Getting GRE waived

[internationalhealthpol]

I had a friend who got her GRE score waived for Columbia MPH. Does anybody know what the options for this would be? What would form a good argument to ensure this would happen?

[iowaguy]

In my applications the only time I have seen that exception (assuming the school otherwise requires a GRE) is in the case of extensive professional experience, i.e. an applicant has been out of school for a number of years and has acquired an impressive portfolio of experience (one school that I'm applying to specifically mentioned something similar in their application materials).

[internationalhealthpol]

Thanks for your response!

[DeanDough74]

Funny you should ask this, because I've been debating this issue with a few schools I've been considering. From what I've seen (in Texas), the GRE can be waived depending on your undergrad GPA, your professional experience and a few other things. I have taken a few courses online with a college that didn't require the GRE. I took 4 classes and had a 4.0 GPA, graduated with honors in my undergrad. However, my top 2 choices for grad school will NOT waive the GRE at all, period. I've asked a few times, in a few different ways and they refuse. What they've told me is that once they start waiving the requirement, it invites a host of problems with candidates in so many situations. So basically, some school will waive with their own set of requirements, some will not.

So here I am, 15 years later from my undergrad, 15 years of work experience, now studying all the basics for the GRE. But it's necessary for the college I want to attend Good luck to you!

[dendy]

Why don't you ask your friend why her GRE was waived??