Selecting Successful Graduate Students: In‐depth Interviews With Gre® Users

This study analyzed interviews with over 100 graduate school staff and faculty in 26 disciplines and 20 institutions who use the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE ® ). The interviews covered admissions and admissions‐related topics, such as recruitment, retention, and measurement of student success in graduate school. Interviewees consider the GRE General Test to be a useful common standard for students with widely differing backgrounds. In contrast, GRE Subject Tests, although considered to be strong evidence of discipline‐specific knowledge, are being used less in a competitive environment. Graduate programs want more information about the language skills – particularly writing and speaking skills – and personal qualities of applicants, and better information about international students.