How does the GRE fit into my overall application to graduate school?
In general, the two most important factors in an application to graduate school are your GPA and GRE General Test score. Certain programs may also strongly consider GRE Subject Tests, extracurricular work, research, any work you’ve had published, letters of recommendation, your personal statement, etc., but all schools will look strongly at your GPA and GRE scores. The GRE General Test is a standard that graduate programs use to compare you to applicants from undergraduate schools from around the world, which is why they take it so seriously. Think of the GRE as your chance to set yourself apart from your rival applicants. If you’re near the end of your undergraduate career there isn’t much you can do to affect your GPA anymore. But there is a lot you can do to affect your GRE score!
