Most top universities in the US are very particular with their admission requirements, including the GRE scores. And in exchange for the notoriety and quality of education, prospective graduate students need to provide exceptional GRE scores.
But before you get disheartened, there are actually different ways to improve your profile even with below-average GRE scores.
Statement of Purpose
Why did you choose to study a particular field for your master’s degree? Simple enough question, but you must express your answer with great clarity and conviction to influence the judgment of the selection committee.
Your answer is the backbone of your Statement of Purpose or SOP. As the most crucial part of your profile, your SOP should reflect your purpose for choosing a specific master’s degree program.
But explaining your motivation to study is easier said than done. In only 600-800 words, you must be concise, clear, and concrete with your SOP.
Sometimes the power and impact of your SOP can be derived from your sincerity and passion. Even with a low GRE score, an impressive SOP can be your ticket to your dream school.
Research and Publication
You don’t necessarily need to have a published research project, but it can exponentially improve your profile.
Consider all the research work you had conducted, or had been involved in for the last three to four years. If any of your projects have been published in a reputable international journal, then you can expect a good improvement on your profile.
Just take note that these projects should be aligned with the master’s degree program you’re applying for. Otherwise, they might not carry any merit to your profile.
Undergraduate Qualifications
For the majority of US universities, academic qualifications do not outweigh other areas of evaluation, but they can be extremely helpful when improving your profile.
If you earned a low GRE score, you can use your undergraduate qualifications, both academic and extracurricular, to show that you deserve a spot in the university you’re applying for.
A good GPA of at least 3.2 and other academic records that indicate your abilities as a learner can have a tremendous effect on your case.
Letters of Recommendation
For your letters of recommendation, don’t exhaust yourself looking for connections with high-profile individuals with exceptional credentials. Whoever is going to write your letter of recommendation doesn’t matter, because it’s the quality that would make a difference.
Strive to ensure that the people who will write recommendation letters are familiar with your work, skills, and experience. They could be a past employer or previous mentor.
Every student aspires to be in a renowned university, but it can be a challenge due to low GRE scores. At MSM Unify, we’ll provide you with all the resources you need to make sure that you can get into your dream school.
