledge of specialized subjects related to computer science you are prepared to predict trends and make contributions in your area of expertise.  
• Smith College: A PhD from Smith College without a GRE provides opportunities to explore your interested field and get in-depth knowledge and hands-on learning. However, it requires a lot of professional work experience to get admitted to the PhD program. 
• Simmons College: Simmons College provide a Doctorate in Nursing Practice without GRE. It is a 33 credit course with the flexibility to customize and learn at the Scholar’s pace. Simmons College is located in Boston, MA. 

These are some of the alternatives you can explore for your dream of completing PhD in the USA without GRE. This degree would be your gateway to a lot of global opportunities in your career. Research well and all the best!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is PhD in the USA without GRE possible?

GRE being the gateway for most courses in the US, there are a few exceptions. Some of the Universities in the USA that offer PhD without GRE are:

• Chicago School of Professional Psychology
• Walden University
• Colorado Technical University
• Smith College
• Simmons College

What are the other requirements for PhD in the USA without GRE?

For most universities, GRE is the minimum criteria for a Doctorate degree. In case you are applying for a PhD without GRE you need to ensure the following:

• A good academic career
• Work experience
• Letter of recommendation
• A good written and spoken English proficiency.

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GRE vs CAT

The GRE, GMAT or CAT, XAT, CMAT, SNAP, CET or MAT are ability testing standardized tests used for assessing an applicant’s ability to pursue an MBA degree either in India or abroad. These popular MBA entrance examination scores are used as crucial eligibility criteria by many business colleges and universities. Know more about two of the MBA entrance examinations, GRE and CAT and all you need to ponder before choosing GRE vs CAT. 

What is GRE?

The Graduate Record Examination(GRE), owned and administered by Educational Testing Service, is one of the standardized tests that is an admission requirement for many graduate schools in the United States and Canada and few in other countries.

What is CAT 

The Common Admission Test (CAT) is a standardized test used in the assessment of applicants wishing to get admission to postgraduate management programs. It is conducted by the Indian Institute of Management which means it is only applicable for Indian business schools. However, a few universities abroad also accept CAT scores for admission into their MBA or MIM Business Management program. The Universities abroad that do not differentiate GRE vs CAT are:

• Asian Institute of Management-Washington Sycip Graduate school of Business, Manila-Philippines
• EDHEC Business School, Paris, France

GRE vs CAT: Differences

GRE vs CAT is one of the hot topics of discussion among students aspiring for an MBA. Here we break some common myths about GRE and CAT. 

• While both GRE and CAT have a similar course structure and both assess an applicant’s suitability for business, GRE focuses on testing abilities of students for admission in MBA anywhere across the globe and CAT limits itself to business schools in India only. Many universities accept GRE scores instead of GMAT. Therefore, go through the criteria and eligibility section carefully. 
• There GRE is conducted for 340 marks for 3 hours 45 minutes and CAT is for 300 marks for 3 hours. 
• The validity of the GRE is 5 years whereas the validity of the CAT is only 1 year. 
• GRE is conducted all round the year and CAT is conducted once a year. 

Difficulty level: GRE vs CAT

The Grade Record Examinations (GRE) and Common Admission Tests (CAT) are the two most popular tests for admission into business and management institutions. The syllabus for both tests is almost similar. What differentiates the tests are their difficulty level in different sections. 

The tests are divided into three sections:

• Verbal ability / Reasoning
•  Quantitative Aptitude
• Data interpretation / Analytical writing

While GRE vs CAT is not obvious in the verbal ability section, it becomes distinct in the quantitative reasoning section. The CAT asks tricky questions in this section as it tests the candidate’s problem-solving skills in some given environment.

GRE vs CAT: Eligibility

The eligibility criteria for GRE is quite liberal and does not require any specific qualification. However, the CAT requires a minimum of 50% in the undergrads. 

GRE vs CAT: Syllabus

The CAT exam syllabus is conducted based on three main sections, i.e.

1. Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension

2. Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning

3. Quantitative Aptitude

Whereas the three sections of the GRE syllabus include: 

1. Verbal Reasoning

2. Quantitative Aptitude

3. Analytical Writing

GRE vs CAT: Top business schools in India

Top business schools in India accepting CAT as one of the criteria include central Indian institutes like India Institute of Management (IIM), Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi University and some other public and private business schools. 

Business schools accepting CAT score

Here is a list of Business schools accepting CAT scores: 

Institute	Place	Fees (in lakhs)
INDIAN INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT (IIM)	Ahmedabad	23
INDIAN INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT (IIM)	Bangalore	23.20
INDIAN INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT	Lucknow	19.25
INDIAN INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT (IIM)	Indore	16.50
INDIAN INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT (IIM)	Kozhikode	19
INDIAN INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT (IIM)	Ranchi	15.30
RAJIV GANDHI INDIAN INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT (IIM)	Shillong	15
INDIAN INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT (IIM)	Trichy	16.5
INDIAN INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT (IIM)	Udaipur	17.59
INDIAN INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT (IIM)	Raipur	14.21
INDIAN INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT (IIM)	Kashipur	14.75
INDIAN INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT (IIM)	Visakhapatnam	13.65
INDIAN INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT (IIM)	Nagpur	13.75
INDIAN INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT (IIM)	Sirmaur	11.75
INDIAN INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT (IIM)	Amritsar	12
INDIAN INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT (IIM)	Rohtak	16.65
INDIAN INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT (IIM)	Bodhgaya	11
INDIAN INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT (IIM)	Jammu	13.80

FAQs 

Is GRE tough?

While the syllabus for GRE and are almost similar, the difficulty level for the verbal reasoning of both GRE and CAT are at par with each other. However, there is a difference in the quantitative reasoning section and CAT asks tricky questions as it assesses an applicant’s problem-solving skills in a given environment. 

How is GRE different from CAT?

The GRE is a standardized test used for MBA entrance to get admission to any business school around the globe whereas CAT is a standardized test used for MBA entrance in India only. 

For how many years is GRE and CAT score valid?

The GRE score is valid for 5 years and the CAT score is valid for only a year.

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