Kind of off subject but

[Yoly1001]

Has anyone here taken the GRE test. I have to take it this september to get into grad school next fall and was wondering if anyone here had any experience, or useful tips to send my way. I did get a book and am looking over it, but the material seems really challenging. I have to learn 3,000+ words. And the math section I hear has geomentry. Geometry folks, i haven't looked at a geometry problem since my sophmore year in high school.

If anyone can provide any input, please let me know.

Thanks -yoly

[Mary-chan]

How funny, I just took the GRE last thursday!!

I was really proud of myself actually, I got a 710 in verbal and a 650 in math.


Don't let the math scare you, it really isn't as hard as they want you to think. Buy the book that has the 8 old GRE tests in it, and PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE! With the math, you can easily improve your score just by practicing and paying attention. The verbal is a little harder because you have to learn vocab. There are a few books out like "word smart for the GRE", that I carried around with me everywhere I went and whenever I was in a waiting room or whatever, I would study it.

The number one mistake I made on the test was I didn't pace myself right. It started with math, then verbal.. On the math, I was taking too long at the beginning, trying to get everyone right.. I ran out of time on the last 5 so I just picked random answers. Like I said, the math is pretty simple once you get used to it, so I know I could have gotten those right if I had paced myself better. So again, practice a few tests as if they were the real thing!!

I'm not sure how I did on the essay as I haven't recceived my scores yet (they give you the other scores right away, since it is on the computer).


What program are you hoping to get into?

Goodluck, and pm if you have any more questions!

[Mary-chan]

oh and btw, I think out of all the study guide books that I bought, the Kaplan GRE book was the most helpful. But then, they each had different features that made them helpful. But I think the Kaplan worked as the best introduction to the test.

[sidrah]

I have the Kaplan book if you would like it. I had planned on taking it, but the schools I went to never required it for the MA or the PhD program, so I got off lucky both times.

Being the dork that I am, I keep those kind of books in the bathroom--my personal library, and practice the vocab just in case. I also have Shakespeare and Phaedo in there so I will not miss the GRE book. If you can use it at all, let me know. I know practicing as many tests as you can helps a lot in terms of familiarity. I took a lot of practice tests, but never the real deal.

[sidrah]

By the way, I am a high school/junior high math teacher, so I did not have much trouble with the math, but friends of mine almost had seizures and palpitations over it and ended up doing just fine. Practice is the key

[jroche5998]

I took the GRE's a few years ago, and I'll agree with what everyone said, practice.

Plus I thought the GRE had three section math, verbal, and logical, did that change since I took them?

I also took the specialized subject GRE, now that was real tough.

[bizzlekitty]

Also, get a good night of sleep and good rest before hand. Don't try to cram last minute. Be prepared ahead of time.

I found that helped me alot more than trying to study/cram last minute.

And my brain sure did hurt afterward!

[Yoly1001]

Wow, I didn't think i would get any responses. Thanks for all the info. I bought a small book called Barrons Pass Key to the GRE. It got really good reviews on amazon.com. I am carrying around 5 note cards with vocabulary everywhere I go and every time I have a spare minute I look at them. I don't have to take the exam until September so I have the summer to study. I am trying to get into the Graduate School of Social Work at UH. I want to be an MSW. I have a comfortable GPA of 3.8 and excellent recommendations. The only thing that freaked me out was the GRE. I am not an excellent test taker. I am confident about the essays, I am a writer at heart. But the math and the vocab. have me running scared. Thanks for all the tips, I'll let you guys know how the studying is going. It kind of goes against the grain to be studying this summer, for the first time in a long time I am not taking classes. But I just try to remember, deferred gratification, right?

Mari-chan - those are awesome scores. How did you do it, pass along any extra secrets that you may have. I spoke with my advisor and she told me that I should try to score around 700 or so for both sections. I am really nervous about it, I haven't taken an exam like this since my SAT back in 98. I'm sure you did just as well on the written as you did on the other sections. I have been doing a lot of research and have found people giving me tips on how to get a good score. Thanks for all the wonderful information.

Sidrah - I would absolutly love the Kaplan book if you don't mind letting me use it. I could always send it back to you when I was finished with it. I would appreciate it soooo much. I was looking at it at the book store but I hadn't picked it up yet.

Someone told me that you had to know everything in the whole world to be successful at the GRE. While I appreciate that she was trying to let me know how hard it is, I could hit her with my study manual on the side of the head for scarying me so bad. lol j/k.

[Mary-chan]

Originally Posted by bizzlekitty

Also, get a good night of sleep and good rest before hand. Don't try to cram last minute. Be prepared ahead of time.

I found that helped me alot more than trying to study/cram last minute.

And my brain sure did hurt afterward!

Definitely get a good night sleep! I was nervous the night before the test, so I only got 3 hours of sleep and was a zombie!!! I wonder what my score would have been if I had been able to sleep ensive

And boy did my brain hurt afterwards too! It felt like it was stretching and trying to escape my head!

[Mary-chan]

Originally Posted by Yoly1001

Wow, I didn't think i would get any responses. Thanks for all the info. I bought a small book called Barrons Pass Key to the GRE. It got really good reviews on amazon.com. I am carrying around 5 note cards with vocabulary everywhere I go and every time I have a spare minute I look at them. I don't have to take the exam until September so I have the summer to study. I am trying to get into the Graduate School of Social Work at UH. I want to be an MSW. I have a comfortable GPA of 3.8 and excellent recommendations. The only thing that freaked me out was the GRE. I am not an excellent test taker. I am confident about the essays, I am a writer at heart.

Sounds like you have a GREAT chance of getting into your program! And you're off to a great start studying for the vocab too.. goodluck! :icondance