Study Saturday: How to Succeed in Abnormal Psychology
Abnormal Psychology is the course where you learn to recognize, classify, and understand psychological disorders. For pre-PT students, this is not just academic…
The GRE for PT School: Do You Still Need It?
The GRE was once a standard requirement for nearly every DPT program. That landscape has shifted significantly in recent years, with a growing number of programs dropping or making the test optional. But "growing number" does not mean all, and the programs still requiring it include some of the most competitive in the country. Here is how to figure out where you stand and what to do about it.
Which Programs Still Require the GRE?
The definitive resource is the PTCAS Directory GRE requirements page, which lists requirements and score-sending codes for every participating program. Check it for your specific target schools, as requirements change from year to year.
Programs that still require the GRE include Baylor (factored into applicant ranking), Rutgers (competitive at 50th percentile with AW 3.5+), Seton Hall, Texas Tech, Texas State, Texas Woman's University, UTHSC (expects combined 300+), and UT Chattanooga (minimum AW 3.0). UAB is reinstating the GRE for the 2026-2027 cycle after temporarily dropping it.
Programs that have dropped the GRE include Duke (as of March 2025), University of Florida, Stony Brook, UCSF (no longer used in evaluation), Central Michigan, USC, and Bowling Green State.
Programs where it is optional include Tufts (holistic review regardless of submission), Arcadia, Hawaii Pacific, and University of St. Augustine (waived for applicants with a 3.6+ GPA).
The New GRE Format
ETS launched a shorter GRE format in September 2023. The exam now takes under two hours instead of nearly four.
| Section | Questions | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Analytical Writing (1 essay) | 1 "Analyze an Issue" prompt | 30 min |
| Verbal Reasoning (2 sections) | 12 + 15 questions | 18 + 23 min |
| Quantitative Reasoning (2 sections) | 12 + 15 questions | 21 + 26 min |
| Total | 54 scored questions + 1 essay | ~2 hours |
Score ranges: Verbal 130-170, Quantitative 130-170, Analytical Writing 0-6. The scoring scale is unchanged from the old format, so previous scores remain directly comparable. The unscored experimental section was eliminated, meaning every question counts. Scores are available in 8 to 10 days.
What Scores Are Competitive?
Based on published program data and aggregated admissions statistics:
| Metric | Score | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Average admitted PT student (Verbal) | ~152 | ~53rd |
| Average admitted PT student (Quant) | ~152 | ~52nd |
| Average admitted PT student (AW) | ~4.0 | ~49th |
| Competitive target | 155+ each | ~65th+ |
| Strong target (top programs) | 310+ combined | ~70th+ |
Program-specific data:
- Texas Tech admitted students average 150V/150Q/4.0 AW
- UTHSC expects combined 300+ (admitted average 306)
- Seton Hall and Rutgers consider 50th percentile competitive
- University of St. Augustine reports admitted students range 294-305 combined
The 50th percentile (roughly 152V/152Q) is the floor at most programs that require the GRE. A combined score of 310+ with a 4.0+ AW puts you solidly in competitive territory.
What the GRE Costs
The ETS fee schedule:
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Registration | $220 |
| 4 score reports | Included with registration |
| Each additional score report | $40 |
| Rescheduling | $55 |
| Late registration | $25 additional |
| Score review (AW) | $60 |
Total for a typical applicant sending scores to 6 programs (4 free + 2 additional): approximately $300. Add a prep course and total costs can reach $500 to $1,500+.
Fee Reduction Program: Eligible applicants pay $100 (50% reduction) and receive free prep materials worth approximately $110. Eligibility includes U.S. citizens with a FAFSA SAI of zero or less, unemployed individuals receiving benefits, active Peace Corps volunteers, or members of 23+ partner organizations for underrepresented groups. International students are not eligible.
How to Prepare
Free Resources (Start Here)
ETS provides free official prep materials including two full practice tests via POWERPREP II, a 100-page Math Review, and the complete Issue Essay Topic Pool (the actual pool your essay will come from). Khan Academy offers video instruction for Quantitative Reasoning concepts aligned with the ETS Math Review.
