If you're thinking about graduate school in the United States, you already know the path can feel overwhelming. Application requirements shift. Testing policies change from year to year. And somewhere in the middle of it all, you're trying to figure out whether the GRE belongs in your plan.

Here's what a lot of students are realizing: the GRE gives you flexibility. Flexibility in where you can apply, what programs you can pursue, and how you can stand out as a strong candidate across a wide range of schools and fields.

To help you see what that looks like in real life, we recently hosted a live session with three international students who chose the GRE — and used it to reach some of the most competitive graduate programs in the country. The replay is now available, and we think their stories will resonate with you, whether you're just starting to explore grad school or finalizing your application list.

Meet the Students

Dina Dragoljic — from Serbia, educated in Italy, now at the University of Michigan. Dina holds a Bachelor's and Master's in Biomedical Engineering and brings industry experience from the cardiovascular medical device world. Today, she's researching biomaterials and regenerative medicine — work that's shaping the future of healthcare.

Pedro Henrique de Souza Barbosa — from Brazil, now a PhD student at Purdue University. Pedro is developing the next generation of wearable health monitoring devices, using bioinspired design to create technology modeled after nature's own systems.

Gustavo Stevanin de Souza — also from Brazil, currently completing his Master's in Agricultural Economics at Purdue University, with plans to continue into doctoral studies. His work focuses on farm management strategy and sustainability — fields that matter more than ever as the world navigates climate change and food security.

What They Want You to Know

The conversation was honest and practical. Here's what they shared:

Why they chose the GRE. The decision wasn't automatic for any of them. They weighed the test against their goals and their target programs, and what they found was that the GRE gave them flexibility — the ability to apply broadly, keep their options open, and show admissions committees, in a way universally understood, that they were ready for graduate-level work.

How they prepared. Their prep looked different, but the common thread was discipline. They balanced studying with full-time jobs, classes, family responsibilities, and everyday life. Their advice to you: start early, be consistent, and take practice tests seriously.

What test day actually feels like. They talked openly about the nerves, the pacing, and the strategies they used to stay calm and focused. If you've ever worried about how you'll feel walking into the testing center — you're not alone, and there are real ways to prepare for that part too.

Whether it was worth it. This is the part you'll want to hear. For all three, the GRE was more than a requirement — it was a stepping stone. Admission to top programs. Research funding. The chance to work alongside leading scholars. The doors it opened made the preparation worth every hour.

What This Means for You

If you're weighing whether to take the GRE, here's the honest reality: it's still a meaningful credential at many top U.S. graduate programs, especially in STEM, research, and economics. A strong score can offset weaker areas in your application, unlock scholarships and assistantships, and give admissions committees a clear way to evaluate you alongside applicants from all over the world.

Just as importantly, the GRE gives you room to pivot. Maybe the program you're targeting today won't be the one you apply to next year. Maybe a new opportunity opens up. Having a strong GRE score in hand means you're not locked in — you have the flexibility to move with your goals as they evolve.

Watch the Replay

If grad school in the U.S. is anywhere on your radar — or you're still deciding whether the GRE fits into your plan — this replay is for you. Real students. Real stories. Real advice you can use as you build your own application.

Watch the full replay below, and feel free to share it with friends or classmates who might be on the same journey.

The path to U.S. graduate school isn't easy — but it's possible, and you don't have to figure it out alone. Take it one step at a time, and know there's a whole community of students who have been where you are, cheering you on.

Learn more about the GRE!