Graduate Record Exams (GREs)

Discussion in 'Off-Topic Discussions' started by me again, Jul 14, 2002.

Loading...
  1. me again

    me again Well-Known Member

    I had to take a GRE to get into a graduate program. They said that we needed to score a minimum of 1000, but since we are all CJ professionals, they waived this requirement. It's good that they waived it because only 25% of the students passed it. ;)

    It seems that the GRE is used to get "the best and the brightest" when there is a glut of students. And when there is a shortage of students, a passing GRE score is provisionally overlooked (contingent on getting good grades in the program).

    Does anyone think that GREs are here to stay? It seems like not all colleges require them.
     
  2. Homer

    Homer New Member

    All I know is the thing is a product of ETS, a nonprofit company with hundreds of millions of dollars in annual revenue derived from educational testing (uh, where does all that cash go, btw?). I would be extremely hesitant to bet against these folks as they appear to (collectively) swing a pretty big stick.
     
  3. Bruce

    Bruce Moderator

    I think the general GRE is here to stay, but we've seen quite a few of the subject GRE's phased out over the last few years. It seems like every year there is one less subject exam.

    One of the attractive things about the GRE is that there isn't really a passing score, unless the school itself sets one. My graduate program required "acceptable scores" on the general GRE, but "acceptable" is a very subjective term. I did horrible on the quantitative, okay on the analytical, and great on the verbal, and got accepted with no problem.


    Bruce
     
  4. bobbyray

    bobbyray New Member

    GRE's....hrm. I got my "distance degree" from Regent's, using a combination of CLEP tests, residency courses (from a number of schools, some quite well-known), experience, etc. etc. Although I had many more credit hours than needed for the degree, I was lacking in some areas, and my degree program counselor suggested I take a shot at a GRE. I asked, "which one would give me the most credits in areas I need, and which one can I take the soonest?" It turned out to be the one for Sociology, on both counts - (I heard this was the hardest subject exam...anyone know if it's true?), so I signed up as I'd be able to take it in a couple of days.

    I passed it (or got an "acceptable" score), relatively easily, too (I don't recall the score though, but I exceeded what was needed by more than 100 points).

    Now, I am not awfully stupid (in fact, I've been accused of being much too smart for my britches at times...), and I do have a very wide radar when it comes to my personal study and reading interests, however I know I am no sociologist. That said, and I cite this from memory, does not GRE stand for "Graduate Record Examination" (or "Equivalence"?). In other words, would not this test be designed to show that the examinee has a knowledge of the subject equivalent to a person who had at least a 4 year degree in the subject being tested? If so, I would like to think that it should be next to impossible for a person with a casual interest in the subject pass such a test. Otherwise, the inference I get from the experience is that standards for degrees, even accredited ones, are not really all that high.

    Sure, I could take another route and claim that my general knowledge of many areas, including sociology, is equivalent to that of degreed people in those subject areas (and in fact, frighteningly enough, it may even be the case!), however I would like to think that people educated in a subject area would know and understand a bit more about the subject in question. Do I expect too much out of the education system or its graduates? Do I give myself too little credit? Although I'd like to think the latter were the case, in all honesty I would like to think that our so-called "experts" really WERE experts, and would be people I could learn a thing or two from in talking with them, instead of shaking my head in disillusioned amazement after hearing the first half-dozen words. I mean, at least twice a month you can see this in action - watch the "Jaywalking" sections of the Jay Leno show when he visits college campuses if you want to get a sort of "education" yourself. I know I am overstating the case a bit - of course a lot of people with advanced education actually use it and DO retain at least some of the knowledge imparted to them, however it seems to be that and an unacceptably high percentage of them this is not the case. Does anyone know of any post-education surveys/testing of graduates and the results? Maybe I should as google...

    In fact, very often it seems that people who have EARNED their degrees through distance learning or other similar programs really value their degrees much more, and also the knowledge assumed to be associated with them. One could wonder why this seems to be the case (rhetorical question - please don't explain!) ;o)

    Anyway...when it comes to testing, I am not sure of the value of the GRE or other similar tests as far as actually objectively testing the depth and breadth of a person's understanding of a particular subject, however I guess in relative terms (in comparison with others) and for the purpose it's being used, well, if you need credits for a degree, then I guess such tests are the way to go. In a world in which such "people" as Eminem or Britney are considered to be "artists", then I guess one should not be surprised that academic standards are perhaps coming down...if the bar's too high to jump over, I guess it's easier (and quicker) to lower the bar than to better train and condition the jumper to perform better, try harder, and jump higher. The thing is, once the bar is low enough, about all we'll be doing is tripping over it...

    damn. there i go - i've gone and gotten cynical in public again. geez, someone stop me before i do it again!



    (note to adminstrators: is it possible to extend the login timeouts a bit?)
     
  5. Homer

    Homer New Member

    The subject to which you are referring, Sociology, isn't even around any longer. However, it has been stated that the subject tests are intended to indicate students' knowledge of the subject matter emphasized in many undergrad programs. That said, it's a little tough to figure how one of these subject tests, which range from 66 to 230 multiple choice questions, can measure what one has learned during a 4-year program of study.
     

Share This Page