CS Subject GRE

[Snitse]

I talked to some people I know and heard from them that they didn't even take the CS subject GREs before applying to CS grad schools.

Is the CS subect GRE a requirement or suggested?

Thanks

[Snitse]

To clarify, I go to a well known university in the US.

[valeyard]

I am curious about this answer too.

[explorer-c]

I have yet to see a school that states CS GRE as a requirement. I did my undergrad outside US and got into several top schools without taking the CS GRE.

[timuralp]

It depends on the school - something you could easily check on the admission requirements page. At the time I was applying, only UC Berkeley required it.

[valeyard]

Thanks a lot for the replies. I just checked and it seems Cal highly advise ppl to take gre cs sub test but not required.

[newms]

Yeah it's generally recommended but not required. I understand that it's not high up on the list of things that adcoms look at, but it can give you an edge over a similarly qualified candidate. Its also very useful if you've been out of academia for a while.

Edited June 7, 2010 by newms

[BKMD]

If the important parts of your application are strong (esp. research experience and recs) then I don't think you need to bother with the subject test, but if you think your application could use a boost, then go for it - but don't send your scores to any schools unless you do well (say, >85%), since schools don't require it and a mediocre score can only hurt your application. It's a difficult test and covers a wide range of topics that you may not have studied in depth in school, so you'll probably need to spend a fair amount of time studying - they offer a free practice test, so you could take that to see where you're at.

(I accidentally bombed the test and was rejected from every school I sent my scores to, even though I was enthusiastically accepted by the schools I didn't send my scores to - so, be careful. They offer the test in October and November, and by the time they send the October scores, it's too late to re-take it in November.)

[weninger]

I have to disagree from most of what the other posters here say.

The GRE subject test is not used during admissions. The regular GRE is not used in admissions for top 5 universities.

Source: I've talked to several admissions folks at my university (UIUC) and others.

[Azazel]

I have to disagree from most of what the other posters here say.

The GRE subject test is not used during admissions. The regular GRE is not used in admissions for top 5 universities.

Source: I've talked to several admissions folks at my university (UIUC) and others.

Everything I've heard suggests that this answer is correct, with the exception that some top schools may filter out applicants with very low GREs.

[BKMD]

You have to keep in mind that even though an admissions committee might say that they don't consider your scores to be much of a factor, your scores still appear in your application and they will see them (with the possible exceptions of MIT and UIUC which are the only top schools I know of that explicitly say they don't want your scores). So if you have exceptionally low scores, this will be a black mark in your application that the committee can't help but notice, so be careful. On the flip side, if you have exceptionally high scores, they'll probably notice - even if they don't consider this a big factor (and certainly it's not going to get you in if you don't have research experience), it could still work to your favor as a tie-breaker, especially if your undergrad school is not as well known.

So it seems the consensus as that they don't care too much about your scores, but this doesn't mean that they'll be ignored entirely - don't send your scores unless you do really well, but do send them if you do (you never know). And it sounds like it's fine if you don't take the test at all, but the advice I've always heard is that you should take it if you don't come from a well-known school. I don't think they care at all about the general GRE, but again it would be a black mark if you do exceptionally low, so at least make sure you do decently.

[DJLamar]

The impression that I've always had is that it's a waste of time and doesn't get looked at. I agree with BKMD in that if you do really, really well, it could be a tiebreaker, but the test is really not worth the time, effort, and money (remember it's about $150 to register for it, like the general GRE) that you have to put into it. It is a very broad test and you will have to study for it a lot. I got a mediocre score because my undergrad school's recently revised curriculum basically didn't require me to take any systems or networking classes (due to my concentrations in theory and AI), and systems stuff in particular was about 40% of the test. That mediocre score is despite 4 - 6 months of sustained effort reading about computer architecture, basic OS, and networking to try to compensate for the holes in my knowledge base.

Don't feel inclined to take the test just because lots of schools seem to "strongly recommend" it, either. Unless one of the schools you want to apply to says that it's required (and I carpet bombed the top ten except for UT Austin and none of them said they required it), don't bother. The time that you would have to take to study for it in order to get a really good score (in order to get that tiebreaker, as mentioned) would definitely be better used if you invested it in doing more research.

[zep]

Don't feel inclined to take the test just because lots of schools seem to "strongly recommend" it, either. Unless one of the schools you want to apply to says that it's required (and I carpet bombed the top ten except for UT Austin and none of them said they required it), don't bother.

Is it new for 2012 that UC Berkeley requires CS PhD applicants to take a subject test? Quoting from the Berkeley CS PhD online application:

Applicants must take the GRE General Test.

Applicants must take a GRE Subject Test.

The following GRE subject tests are accepted:

• Computer Science
  
• Mathematics
  
• Physics
  

Edited September 17, 2011 by zep

[anacron]

I think that might be from the 2011 application season... I do recall seeing the same message last year.

Here is what I see on the Graduate School website:

"GRE (general test) required, advanced subject GRE suggested in either Computer Science (C29), Math (M67) or Physics (P77)"

source: http://grad.berkeley.edu/admissions/list.shtml#c

Here is what the EECS department has to say:

"Computer Science applicants are advised to take the GRE Subject test in Computer Science, Math, or Physics, although it is not required. The subject tests are offered only 3 times a year."

source: http://www.eecs.berkeley.edu/Gradadm/RequiredData.htm#gre

[zep]

Interesting. The quote that I posted above is directly from the 2012 UC Berkeley CS online application (not sure you can see it unless you create a username/password on the UCB application system).

Seems that the application and the department website contradict one and other? I'll see if I can get in touch with an administrative person at Berkeley to find out which is correct.

I think that might be from the 2011 application season... I do recall seeing the same message last year.

Here is what I see on the Graduate School website:

"GRE (general test) required, advanced subject GRE suggested in either Computer Science (C29), Math (M67) or Physics (P77)"

source: http://grad.berkeley...ns/list.shtml#c

Here is what the EECS department has to say:

"Computer Science applicants are advised to take the GRE Subject test in Computer Science, Math, or Physics, although it is not required. The subject tests are offered only 3 times a year."

source: http://www.eecs.berk...redData.htm#gre

Edited September 20, 2011 by zep

[anacron]

Interesting. The quote that I posted above is directly from the 2012 UC Berkeley CS online application (not sure you can see it unless you create a username/password on the UCB application system).

That's weird... my application doesn't say anything about the GRE test. It does have a "Self Reported Exam Scores" tab but only the usual disclaimer about sending the official ETS scores.

Perhaps the application was in the process of being modified for Fall 2012 when you gained access?

[zep]

anacron,

You're right--the "Self Reported Exam Scores" tab doesn't force you to self-report a subject GRE score. However, the Exam Requirements tab says "Applicants must take a GRE Subject Test."

Does your application say something different from this?

That's weird... my application doesn't say anything about the GRE test. It does have a "Self Reported Exam Scores" tab but only the usual disclaimer about sending the official ETS scores.

Perhaps the application was in the process of being modified for Fall 2012 when you gained access?

[anacron]

No, mine does not say that. For me it says: "Most programs require the general GRE exam for admission, and some programs require relevant subject tests. Please check with the department to which you are applying about which standardized tests are required.

[2013flyer]

For 2012 Fall, UCB CS PhD program does not require GRE Sub Test.

Applicants must take the GRE General Test.

The GRE Subject Test is NOT required for this program.

English Language Proficiency

Applicants who completed their undergraduate degree in a non-English speaking country fall under the English Proficiency requirement and must complete either the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Exam.