Students who plan to apply to graduate school to study Astronomy or Physics should take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) before or during the fall semester of their senior year. You need to take both the General and Physics GRE exams. The Physics subject test is offered in October and November (with early September & October registration deadlines), while the General test is offered year-round.

The main GRE website is at www.gre.org and has links to both the General and Subject test dates and centers. The General exam is offered at many Pennsylvania locations (test centers) often throughout the year, but the closest test center to State College is in Harrisburg. There are no General GRE test centers in State College.

The subject (Physics) exam is offered far less frequently but typically is available at PSU/University Park. The test held in late September and late October usually sends scores to graduate schools by mid to late November. This is considered to be the best time to take the test since it ensures that scores will get to graduate programs in a timely manner. The Society of Physics Students (SPS) chapter at Penn State – University Park often organizes “self-study” groups of seniors who are studying for the Physics exam. These groups are sometimes assisted by several faculty members from the Physics department; contact Prof. Rick Robinett in Physics if you have any questions. The Astronomy department has also hosted GRE preparation sessions from time to time. Contact the Undergraduate Program Head for further information.