Eliminating the GRE

Abstract

A musician would not take a multiple choice test to join a band Yet such tests are how many physics and astronomy graduate programs select students As a result, departments unintentionally limit the talent that enters the field With testing centers closed because of the coronavirus and with concerns about the fairness or the lack of online alternatives, physics and astronomy graduate programs have temporarily stopped using entrance exams to make admissions decisions Here, Young suggests that become a permanent change Many faculty members and students believe that the physics Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is one of the most important aspects of graduate admissions Many programs require a certain score for admission In theory, a standardized test provides an objective measure for comparing applicants Everyone takes the same test, so it allows candidates the ability to distinguish themselves by scoring well, or so the argument goes