5 reasons why taking the GRE is important for your master’s degree

Applying to graduate school is a lofty task. From writing your personal statement, updating your resume and acquiring letters of recommendation and transcripts, it can be a lot to think about and organize. As you look at the checklist for admission to a master’s program, the last thing you want to think about is taking the GRE. What’s so important about taking the test anyway? Allow us to explain why taking the GRE isn’t just our way of adding one more thing to your to-do checklist.

1. Taking the GRE assures you’ll be in class with the best of the best

While it may seem like you’re in the admissions process alone, taking the GRE is something everyone has to do. With the GRE scores of a prospective class, admissions officers can make sure that admitted students are among the cream of the crop, meaning you get to learn and work alongside the best of the best students.

Just like in the real world, in the master’s programs offered at Warrington and beyond, you will work a lot with your peers on assignments and projects. Take it from us, this is a situation where you don’t want to be the smartest person in the room. By taking the GRE, admissions officers can make better decisions about who can handle the coursework and who might struggle to keep up.

2. The GRE can help give your application a boost

You know from your checklist that you have to submit a personal statement, resume, letters of recommendation and transcripts in addition to your GRE score. If you feel like one (or multiple) of those materials isn’t as strong as you’d like, your GRE score is a great way to show admissions officers that you’ve got additional skills that you can bring to the table. While having a strong GRE score won’t guarantee admission, it certainly can help make up for other areas that might be lacking.

3. The GRE helps determine if you’re prepared for graduate school

We’ll be honest – graduate-level coursework is tough, but that doesn’t mean we don’t want you to do well. Our goal is to help you learn and achieve at a higher level in your chosen area of study. We know that while you might be challenged in master’s programs like Warrington’s, by taking the GRE, you’ll show us that you can take on the new material in stride.

4. You think you might want to apply to graduate school in the next five years

If we’ve said it once, we’ll say it again: making the decision to attend graduate school is difficult. If you ultimately decide that this year isn’t the best time for you to start a master’s program, that’s ok. By taking the GRE now, you can use your score anytime within five years of taking the test. So, why not take the test now and save yourself another to-do list item when the time is right for you to apply?

5. The GRE is required for admission to graduate school

The most important reason for taking the GRE? It’s simple – you can’t be admitted to competitive graduate schools without a GRE score. Just as you had to take the SAT or ACT to be admitted to the institution you attended as an undergraduate student, taking the GRE is a necessity when it comes to enrolling in a master’s program at UF and other top programs across the nation.

Hopefully, we’ve cleared up some of the reservations you have about taking the GRE. Now, check out how a master’s degree from the University of Florida can make your graduate education dreams come true. Learn more about the UF MBA program and specialized master’s degree options today.