USM Graduate School Extends GRE/GMAT Waiver through Fall 2021 Semester

Thu, 07/16/2020 - 01:32pm | By: David Tisdale

The Graduate Records Exam (GRE) and Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) will continue to be waived as requirements for admission to University of Southern Mississippi (USM) graduate programs through the summer and fall 2021 semesters, in response to continuing challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The move is an extension of an earlier waiver of these test scores granted for the summer and fall semesters of 2020, as well as the spring 2021 semester. An English proficiency exam score will still be required for international applicants; USM International Admissions will continue to accept the International Test of English Proficiency (iTEP), which currently offers at-home testing. Scores of 4.0 will be accepted to meet USM’s English proficiency requirement.

The waiver for the GRE and GMAT will not apply when these test scores are required for program accreditation.

“Our decision to extend the GRE/GMAT waiver through fall 2021 accompanies the uptick in COVID-19 cases in Mississippi and many regions of the U.S.,” said Dr. Karen Coats, dean of the USM Graduate School. “Closures of testing centers are likely to continue for some time, and at-home testing can be unworkable in many circumstances, creating difficulty for those interested in continuing their education to sit for the exam.

“We do not believe barriers outside one’s control should be an impediment to personal and professional growth. Graduate programs at USM will continue to evaluate applicants using a holistic approach that examines a variety of indicators of academic potential.”

For more information about USM graduate programs and admissions requirements, contact the USM Graduate School at 601.266.4369 or email graduateschool@usm.edu; or visit https://www.usm.edu/graduate-school/.