How important is GRE for PhD application?

[AC1]

Dear all,

I am an international applicant (from India) to the PhD program in Statistics/Biostatistics for Fall 2021 session.

A little background about me:

I completed my undergraduate in 2015, majoring in statistics with minor in mathematics and economics and my masters in statistics in 2017, both with US equivalent GPA of 4.0. Both my undergrad and masters universities are quite reputed (not ISI) and I believe I have decent mathematical preparation.  After that, till now I have been working as a biostatistician at a pharmaceutical company. Along with my job, I have been involved in some academic research projects(not full time though). One of my research project is a collaboration work with professors from Yale biostatistics, Boston University statistics and Tel Aviv University statistics. Now I was asked by the professor at Yale to apply to the PhD program at Yale and I received recommendation letters from all other research collaborators and one of my master's professor. Yes, I am of course most interested in the Yale program because the work that I am doing is new and can be extended further into my doctoral research (perhaps)

Although I have been involved in several research projects and presented talks or posters at international conferences about these projects, I have not been to get any publication as of yet (on the verge of submitting one and organizing for another submission currently). However, my GRE score is a bit on the low side 151V/163Q/4.5AWA and due to the pandemic, I could not retake the test. So, I was wondering how important GRE scores are for PhD applications? Now I know that the professor from Yale is not in the admissions committee, though I received an LOR from the same professor. Will my scores lead to automatic rejection? Particularly since the Ivy leagues are very selective in all respect.

 

Thanks in advance for your replies

[statenth]

Basically, I think your experience is outstanding enough. And your LOR might appeal compelling among the applicants. I'm not an experienced expert of grad school admissions, but, I'm sure that you will not be automatically rejected just for your GRE scores. Though I think you can grab better choices if you get more than 165 for Q. But you know what? Quite many schools are waiving submission of GRE scores for applicants these days, so why not apply? Let's give it a shot!!

Edited January 19, 2021 by statenth

[statsguy]

In our department (a top 15ish ranked school) an unusually low GRE quantitative score would be a red-flag. I was kind of shocked to hear that from the grad program director himself, as I had always thought that test was a formality.

[AC1]

On 1/21/2021 at 12:00 AM, statsguy said:

In our department (a top 15ish ranked school) an unusually low GRE quantitative score would be a red-flag. I was kind of shocked to hear that from the grad program director himself, as I had always thought that test was a formality.

This is what bothers me as well.  I have heard from some people that GRE is an important metric to weed out applicants whereas from others I have heard that it does not carry too much weight in the application process. Its confusing and even stressful as @statenth mentioned above that many programs are even doing away with GRE. Oh well I guess I have no other option but to wait and see what happens.

[nomadd4]

You can try Canadian universities. Most of them doesn't require GRE. In addition, I didn't see "GRE recommended or optional" in any application page.