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The GRE in Admissions: Examining the Evidence and Arguments

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Conference

2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Location

Portland, Oregon

Publication Date

June 23, 2024

Start Date

June 23, 2024

End Date

July 12, 2024

Conference Session

Graduate Studies Division (GSD) Technical Session 2: Graduate Student Pipeline and Workforce Development

Tagged Division

Graduate Studies Division (GSD)

Permanent URL

https://peer.asee.org/48102

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Paper Authors

biography

Edward F. Gehringer North Carolina State University Orcid 16x16 orcid.org/0000-0002-5217-2643

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Dr. Gehringer is an associate professor in the Departments of Computer Science, and Electrical & Computer Engineering. His research interests include computerized assessment systems, and the use of natural-language processing to improve the quality of rev

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Abstract

A recent trend in graduate admissions has been to eliminate the requirement to submit GRE scores (called “test optional”), or even to prohibit their use in admissions decisions. This paper summarizes the arguments for and against the use of standardized tests in general, and the GRE in particular. The GRE provides a comparison that is at least facially objective, though scores may be influenced by factors such as test anxiety. GRE scores seem to predict outcomes like GPA and degree completion, but different surveys and statistical methods lead to different conclusions. The GRE may enable programs to better target their admission offers to students who can succeed, but it may also discourage minority applications.

Gehringer, E. F. (2024, June), The GRE in Admissions: Examining the Evidence and Arguments Paper presented at 2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Portland, Oregon. https://peer.asee.org/48102

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