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PriceTheory · 2006 October 30th, 01:53 AM

It seems like both the people who are admitted and the people who are rejected by the top 20 econ Ph.D. programs have good GRE quantitative scores. Do any schools really make decisions based on the GRE?
Since they all require at least college-level calculus and statistics, why do they ask for your score on an exam that tests only high school math?

Antichron · 2006 October 30th, 02:01 AM

I agree that the math required for the GRE is stuff that was learned in high school. However, I disagree that it is these simple math concepts that the GRE is testing. It tests the ability to look at a problem one has never seen before and complete it quickly and correctly. Basic problem solving skills like these are absolutely necessary for graduate school. Unfortunately, they are not something that every graduate school applicant possesses. (Albeit a small and decreasing fraction of people, but still.)

Cynically, though, the GRE is a nice way of justifying not looking at half of the applications that are received.

abababba · 2006 October 30th, 02:18 AM

I am taking it tomorrow and have done a lot of practice. Its been awhile since I've seen a question that I can't do, but I still keep making the occassional stupid mistake.

It seems like the direction of my life depends on whether I make zero, one or two of these mistakes tomorrow. I guess I'm sort of resigned to that fact.

Antichron · 2006 October 30th, 02:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by abababba

I am taking it tomorrow and have done a lot of practice. Its been awhile since I've seen a question that I can't do, but I still keep making the occassional stupid mistake.

It seems like the direction of my life depends on whether I make zero, one or two of these mistakes tomorrow. I guess I'm sort of resigned to that fact.

Good luck! The GRE was one of the most stressful few hours of my life. I, too, am not a big fan of how three small algebraic errors can effectively be more important than five years of undergraduate grades. Nevertheless, we've gotta play our Nash equilibrium strategies, and I hope you do well!

asquare · 2006 October 30th, 02:40 AM

I think Antichron is on the right track. My take would be that in part, the GRE acts as a reality check on grades. Adcoms aren't familiar with the grading practices at the universities every applicant attended for undergrad or masters programs. Seeing really high grades coupled with really low GRE scores may make the adcom suspicious that the school had low standards or lax grading.

Also, though the GRE quantitative section doesn't seem to use the math that is part of graduate economics, I believe that Krueger's research on the determinants of success in econ PhD programs found that GRE scores were actually significant predictors of success on the job market! See the paper here. The authors don't take a firm stance on why the scores matter.

user_name · 2006 October 30th, 12:44 PM

Interesting paper! I wonder if adcoms have some sort of a formula to rank applicants in a systematic way.

Skipper · 2006 November 1st, 09:30 PM

My understanding is that the GRE quant section is being revised starting next fall. Supposedly it is going to be more difficult now.

This could be good news for applicants who didn't go to prestigious undergrads. Perhaps a high GRE score will actually help applicants stand out. (As it is now, getting a high GRE score is sort of like not having a felony conviction -- it's a necessary condition for getting accepted, but it doesn't really help you that much.)

snappythecrab · 2006 November 1st, 10:31 PM

Quote:

My understanding is that the GRE quant section is being revised starting next fall. Supposedly it is going to be more difficult now.

Not supposedly, it is. Say bye-bye to multiple choice. Fill in the blank time! ...just be sure you don't make a typo.

Econ07 · 2006 November 2nd, 12:21 AM

That's true. I suppose that test section I took (partially) after the real test was in this new format. It had "fill in" and ordering questions (reminded me of the TOEFL). I'm not sure if it's gonna get tougher, though.

Antichron · 2006 November 2nd, 12:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skipper

(As it is now, getting a high GRE score is sort of like not having a felony conviction -- it's a necessary condition for getting accepted, but it doesn't really help you that much.)

That's a great way to put it.

2006 October 30th, 01:53 AM	#1 (permalink)
PriceTheory I JUST got here. Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 21	What's the point of the GRE? It seems like both the people who are admitted and the people who are rejected by the top 20 econ Ph.D. programs have good GRE quantitative scores. Do any schools really make decisions based on the GRE? Since they all require at least college-level calculus and statistics, why do they ask for your score on an exam that tests only high school math?

2006 October 30th, 02:01 AM	#2 (permalink)
Antichron TestMagic Guru-in-Training Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Cambridge, MA Posts: 635	I agree that the math required for the GRE is stuff that was learned in high school. However, I disagree that it is these simple math concepts that the GRE is testing. It tests the ability to look at a problem one has never seen before and complete it quickly and correctly. Basic problem solving skills like these are absolutely necessary for graduate school. Unfortunately, they are not something that every graduate school applicant possesses. (Albeit a small and decreasing fraction of people, but still.) Cynically, though, the GRE is a nice way of justifying not looking at half of the applications that are received. _ _ _ _ SIG _ _ _ _ MIT Economics, class of 2011

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2006 October 30th, 02:18 AM	#3 (permalink)
abababba Within my grasp! Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 204	I am taking it tomorrow and have done a lot of practice. Its been awhile since I've seen a question that I can't do, but I still keep making the occassional stupid mistake. It seems like the direction of my life depends on whether I make zero, one or two of these mistakes tomorrow. I guess I'm sort of resigned to that fact.

2006 October 30th, 02:40 AM	#5 (permalink)
asquare TestMagic Guru Moderator Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Ann Arbor Posts: 1,725	I think Antichron is on the right track. My take would be that in part, the GRE acts as a reality check on grades. Adcoms aren't familiar with the grading practices at the universities every applicant attended for undergrad or masters programs. Seeing really high grades coupled with really low GRE scores may make the adcom suspicious that the school had low standards or lax grading. Also, though the GRE quantitative section doesn't seem to use the math that is part of graduate economics, I believe that Krueger's research on the determinants of success in econ PhD programs found that GRE scores were actually significant predictors of success on the job market! See the paper here. The authors don't take a firm stance on why the scores matter.

2006 October 30th, 12:44 PM	#6 (permalink)
user_name Within my grasp! Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 455	Interesting paper! I wonder if adcoms have some sort of a formula to rank applicants in a systematic way.

2006 November 1st, 09:30 PM	#7 (permalink)
Skipper I'm on my way! Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 334	My understanding is that the GRE quant section is being revised starting next fall. Supposedly it is going to be more difficult now. This could be good news for applicants who didn't go to prestigious undergrads. Perhaps a high GRE score will actually help applicants stand out. (As it is now, getting a high GRE score is sort of like not having a felony conviction -- it's a necessary condition for getting accepted, but it doesn't really help you that much.)

2006 November 2nd, 12:21 AM	#9 (permalink)
Econ07 Within my grasp! Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 116	That's true. I suppose that test section I took (partially) after the real test was in this new format. It had "fill in" and ordering questions (reminded me of the TOEFL). I'm not sure if it's gonna get tougher, though.

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