How lenient are state schools with the GRE?

State schools seem to be very strict about the GRE, but I was wondering if under some circumstances it could be waived?

I got the University of Pennsylvania, the Ivy private school, to waive the GRE.

I am trying to see if possibly a state school who is about to start an online program in city planning in the Fall of this year. It's very new and when I submitted my info to get info about the program I was called by a private company which seems to be administering the program or something. It wasn't the school itself.

I am a horrible test taker so I really wanted to skip the GRE and jump straight into the program. I meet all the other criteria by a mile so I am wondering if it could be possible.

Are state schools more strict about the GRE than private school or no?

 

I imagine that depends on the state. Here in California, the CSU system is looking for any reason to deny admittance. With the budget issues they have endured, they have many times the amount of applications that they can accept. I have a young friend who was denied admittance with a GPA of 3.65 in an AA degree. This person was missing one class that could have been easily made up once in the program, but they slammed the door.

I imagine that you would have to have a stellar GRE score to get into a Cal State master's program.

There's plenty of good online schools that do not require an entrance exam.

 

This state school is the only online city planning program i could find.

The one hope i am counting on is that its a very new program, starts in the fall.

I figured if UPenn was willing to waive then so might this school. It's in Florida.

 

Ah, I see. There are plenty of good prep programs for the GRE. Maybe one of those would help you feel more comfortable. If you put enough time into preparation, I'm sure you could do well, even if tests aren't your thing.

 

It doesn't hurt to ask!

 

My advice would be to ask, I'm sure it varies from school to school. That said, if you aren't a good test taker don't you worry you might not succeed in grad school? I'm about to complete my second masters degree and I've had to take a lot of tests....

 

Some are and some aren't. It depends on the requirements placed on them by their accrediting body. However, the GRE is not that hard. I took it cold and got an equivelant to a 900 on the old system. Not an awesome score by any means but it was enough to meet the requirements for the Grad school I will be attending.

 

If you got Penn to waive the GRE, I assume you already have a graduate degree?

Many schools will waive the GRE if you already have a graduate degree....I had to take the GRE for my UMass-Lowell program, but MSPP waived it because I already had a graduate degree.

As has already been said, it can't hurt to ask!