Are GRE scores used to narrow down applicant list post-interview?

[serenade]

Assuming everyone invited for an interview/open house is the cream of the crop and performs well in person, how do schools narrow down the list? Do they turn to GRE scores? Rank of undergrad/MA institution? I imagine that everybody invited must be a strong applicant to have gotten on the interview list, so how do schools narrow down? Interview next week with 50-60% acceptance rate of those interviewed - mind spiraling into anxiety.

[matsci333]

No, i think it's typically just fit with the advisors and overall impression that you make. it's a very subjective process, but it is what it is :/

[SLPosteriorCricoarytenoid]

I too am interested in knowing how this works. I have an interview in a few weeks at my top choice program. I know I am up against some pretty amazing people and would like to know how they make the final decisions. I would assume at the interview stage and beyond that they are likely done with the numbers game. 

[TakeruK]

I think even at this stage, it is a holistic process (i.e. they will still consider all parts of your application). There is often a lot of what people call "horse trading" at this point, where different profs might have different favourite candidates and must negotiate with each other to decide who to admit. When making an argument for or against a candidate, I am sure a prof would use all of the information available to do so.

[TXInstrument11]

The general wisdom seems to be that the GREs are used as a preliminary weedout criteria, but I have heard of some folks making it to interview and then being rejected specifically because their low scores precluded funding. It seemed to me like those situations occurred where the student had contacted their POIs ahead of time and, despite vouching for them, the POI was unable to persuade their colleagues on the committee. 

 

I would recommend you check out the psych forums. One guy who posted there who interned with ETS and has some interesting information on how universities view GRE scores. 

Edited February 9, 2015 by TXInstrument11

[serenade]

The general wisdom seems to be that the GREs are used as a preliminary weedout criteria, but I have heard of some folks making it to interview and then being rejected specifically because their low scores precluded funding. It seemed to me like those situations occurred where the student had contacted their POIs ahead of time and, despite vouching for them, the POI was unable to persuade their colleagues on the committee. 

 

I would recommend you check out the psych forums. One guy who posted there who interned with ETS and has some interesting information on how universities view GRE scores. 

Interesting thread...thanks for the link! I imagine there is less emphasis on Q score in humanities than in social sciences, but I wonder if it's still used, even in humanities, to determine funding post-interview, like you mentioned. Yikes. 

[Heaven'sMaiden]

I applied to several Clinical Psychology programs and I was rejected because of low GRE scores. The only reason I know is because I contacted the various Psychology departments (the ones that answered) and they said it was my GRE . I was told that I was strong in research,GPA, and match by mentor but I need to pull up my GRE scores to the 70-80 percentile. I am retaking the GRE again and crossing my fingers.