Magoosh provides free vocabulary flashcards (1,000+ GRE words) and one free full-length practice exam with score analysis.
Paid Prep Courses
| Provider | Self-Paced | Live Online |
|---|---|---|
| Magoosh | ~$180 | N/A |
| Princeton Review | ~$400 | ~$1,199 |
| Kaplan | ~$450 | ~$1,100 |
| Manhattan Prep | $300-$600 | ~$2,000 |
Recommended 8-12 Week Study Plan
- Weeks 1-2: Take a diagnostic practice test to identify strengths and weaknesses. Focus study time on your weakest areas.
- Weeks 3-6: Build foundations with Khan Academy (Quant) and vocabulary study (Verbal). Work through the ETS Math Review.
- Weeks 7-10: Practice with official ETS questions, first untimed, then timed. Write practice essays from the published topic pool.
- Weeks 11-12: Take full-length practice tests under test conditions. Review weak areas. Finalize test-day logistics.
When "Optional" Really Means Optional
At programs like Tufts and Hawaii Pacific, optional genuinely means optional. All applications go through the same holistic review regardless of whether scores are submitted.
However, some "optional" programs still use scores when provided. Baylor encourages submitting your best scores because the GRE is "factored into applicant ranking."
Submit scores if:
- You scored 155+ per section and 4.0+ AW
- Your GPA is lower than average and strong scores could offset it
- The program specifically encourages submission even if optional
Skip submitting if:
- Your scores are below the 50th percentile
- Your GPA, observation hours, and other components are already competitive
- The program explicitly states scores are not used in evaluation (like UCSF)
Why Programs Are Dropping the GRE
The shift away from the GRE is driven by research and equity concerns:
- A meta-analysis published in the Journal of Higher Education (Feldon et al., 2023) found that GRE scores predict only about 2-4% of the variance in graduate student outcomes.
- A Boston University School of Public Health study found that eliminating the GRE did not diminish student quality or performance.
- Research by Miller and Stassun has shown that common GRE score cutoffs disproportionately filter out women and underrepresented minorities in STEM fields, raising significant equity concerns.
- Programs switching to holistic review have reported increases in underrepresented minority applicants receiving interview invitations.
The counterargument: the GRE provides a standardized benchmark across applicants from different institutions where GPAs are not directly comparable. Some argue that without it, admissions relies more on subjective measures where implicit bias can play a larger role. The broader higher education trend is mixed: Harvard, Dartmouth, Yale, and Brown announced in 2024 that they were reinstating mandatory standardized testing for undergraduate admissions starting with the Fall 2025 admissions cycle.
Score Sending Logistics
Each DPT program has its own PTCAS GRE code. There is no single universal PTCAS code. Look up each program's code in the PTCAS Directory.
Steps:
- Self-report your scores in the PTCAS Standardized Tests section
- Include your ETS Registration code and ensure your name and date of birth match exactly between ETS and PTCAS accounts
- Request ETS send official scores to each program's specific PTCAS code
- ETS processes score deliveries and PTCAS posts them every 2-3 business days
On test day, you can send scores to 4 institutions for free. Additional reports cost $40 each. Plan your test date so scores arrive before your earliest program deadline. Once official scores are attached to your PTCAS application, they cannot be removed. Scores remain valid for 5 years.
Should You Retake?
ETS allows up to 5 attempts per rolling 12-month period with at least 21 days between attempts. There is no lifetime limit. Each retake costs the full $220.
According to ETS data, a majority of retakers improve their Verbal and Quantitative scores. The ScoreSelect feature lets you choose which test date to send (most recent, all, or any specific sitting), but you cannot mix sections from different sittings.
Retake if: Testing conditions were poor, practice scores are consistently higher, or a 5-10 point improvement would make a real difference at your target programs.
Do not retake if: You are already at or above program thresholds, practice scores have not improved despite additional study, or you are applying to GRE-optional programs where the rest of your application is strong.
Do not retake 21 days later without addressing the root issues. Study until practice test scores consistently meet your target, then schedule the retake.
For a full breakdown of application costs including GRE fees, see the real cost of applying to PT school. For the complete application walkthrough, visit our PTCAS guide.