Advanced degrees, advanced success…

Graduate school constitutes an advanced program of study focused on a particular academic discipline or a specific profession.

Traditionally, graduate school has been “academic” (centered on generating original research in a particular discipline), but it may be “professional” (centered on imparting skills and knowledge to future professionals), or a combination of both traditions.
How is graduate school different from undergraduate education?
Graduate school differs from undergraduate education in terms of expectations regarding the quality and quantity of your academic work and its concentrated nature. Generally, you arrive at graduate school with the desire to pursue a course of study in a specific discipline or profession; typically, there is not a lot of room for exploration or elective courses. Your work will be more rigorously evaluated, often by both faculty and fellow students. Classes tend to be small; interaction is expected and often necessary to excel. Most likely, you will be required to produce some type of original research. These demands are often coupled with a work experience, be it a career-related internship, grading, teaching or researching.

Entrance Exams

What kinds of admission tests are there?
While the vast majority of graduate programs at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota do NOT require entrance exams in our Schools of Graduate and Professional Programs (SGPP), many graduate and professional schools require test scores for admission. The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) General and Subject tests are required by many academic programs (Masters and Doctoral degrees). MBA programs usually require the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT). Other tests are required in other fields such as the LSAT for law school, the MCAT for medical school, the DAT for dentistry school, the OAT for optometry school, and the TOEFL English proficiency test for international students.

When should I take admission tests?
It is very important to prepare for and take these tests early. We recommend that you take these tests at the end of your junior year so you can submit your application materials early and have ample time to retake the test if necessary. Be sure to consult admission deadlines.

When should I sign up for admission tests?
Sign up early to ensure that you can take the test on your desired date. There are no registration deadlines for computer based tests (GRE General and Written Assessment, GMAT), but registration is first come, first serve. The registration deadlines for GRE Subject Tests are approximately six weeks prior to the exam dates. Late registration is available for some tests for an additional fee. Special accommodation for students with disabilities can be arranged with ample prior notice. Check with each testing organization to verify their policies.

Do I have to take a GRE Subject Test?
Check each school’s admission requirements to determine which tests you need to take. Currently, GRE Subject Tests are only available for Biochemistry, Cellular and Molecular Biology, Literature in English, Biology, Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics, Computer Science, and Psychology.

Subject Tests are only offered three times a year – April, November, and December. You must sign up for Subject Tests approximately six weeks in advance. Not all Subject Tests are available on every date, so check the GRE website for test availability well in advance.

Where can I find information about graduate school admission tests?
Graduate Record Exam (GRE) – The official site for the GRE. Includes answers to frequently asked questions and information on registration and testing sites.

Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) – The official site for the GMAT. Includes information on all aspects of the GMAT, plus online registration.

A guide for Applying to Graduate School