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Published October 6, 2020

BY MARCENE ROBINSON

UB Graduate School of Education waives GRE requirement for non-licensure programs

Increasing access by removing an admission barrier

UB's Graduate School of Education will not require applicants to submit Graduate Record Examinations scores for admission to academic programs that do not require professional licensure.

By waiving the requirement for the next two years, the school will remove a barrier to admission that disproportionately affects talented students facing financial hardships and applicants from disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds. GRE tests are expensive – with students spending hundreds of dollars. Time-consuming and costly test preparation services and materials add to the financial burden.

“There is plenty of research that suggests the GRE is not necessarily a good predictor of academic success. At a time where access to the test is even more challenging, due to COVID-19, and at a time when GSE has gone on the record as trying to actively challenge systems of oppressions, removing this barrier just makes good sense,” said Suzanne Rosenblith, dean and professor.

“In two years, we will reflect on this pause and, at that time determine, whether to make the waiver permanent.”

The change affects 14 programs:

  • All nine doctoral degree programs
  • Master’s program in educational psychology and quantitative methods
  • Master’s program in information and library science
  • Master’s program in mental health counseling
  • Master’s program in school counseling
  • Master’s program in school psychology

The school will continue to require the GRE for programs that lead to teacher certification or certification in school librarianship from the New York State Education Department. The GSE will work individually with applicants who have difficulty accessing GRE testing.

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