does it worth to take the GRE subject test?

Question

I am in search of phD programs in Mathematics across the country, and I am targetting at some of the better institutions. I am gonna take the GRE general test next month, but I am still struggling on whether I should take the Subject test as well. Does anybody know any GOOD phd math program admission without the requirement of the subject test? And what is the odd to get into a good program without going through this test? Thank you!

Answer 1

Math grad student here so I suppose I can answer this. I don't know of ANY school that doesn't require the math subject test (and certainly all the schools in the top 10 require it, since you're targetting the "better institutions"). I mean I applied to Princeton, Harvard, Berkeley, UCLA, Chicago, Michigan, Columbia, Rutgers, and Boston University. All of these schools were top schools when I applied, and all required the GRE Math Subject test. As such, the probability of you getting in without having taken this test will be extremely small (unless you've solved something big, like the Riemann Hypothesis; I guarantee you'd get in if you solved that :)).

The test itself is actually pretty challenging, just because you probably haven't looked at calculus for awhile and the exam is roughly 50% calculus (in fact it's a little insulting that programs even consider this score to have any relevance to your ability to do well in graduate school). So I'd really recommend, as painful as it may be, to study every topic on the syllabus carefully to make sure you're ready for the exam.

A word on admissions themself: The single most important part of your application will be your recommendations, so I'm hoping you have three good recommendations (at least one needs to be VERY strong for the top schools that I listed). The next most important aspect is your research experience in math. Graduate schools, especially PhD programs, are looking for students with potential for mathematical research, which is MUCH more difficult than just coursework. If you've got some background with that already then you're in business. If not, don't worry terribly. Then it's grades, essay, and GREs.

Now bear in mind, I had a fairly strong application (admittedly my essay could've been better, as well as my subject GRE score, but overall I had a very strong application that included a research paper of mine that was accepted for publication) and only UCLA took me (though I withdrew my applications from Rutgers and BU since UCLA was ranked #10 and I wasn't going to turn UCLA down in favor of either of them). So the point is that if you apply to top math programs, be prepared to be rejected by most of them. These schools are looking for particular research interests in a given year, so you could very well be turned away simply because they don't need anymore students interested in number theory (as an example). So just keep that in mind.

Hope this helps, and good luck!!

Answer 2

I would advise you to take the test. I was a biochemistry professor for over 30 years, and the last few of those years, they had the GRE exam in biochemistry, cellular, and molecular biology................and we discovered that a student with borderline grades, who did well on the subject test, did better than students with excellent grades and not so well on the subject test. We determined that the subject test was a better predictor of graduate school success than the student's grades (after all, without grading their entire body of work, who knows how easy those tests were, etc).

So, my advice is to take the subject test, it will improve your chances at all schools you apply for.

Of course, any good student should have targeted potential Ph.D advisors, and it is in your best interest to talk to them and see what they think you should do. Having a supporter on the graduate admissions committee is far more valuable than any University marks, general GRE or subject GRE test will be.

Answer 3

Study and take the test. If we have to call you Dr., then earn it.