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.
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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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