Would this work? COSC GRE Out

[Jonathan Whatley]

So, How hard are the GREs for a science buff/genius?

You tell us! :p

Seriously: Based on reports on this and boards like it, taking GRE subject tests for credit is a relatively rare tactic. Taking three, and in the natural sciences, wow! Even thinking in terms of 'GREing out' – a (very quick) web search suggests you might be the first person EVER to use GRE as a verb.

I don't think this is an unusual approach because it's inherently unreasonable. You could well blaze this trail.

First, have you looked into sample GREs and outlines from the College Board, and third-party prep material specifically for the GREs? The Princeton Review guides for the biology and chemistry GREs especially seem to be the best-reviewed on Amazon; Princeton Review hasn't published a guide for the physics GRE. For chemistry, I'd also look at the study guides the American Chemical Society publishes for their undergraduate exams.

A second step would be to work from an official outline on one hand, and textbooks, study guides, syllabi, lectures, notes, etc. for core courses in an undergraduate major in each subject in the the other.

You might also keep in mind that the GRE isn't the only credit by examination option in each subject. In a contingency where you didn't meet the cut score for credit on any of the three GREs but still had a strong foundation in each subject, you could take the CLEPs in Biology and Chemistry, the UExcel ECEP in Physics, and then start adding subject exams like ECE Anatomy and Physiology, TECEP The Science of Nutrition… Upper-level credit-by-examination options in the natural sciences are limited. You'd basically have to earn some upper level credit in the concentration (beyond the cornerstone) by coursework or prior learning assessment to build a concentration similar to yours above without any GRE. But you'd still have options.