If you’re planning to apply to graduate school across fields like engineering, business, science, healthcare, or the humanities, choosing the right admissions test matters. The GRE® General Test remains a flexible, widely accepted option that helps keep more graduate pathways open. 

This conversation offers firsthand insight into what the GRE is like, how students prepared, and why it can be a strategic choice for those navigating graduate admissions.

Why This Session Is Worth Watching

This session is especially helpful for students who are:

• Applying to graduate programs in the U.S. or abroad

• Deciding between the GRE and other graduate admissions tests, such as the GMAT

• Unsure what the GRE actually tests or how challenging it is

• Looking for real student perspectives on test day

• Interested in practical preparation strategies that work

• Exploring graduate school options but still early in the process

The discussion is designed to provide clarity and reassurance, directly from students who have already taken the test and moved forward successfully.

Why Students Choose the GRE

During the session, student speakers explained why the GRE is often described as:

✔️ Flexible

Accepted by thousands of graduate programs worldwide, including engineering, business, STEM, psychology, public health, and many other disciplines.

✔️ Approachable

Students frequently report that the GRE’s structure feels intuitive and manageable, even for those whose first language is not English.

✔️ Opportunity-Expanding

A strong GRE score can help strengthen an application and widen program options, offering more pathways and greater flexibility across fields and institutions.

Meet the Student Panelists

The session features three international graduate students who took the GRE and used it to enter competitive programs at Purdue University and beyond. They share what they wish they had known, what surprised them most, and how the GRE supported their academic journeys.

• Juliana Pereira
  Ph.D. student in Geotechnical Engineering researching seismic stability of lunar lava tubes. Juliana discusses how the GRE supported her entry into a highly competitive engineering program.

• Alexia R. Hunt
  Clinical research professional who took the GRE before earning her master’s degree in Clinical Research Organization & Management. Alexia shares how the GRE supported her pathway into healthcare and pharmaceutical research.

• Luz María Agudelo Urrego
  Ph.D. student in Civil Engineering specializing in computational modeling and finite element analysis. Luz María reflects on her test-day experience and the preparation strategies that helped her succeed.

What You’ll Learn From the Replay

By watching the session, you’ll gain insight into:

• Real GRE test-day experiences

• Study tips and preparation strategies that worked

• Why these students chose the GRE over other exams

• What surprised them most about the test

• How the GRE influenced their admission outcomes

• Advice for international students feeling nervous about standardized testing

Viewers also hear how the GRE can align with different academic and career paths across disciplines.

This session was made possible through a partnership between Study in the USA and ETS, the makers of the GRE®. We thank GRE for partnering with us to support a student-led conversation and provide helpful, firsthand insights for students planning their graduate journeys.

To learn more about the GRE and how it may fit into your academic plans, explore additional resources and guidance here.