As a graduate student who also took the (relatively new) computerized adaptive GRE (in 2008), I want to second Alex's point. The quantitative section tests the ability of students to use 'tricks' learned from expensive GRE preparation courses to solve math problems quickly. In other words, the test places a premium on speed, rather than understanding. This does not at all translate to the types of quantitative skills that are necessary in graduate school. Success as a graduate student requires the ability and patience to think carefully and critically through complex problems, and learn new concepts or skills as necessary, and has little to do with memorizing shortcuts. My own story is that I was deeply involved in undergraduate research and did not have the time or money to enroll in a GRE prep course. Since I had done well in quantitative courses and felt comfortable with the material in the review book, I did not think a $500 course would be necessary. But I was not prepared for the pace of the test, had not memorized the tricks to come up with an answer in 15 seconds without *thinking* about the question, and ended up scoring poorly on the quantitative section. I've since been successful as a graduate student, and have been able to learn any new quantitative concept or skill needed for my research. Yet I've heard many discussions that equate GRE scores with the ability to think quantitatively. In reality, the GRE does not test the ability to think at all, merely the ability to retain the answers given to you in a 'prep course' long enough to press the right button. Other metrics, like a GPA earned over four years of coursework, research experience, or publications, aren't determined by a single afternoon and cannot be sold. If those metrics suggest an ability to work independently and think critically, why should a single poorly designed test cast any doubt?
On Thu, Sep 4, 2014 at 11:33 AM, Alex Wolf <[email protected]> wrote: > Unlike many in our field, I was weak on math and strong on the verbal > sections of the SAT and GRE. I had been math-phobic in grade school, and > it wasn't until senior year of college that I took a population biology > class and realized the importance of math in ecology. I'm decent at > standardized tests, but was getting terrible math scores on practice GREs > after studying on my own. Luckily I was able to afford a (very costly) GRE > prep course thanks to family support, and 'earned' a strong GRE score after > learning all the tricks for narrowing down the answers on the math section > in the prep class. I know our field is quantitative, but I don't think the > GRE math section has much relevance to the quant skills practicing > ecologists need. With the computerized adaptive testing, the ability to > get the right answer fast is the key to getting a good math score (or at > least it was when I took the GRE in 2007). Actually knowing the math > wasn't good enough if one took too long to pick the right answer. > Likewise, I think everyone realizes the need for strong writing and > communication skills in science, but the obscure and esoteric vocab on the > GRE also doesn't relate much to the real-world of presenting and publishing > grant apps and research results. The GRE reflects one's ability to play > that particular game, and not much else in my opinion. Moreover, I think > they're skewed to favor students who can afford to take test prep courses, > buy test prep books, and take the time to study (as opposed to working a > job to make ends meet). There are some folks who are naturally able to > excel at those tests, but I think the GRE doesn't reflect ability to do > research, be it in grad school or thereafter. > > -Alex > > ------------------------------ > > Date: Tue, 2 Sep 2014 14:03:01 -0400 > From: "=?ISO-8859-1?Q?Alex_M._L?=" <[email protected]> > Subject: GRE Scores In Picking a PhD Student. Do they Matter? > > Last weekend I got into a long discussion on the value of GRE score in a = > PhD=20 > student. As the 2015 applicants start, I open up the discussion to the=20= > > community: > > I have a female student that has both a Masters (thesis) and publication = > with=20 > several years research experience. However, her GRE score are quite poor.= > =20 > Should I really pass up a seemingly great applicant because of low scores= > ?=20 > > If a student has a biology Masters or a publication... do GRE scores matt= > er?=20 > Have we not moved past GRE scores when picking the next round of PhD=20 > researchers for our lab(s)?=20 > > If you have a personal story of low scores and still attaining your PhD o= > r=20 > accepting a similar student... I would love to hear from you! > > Cheers! > Alex M.L >
