My post of the day: GRE?

mrsNnearly · August 2010

Hi Ladies-

I have never considered pursuing a master's degree until recently when my undergrad school announced they are launched a new MA program I am pretty interested in. It would start in fall 2011. I read through the course schedule and requirements and got all excited until I got to the part about taking the GRE. Of you out there who have taken it before, how hard is it? How much does it cost & how much prep is involved? Would you recommend taking a prep course or just buying books to study? I am not a big test person, more of a written paper person so I am just wondering what to expect. TIA!

KataMarie · August 2010

The GRE had an emphasis on Math from high school I felt. It wasn't a horrendous test, but it was definitely the most pain in the arse one I've ever taken. I got the book for it, I thought (this was after the test) that it had a fair representation of what the test was. I took a free little class months before I took it and here's some little factoids I received: Spend the most time on the first 1/3rd of the test. Your score varies the most in this first part, as you work through the test the less points you lose for a wrong answer, same for right answers. With that said, DO NOT leave ANYTHING blank, you can lose 100-200 points by leaving things blank. Even if you choose C for the last 1/3rd of the test, your score will only vary by like 20-50 points.

I didn't study much, but for a portion of the graduate programs, they don't really look at your score, they just want to see that you took it. I do not think the GRE is a fair representation of you abilities to take on grad school AT ALL. Especially not when they have you doing math you've tossed out of your head at least 4 years previously.

mrsNnearly · August 2010

Thanks Kata! I was afraid there would be a lot of math b/c that definitely isn't my forte. I was a journalism major and the degree I am thinking about pursuing is also in the journalism school so I hope they don't put too much emphasis on the test scores. I have been out of college for over 10 years so I really hope my work experience and letters of recommendation would play into it more.

KataMarie · August 2010

The score is 1/2 math 1/2 reading comprehension/vocabulary and there's an analytical writing score separate from that. I didn't do well on it, neither did my friend and we both got into grad school. They also have the option that if you think you did horrible on it, you can reject your test and not have your scores reported, but you have to wait a month to retake it (and pay again).

ShhLovesJkh · August 2010

When I had to take it, my program was fairly new (only a year old) and they were more concerned about grades than the GRE. Not saying that all new programs are like that, but they understood that not all people are great at testing, which was nice. I don't remember studying all that much for it. Good Luck!

terpbrideinnc · August 2010

Not to brag, but my english score said I was capable of communicating in monosyllabic grunts and that I'm also able to identify the letters A-E. Unfort, I don't share the tricks to my mastery so I wish you the best.

duke_girl · August 2010

I took a prep course. It was expensive, but I definitely found it helpful since I was able to get computer-based practice in addition to paper-and-pencil practice. (Since the test is computerized, it was helpful to practice in a situation that was more similar to the test itself.) I also think it depends on what kind of scores you would need to get into the program; my field is pretty competitive so I wanted to get very good scores, and the course I took was helpful in that way. GL!

CurbsideProphet · August 2010

I would definitely do some review and take some practice tests. How much the GRE factors into admissions is just going to depend on the program. However I would not let the GRE stop you from apply to graduate school.

My post of the day: GRE?

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