Should an Undergraduate Take the GRE?

Making plans for your future following your undergraduate studies can be difficult. Some people elect to start working full time, while others enroll in graduate school or take a year off before getting started. Because this is such a significant decision, you might want to think about clearing one significant hurdle by taking the GRE or GMAT before you graduate.  

With an undergraduate degree, your schedule is likely more flexible than it would be with a full-time job.

The most likely course of action is interviewing for and accepting a full-time job in their field of preference for people who do not immediately seek higher study after finishing their undergraduate degree. This implies that you will spend at least eight hours per day away from home and probably more if your commute is taken into account. This leaves a little window of time each day for GRE or GMAT preparation. Contrarily, throughout your undergraduate years, you will have free summers and the ability to add extra time to your class schedules, which you may use to prepare for the GRE or GMAT.

You’re Already in Studying Mode

Most college students know the feeling of shutting themselves in the school library until 3am with a textbook, a laptop, a highlighter, and sticky notes, cramming to ace their midterm the next morning. That feeling doesn’t get any easier once you’ve left undergrad – in fact, it’s likely that it will only become more difficult to find the motivation to study. Study for the GRE or GMAT while you’re still in the pattern of studying, and while you still have free school resources like an on-campus library and your library’s online catalogue to help.

You’re Prepping Every Day in Your Classes

Even if you’ve never touched a prep book in your life, you’re studying for it every day just by attending your classes! GRE and GMAT skills like logic, evidence evaluation, and passage analysis are all infused into your coursework – after all, the GRE and GMAT are designed to test your success in school. If you know how to ace your college exams, there’s a good chance that you know how to ace the GRE or GMAT, too.

You’ll Be Left with Extra Time to Concentrate on Other Qualifications

Graduate school applications aren’t easy, and there’s way more to them than just your test score. Take the GRE or GMAT early on, and you’ll have lots of time to research the best schools and programs and work on your application essay, letters of recommendation, and even the final grades that go into your GPA – while also having a blast during your senior year.

GRE and GMAT Scores Are Valid For 5 Years

Don’t want to go straight to graduate school after you finish your undergrad? No problem! GRE and GMAT scores are valid for up to five years, so as long as you decide to use them within that time frame, taking the exam while an undergraduate is still a safe bet.
While it may initially seem overwhelming, taking the GRE or GMAT as an undergraduate can ensure that you are securely on the path that you want to be on when you leave your undergrad behind.

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