GRE Score international applicants

[Thinker123]

I was thinking about whether or not admissions committees take the results of international applicants (non-native English language speakers) differently into account than the ones of native English speakers. For me, also the quantitative section was slightly more difficult than if I had taken the tasks in my native language.

Of course, gre is supposed to level out differences in international and/or national education evaluations. For the gre is the weakest part of my application, it would be interesting to know if all other aspects were great, an only slightly above average gre would make them say there's no chance for this international applicant.

Thanks and regards.

[phmhjh85]

I was just thinking the same since we internationals can hardly be as comfortable in verbal with all those bizzare words that I have never seen in my whole life even though I have been studying everything in English since kindergarten !! Does anybody know if the same rules specially in verbal apply to international applicants as well?

[1Q84]

Of course it depends on what programs you're applying to. English programs, you must be as proficient with the language as much as a native speaker.

For other programs, I would say still for the most part, internationals don't get much special consideration. You're expected to be up to par with English speakers, and you said so yourself: you've been studying English since kindergarten (which pretty much equates to an English speaker, at least to me) and you don't know the words. I think that would be true for a majority of the English-speaking population in North America as well.

[Thinker123]

Well, there´s actually a big difference between being equal and close to a native speaker and the vocabulary that gets tested in the GRE verbal section. It seems more like an excerpt of words that are used least frequently in American language. I studied at Harvard and several other institutions in English and NEVER had any problem, even with highly-advanced words. Additionally, being tested in math in another language is somewhat more difficult than if you had been in your native.

[ohgoodness]

"Note to International Applicants: We realize that the GRE scores of international students, particularly those whose first language is not English, may be affected by language and cultural differences. This is taken into consideration when such students' applications are evaluated. The scores are nevertheless required and must come directly from Educational Testing Service."

This is from Duke. http://gradschool.duke.edu/admissions/requirements/gre.php

[Thinker123]

Great and a bit motivating, since my GRE could be the primary reason for not getting into the programs I´d like to get into. I´m sure that many international applicants face the same thing.

[moody]

From what I know, this may be taken into consideration by the admissions committee to some degree - particularly if the rest of your application is strong and there is evidence of good writing and/or quantitative abilities elsewhere. There may still be GRE requirements within the university, though, for admission (typically these would be quite low cut offs) or for more lucrative fellowships (these would typically be quite a bit higher)... and it is unlikely that international students would be held to a different standard in these cases.

[chemaholic]

I am a bit worried. When you look at the admission requirements for the Biomedical Gateway Program at the Indiana University of Indiana School of Medicine (http://grad.medicine.iu.edu/degree-programs/ibmg/admission-requirements/), you find that the average GRE scores of accepted international applicants are a lot (!) higher compared to average scores for admitted domestic applicants. This at least holds true for both the quantitative and the verbal score. So apparently, as an international applicant you have to score comparably high in the GRE to get admitted to some programs, regardless of being a native speaker of English or not...

[antanon82]

I am a bit worried. When you look at the admission requirements for the Biomedical Gateway Program at the Indiana University of Indiana School of Medicine (http://grad.medicine...n-requirements/), you find that the average GRE scores of accepted international applicants are a lot (!) higher compared to average scores for admitted domestic applicants. This at least holds true for both the quantitative and the verbal score. So apparently, as an international applicant you have to score comparably high in the GRE to get admitted to some programs, regardless of being a native speaker of English or not...

Its getting tougher day by day for us international students, eh?

[ohgoodness]

I am a bit worried. When you look at the admission requirements for the Biomedical Gateway Program at the Indiana University of Indiana School of Medicine (http://grad.medicine...n-requirements/), you find that the average GRE scores of accepted international applicants are a lot (!) higher compared to average scores for admitted domestic applicants. This at least holds true for both the quantitative and the verbal score. So apparently, as an international applicant you have to score comparably high in the GRE to get admitted to some programs, regardless of being a native speaker of English or not...

This is most likely a whole-packet thing. Most internationals,especially non-anglosaxons, are'nt able to counter an average GRE with other parts of their applications. Our grades translate poorly, which makes it harder for the adcom to really understand what it is going on; our universities generally do not look to undergraduates for pt-positions, making it harder to get relevant experience early, and our LOR's probably do not sound everyday familiar to adcoms. In all - the GRE becomes the standardized measures of internationals and since the cohorts are so small - only the best gets in.

[chemaholic]

Which country are you from, cherub? Do you maybe know whether graduate schools might have preferences regarding the citizenship of international applicants? Do they prefer one country over the other? They probably would never officially state something like that but is there maybe a tendency?

Edited December 9, 2012 by chemaholic

[ohgoodness]

Sweden but my program is very American/German but I know nothing about preferences. Neither my advisors nor POI/Faculty that I have had informal meetings with has mentioned anything about this. My main professor, from UW-Madison, has really pushed me towards private schools since their financial set-up is different but that is the only thing I've identified as different for internationals.. Obviously if your country of citizenship has a good nice set-up for helping students financially during phds then that could be a plus in the future.

I did, however, list EUI (European University Institute) and Max Planck Institute in the list of schools of application to let them know that I am applying to rich European schools. Figured it would lead them to offering me the funding I need

Edited December 9, 2012 by cherub