Bioengineering & Bio PhD - Is the GRE essay even worth studying for?

[shibainu]

Someone told me they don't take a glance at the scores. Is this true?

[Monochrome Spring]

It depends on the programs you apply to and the professors you are interested in working with. A few professors I talked to said that they would be concerned with a score below 50th percentile. The GRE writing section is a standard five paragraph essay for basic argumentation, which is something you'll use in your research writing, even if it isn't as simplistic. So, I think you should "study" in the sense that you read through higher scoring essay examples from the ETS website. I think it is the easiest section to study for, if you are a native English speaker and have a basic grasp on the five paragraph essay format.

[Vene]

All said and done, it's probably the least important aspect of your application.

[Monochrome Spring]

All said and done, it's probably the least important aspect of your application.

 

I agree with this. Even if there is a preference for scores, as long as you're above a minimum, the writing GRE seems to be the least important aspect of the application. So, if you don't have time to study for it, don't sweat it.