Universities dropping GRE requirement?

sailonh20 · Nov 17, 2008

xavier University in Cincinnati, OH no longer requires the GRE...thank goodness! Great program, BTW.

melmarie23, MSN, RN · Nov 17, 2008

UNH didnt require GRE scores for the MSN-Direct Entry program that I will be starting here come January.

justme1972 · Nov 17, 2008

I just realized that University of Maryland has dropped the GRE requirement for their MSN programs. They do not believe that the GRE's adequately or directly reflect one's ability to succeed in a Master's of Nursing program.
Has anyone heard of any other Universities doing this? I wonder if this will become a trend. IMO, I hope so. I was dreading that GRE.

I wished a lot more would follow suit. Wake Forest dropped their SAT requirement for high school students because a 10 year study showed that it was a horrible predictor.

I too, am looking at schools that do not require the GRE...maybe that's an idea for a sticky?

anc33 · Nov 21, 2008

I'm going to jump in as the devils advocate here - I do support the GREs. Unlike GPA, the GREs do give a level playing field for evaluation of all students no matter what school they come from (for example, at some schools a 3.5 is decent, at others it's extraordinary). I do not think the GREs are a measure of intelligence, but they are definitely a measure of test-taking ability and your ability to prepare for a specific challenge. There are a lot more tests to be had in graduate nursing, both in coursework and for certifications, so it seems reasonable to want to ensure applicants have a degree of competence in that skill.
That being said, I suspect GREs do not form a large basis at all for evaluation of an application unless you did astoundingly poorly or astoundingly well, and I think that is how it should be.
Just my

I am definitely going to have to agree with you here. While I do not think that the GRE weighs heavily in any admissions decision it can give someone a critical edge when qualifications are otherwise equivalent. I do know that many nursing programs and some public health programs have dropped this requirement. However, it seems to be the status quo for most other limited access programs. It will be interesting to see how this plays out. I wonder if it will come back into favor when NP programs switch over to the DNP or if the NP market becomes saturated in certain areas.

Dr. Tammy, FNP/GNP-C · Nov 21, 2008

I am definitely going to have to agree with you here. While I do not think that the GRE weighs heavily in any admissions decision it can give someone a critical edge when qualifications are otherwise equivalent. I do know that many nursing programs and some public health programs have dropped this requirement. However, it seems to be the status quo for most other limited access programs. It will be interesting to see how this plays out. I wonder if it will come back into favor when NP programs switch over to the DNP or if the NP market becomes saturated in certain areas.

A metaanalysis is the highest level of evidence that exists. The metaanalysis cited above supports that, at best, the GRE is a poor AND weak indicator of successful outcome for students in graduate studies as evidenced by the means of the coeffiecients reported. This is not in dispute. At worst, the literature supports a negative corelation with weak stregnth as a predictive tool. The reason that many instituions and programs are dropping the GRE is because it is nothing more than a sham.

Why would the GRE come back into vogue, now that it is clear that the instrument, as a predictor, is not valid through support of research?

Please, someone let me know if there are any Level II or higher research studies out there, published this century suggesting the GRE is any more of a predictive tool for graduate success than results from palm reading.

Just say no to schools that rely on junk science while at the same time, supports the utility of evidence based practice.

TheSquire, DNP, APRN, NP · Nov 21, 2008

Why would the GRE come back into vogue, now that it is clear that the instrument, as a predictor, is not valid through support of research?

Because tossing out low GRE scores is a fast and easy way to thin out a pile of applications.

Dr. Tammy, FNP/GNP-C · Nov 25, 2008

Because tossing out low GRE scores is a fast and easy way to thin out a pile of applications.

Nice.

UVA Grad Nursing · Nov 25, 2008

As I posted in the other folder, the faculty at the University of Virginia today voted to not require the GRE for the specialty MSN programs.

As Assistant Dean for Admissions/Financial Aid, I have been petitioning my faculty for this decision since 2001. More and more schools have been making GRE changes in the past 24 months.