Paper 11
GRE – Graduate Record Examination
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Currently we use the Grade Point Average (GPA) as one of our academic selection criteria for
North American applicants.
We require an overall minimum GPA of 3.4, with greater than 3.0 in science courses (using the
4-point scale).
The GPA is awarded by individual universities and colleges – there is no national standard.
The majority of Veterinary Colleges in NA require a GRE score from students in addition to the
GPA.
Should we also ask for a GRE General Test score as part of our application process (see below)?
Graduate Record Examination - GRE - Background
General Test
The GRE General Test measures verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, critical thinking and
analytical writing skills that are not related to any specific field of study.
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Analytical Writing — Measures critical thinking and analytical writing skills, specifically the test
taker's ability to articulate complex ideas clearly and effectively
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Verbal Reasoning — Measures reading comprehension skills and verbal and analogical
reasoning skills, focusing on the test taker's ability to analyze and evaluate written material
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Quantitative Reasoning — Measures problem-solving ability, focusing on basic concepts of
arithmetic, algebra, geometry and data analysis
Who Takes It and Why?
Each year, more than 600,000 prospective graduate school applicants from approximately 230
countries take the GRE General Test.
What scores are reported?
Three scores are reported on the GRE General Test:
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Verbal Reasoning score reported on a 200 – 800 score scale, in 10-point increments
Quantitative Reasoning score reported on a 200 – 800 score scale, in 10-point increments
Analytical Writing score reported on a 0 – 6 score scale, in half-point increments
(There are also Subject Tests available which include: Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology,
Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics)
GRE scores are to be sent directly to the colleges to which the student applies.
UC DAVIS - 2010
The majority of our admitted students have earned GPAs of 3.4-3.6 in their cumulative college course work.
Average GRE scores for admitted students are in the 70th-percentiles.
Admitted Applicant Statistics: Average GPA’s: Accumulative (3.42), Required Science (3.28), Average GRE
scores: Verbal (75% - 574 scaled score), Quantitative (70% - 702), Analytical Writing (67% - 5.0)
Cornell
median at 84th percentile
Colorado State University
A "normal" range has verbal scores in the 500's and quantitative scores in the 600's. CSU will no longer look at
the analytical section. CSU takes the highest score for each attempts at the GRE.
Profile of 2010 Entering Class - Average GPA* - 3.4 , Average GRE Verbal/800 = 510, Average GRE
Quantitative/800 = 640, Analytical Writing/6.0 = 4.27
*Note: Few applicants are accepted with a GPA less than 3.2