5-year Deadline?

[Lexie05]

So, in general GRE scores are good for 5 years. Does this mean that I would have to apply to grad programs by September 2016 if I take the Sept. GRE this year? Would I be able to use these scores if I submitted applications in October or November of 2016? Sorry if this seems like an obvious question.

[eklavya]

technically yes, as this is the widely held belief. but put yourself in your professors' shoes and ask the question - do i really want to take a student who is showing gre scores 5 years old? my advice to you is don't worry about something that's some 5 years down the road. if you want, you can start preparing for it now, or few years later.

why do you want to take gre now and report it 5 years later anyway?

[Lexie05]

Honestly, I am taking it because of the 50% discount. I am firmly committed to pursuing a Ph.D. after gaining work/more research experience. I figured that the scores are good for 5 years, so why not? Do POIs really look down on older scores?

[Lexie05]

Bump. Are older scores generally looked upon less favorably? Why would this be? I'm not being contrarian; I would just like to know whether it would make me seem uncommitted or whether the scores would be viewed as not representative....

[trevortiger]

I took it before they changed it (in July at the last possible moment) and I am planning to use it if I apply to schools in the next 5 years. From my perspective, it's not like I am going to get any "less intelligent" in that time frame. I took it so that I will have it on hand when I apply. I would think they are valid within the 5-year window from the date you took it - so if you take it September 2011, they would "expire" September 2016. I would go by application deadlines. If the submissions deadline is after September 2016, I guess you would have to take it again.

[Lexie05]

Thanks, trevortiger. That's good advice. I looked up deadlines for some of my schools, and it appears I would need to take the test again if I follow my current timeline. I'll probably still take it in case circumstances change.