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So if you pass the GRE and you GPA is not super high can you still make it make it

Your answer said it depends on the school. And the GRE and your personal statement #higher-education

Thank you comment icon Thank you i appreciate it Nadege

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John H.’s Answer

Hi, Nadege: I assuming that you are talking about getting into a graduate school, right? I was on an admissions committee at Harvard's graduate school of government. The GPA and the GRE score helped us determine whether or not a candidate could handle the academic workload. If both were good, then we didn't worry about that aspect of the application. If the GPA was low then we hoped the GRE would compensate, and visa versa. If we were on the fence about a candidate's academics, we then looked at other aspects of the application (recommendations, personal statement, resume, leadership, etc.) and expected that that part of application would be the most impressive. In other words, if your academics are borderline, the rest of your application needs to be REALLY strong. Now, I would say that this is the case when applying to any school. I hope this helps.

Thank you comment icon Ok I see. If so why some people for a master program? I head that people go for a master program to boost their GPA. So I thought GPA was everything in grad school Nadege
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Jessica’s Answer

Definitely! It's true that each program has a range of acceptable GPAs but the admissions committee look at you entire application. You just need a GPA high enough to get your application reviewed. So if your GPA is not outstanding you have to work a little extra to make your application stand out but it's doable!
Edited to add: answer is based on my experience with grad school in the US

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Michelle’s Answer

Hi Nadege,


I would agree that it depends on the school and the program for which you are applying. When I was at MSU Denver, some of our grad programs required high GPA's but did not require a GRE, which other programs required both. If your GPA is not high, I would recommend that you check out the application process for the schools you are interested in attending, perhaps speak with the admissions counselor, explain your situation and get some guidance and suggestions. Focus on making the rest of your application strong and getting some great letters of recommendations and put a focus on your personal statement as to why you want to attend that particular school and program.


Best of luck.

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Debra’s Answer

As the others wrote - different graduate programs/schools have different ranges for acceptance into their programs. But also as they wrote - the acceptance decision is based on your whole application - not just those 2 scores. Grad programs often request an interview. That's a great way to show your interest and your intended persistence. And letters of recommendation can make a big difference too. Try to get a letter of recommendation from someone who has graduated from the program(s) you're interested in. That may carry more weight when they see a recommendation from someone they know and someone who finished the program. And if your first choice school doesn't accept you, just try some different schools. Have at least 5 schools/ programs on your list. Some schools will also take a grad students on probationary status if scores are low but the rest of the application is strong. And then when you successfully complete your first semester, you're taken off probationary status. Also -you can retake the GRE multiple times ...so you could study or take a GRE "help course" and then retake it to bring your score up. Seeing you retook the GRE also can tell the folks making the admission decision how important being accepted into the program is to you. Best of luck. And remember, when it comes to college - PERSISTENCE is over half the battle. There are plenty of "smart" people who don't finish or even attempt graduate school.... persistence, above all else - matters.

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