One of the prestigious Ivy League schools, Dartmouth University, has made the audacious and progressive decision to waive the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) requirement for certain programs’ 2023–2024 admissions cycle. This choice aligns with Dartmouth’s values of inclusiveness and comprehensive admissions assessment. Dartmouth hopes to draw a diverse candidate pool and recognize that an individual’s ability cannot be only determined by their GRE score. For these reasons, the school has decided to waive the GRE requirement. This modification is in line with a wider movement within academic institutions to reconsider established admission standards and give greater weight to a more thorough evaluation of applicants. Every other Ivy League school is heading in the same way.
Dartmouth College is test-optional for the 2023-2024 application cycle. This means applicants are not required to submit standardized test scores, such as the GRE or the SAT, to be considered for admission. However, some programs may still require standardized test scores, even if the college as a whole is test-optional. In the case of Dartmouth, the only program that requires GRE scores this year is Computer Science. This is because the GRE is considered to be a good predictor of success in graduate-level computer science programs.
Reformed Admission policy at Dartmouth
The only program requiring GRE scores this year is Computer Science. For all other programs, the GRE is optional.
Dartmouth College announced in June 2020 that it would make standardized tests optional for the Class of 2025. This decision was made in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which disrupted standardized testing for many students. The college also cited concerns about the fairness and reliability of standardized tests.
Dartmouth’s decision to make standardized tests optional was met with mixed reactions. Some people praised the decision, saying that it would make it easier for students from all backgrounds to apply to Dartmouth. Others criticized the decision, saying that it would make it more difficult to compare applicants and that it would disadvantage students who did not have the opportunity to take standardized tests.
In 2023, Dartmouth announced that it would continue to make standardized tests optional for the Class of 2028. The college said that it will continue to evaluate its policy on standardized tests in the future.
Which programs require the LSAT and GMAT at Dartmouth?
Some graduate programs at Dartmouth may prefer to see LSAT or GMAT scores from applicants. It is important to check the requirements of the program you are applying to.
Here are the graduate programs at Dartmouth that may prefer to see LSAT or GMAT scores:
- Tuck School of Business
- Guarini School of Business
- Thayer School of Engineering
There is no minimum score required to apply or to receive admission. Dartmouth admits candidates with a wide range of scores.
Here are some of the reasons why Dartmouth made the GRE/GMAT/LSAT optional:
- To make it easier for students from all backgrounds to apply to Dartmouth. Standardized tests can be a barrier to admission for students from low-income families and students from underrepresented groups. These students may have different access to test preparation resources than students from more advantaged backgrounds.
- To address concerns about the fairness and reliability of standardized tests. There is some evidence that standardized tests do not accurately predict academic success in college. Additionally, standardized tests can be biased against certain groups of students.
- To give the admissions committee more flexibility in evaluating applications. By making standardized tests optional, the admissions committee can focus on other factors, such as the applicant’s academic record, extracurricular activities, and personal statement.
The decision to make standardized tests optional is a significant change for Dartmouth College.
For a complete list of graduate programs offered by Dartmouth College, see Graduate Programs at Dartmouth College.