Are you a prospective Psychology graduate student trying to figure out the GRE’s role in your application? Curious about the score requirements for top PhD programs? You’re in the right place! In this post, we’ll break down everything you need to know about GRE scores for psychology programs.
The GRE and Psychology Programs
Some psychology programs have moved away from the GRE, but the field overall hasn’t. When researching schools, you’ll encounter a mix—some require the test, others make it optional, and some don’t consider scores at all. This variety can make it challenging to determine how much the GRE matters for your application. For many students, these mixed requirements make it difficult to decide whether to take the GRE. Let’s explore a few scenarios that applicants often face.
Mixed GRE Requirements at Targeted Schools
In this scenario, your target schools have varying GRE requirements—some require the test, while others don’t. Your decision depends on how much you want to attend the schools that need the GRE. If you’d regret not applying to any of them, it’s best to take the GRE if possible. You don’t want to miss out on a great program just because the test isn’t required everywhere you’re applying.
Deciding gets trickier when your list includes both schools that don’t require the GRE and test-optional programs. In this case, you need to assess whether taking the GRE will strengthen your application. If you’re confident in your academic history, research experience, and fit with your chosen schools, the GRE might not be necessary. However, if you believe a strong GRE score could enhance your profile, it may be worth taking the test.
If you feel weak in certain areas—or if you’re applying to very competitive programs—a strong GRE score can boost your application. When deciding, try ranking your schools. If test-optional schools are among your top 1-3 choices, it’s likely worth taking the GRE. Even if your application is strong in other areas, you still want to maximize your chances, right? In that case, studying hard for the GRE and submitting competitive scores gives you one more advantage.
Different GRE Requirements at the Same School
Prospective Psychology grad students need to carefully check if GRE requirements are consistent across a department. Often, different subfields within the same department may have varying standards. For instance, a school might not require the GRE for counseling or social psychology, but it might for cognitive or clinical programs. Some departments, like the University of Minnesota–Twin Cities require the GRE for more quantitative specialties. Additionally, certain faculty at schools like the University of Indiana–Bloomington, may require the GRE, while others do not. Be sure to know the exact requirements for your program, subfield, and potential advisor.
Master’s vs. PhD GRE Requirements
You might wonder if test standards differ for master’s vs. PhD programs. Many programs listed below don’t offer a terminal master’s degree, meaning they only provide a master’s en route to a PhD. However, some psychology master’s programs exist and may require the GRE for admission. Generally, there are two types of psychology master’s programs: one for licensure in counseling and another preparing students for a doctoral program. Opting for a master’s first might be a good choice if your application profile is weaker or if you’re unsure about committing to a PhD. Here are some programs and their test requirements:
- Towson University: Concentrations in clinical, counseling, experimental, and school psychology. No GRE required.
- Western Carolina University: MA in Clinical Psychology program, prepping students for doctoral studies. No GRE required unless your GPA is under 3.4.
- Pepperdine University: Master’s programs in Psychology and Clinical Psychology with an emphasis on Marriage and Family Therapy. The MA in Psychology readies students for further studies or careers in industry. The MA in Clinical Psychology prepares students for licensure in counseling. No GRE required.
What If I’m Only Applying to Schools That Don’t Accept the GRE?
While you could apply only to schools without a GRE requirement, I generally recommend not letting the test dictate your choices. Taking the GRE can be stressful, scary, and expensive, and many of us would prefer to avoid it. However, you should apply to schools that are the best fit and most exciting for you. Graduate education requires a significant investment of time and resources to advance your career, so you want to study in the right place with the right people. Don’t eliminate a great school just because they require the GRE.
Every application cycle I meet prospective grad students who don’t believe they can master the GRE. I talk to applicants who are on the verge of talking themselves out of applying to certain schools. Why? Because they are worried that they aren’t good enough for certain programs or that they’ll never figure the GRE out. And every year, with some encouragement and a lot of hard work and determination, many of those students nail the GRE and get into the programs of their dreams.
But what if you do end up only applying to schools without the GRE? Then you want to make sure you spend your time really refining the rest of your application – particularly any written materials you need to submit. Your essays are often the most important part of your application, don’t neglect them! Do plenty of research to find out what your targeted schools are looking for in prospective students. Make sure you know your potential advisors research areas and work. And have a clear, compelling narrative for your essays explaining why you want to go to grad school, what you want to do there, and why this particular school is the right fit.
Average GRE Scores for Psychology Programs
Because so many Psychology programs are test optional there isn’t a lot of public score data available. But, some programs do release their average admitted scores. From this we can reasonably assume that the average GRE score for a student admitted to a top-25 program is 155+. In general Psychology departments will prioritize the Verbal section. However, more quantitative focused subfields will look for strong Quant scores as well. Keep in mind that ultra competitive programs will likely have average scores in the 160s. Test optional programs don’t weigh the GRE as heavily as programs that require it. But, you will still want a strong score to mitigate application weaknesses and stand out from the crowd. Here are the requirements for GRE scores at U.S. News and World Report’s top-50 programs:
Takeaways
A strong GRE score can still be an essential component of a successful application to a graduate Psychology program. You’ll want to carefully research the requirements for each of your prospective schools. Then weigh the strength of the rest of your portfolio to see if the GRE can help you. Taking a free practice test early is a great way to see where your baseline is. This is key to figuring out how much studying you’ll need to do to achieve your goals.
If you are ready to jumpstart your GRE prep, consider a Magoosh Premium Plan today to access world-class video explanations, study plans, and real ETS questions.
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