Taken the GRE? I have questions!

pkw · August 2011

I am going to be taking it next month.

(I am probably going to take this test more than once, I am taking it next month since they are doing a 50% off deal right now and I want to use this as experience to make me better for when I take it in November a second time).

I picked up a GRE study book and have been doing all the stuff the website says but I am wondering if it is a good idea to get tutored? One of my professors recommended another professor that has a track record for improving scores drastically. So I am wondering if this might be a good move. I am usually an OK test taker, not amazing, but not bomb-it kind either.

I am applying to a few schools and some of them require extremely high scores.

So if you took the GRE...

How many times did you take it?

Did you get tutored?

Would you recommend getting tutored?

hannikan · August 2011

How many times did you take it? Just once but I think doing it twice would be advantageous

Did you get tutored? No, I used the study guides and practice tests a lot.

Would you recommend getting tutored? I'm sure it would be helpful. I found that I got much better at taking standardized tests with practice and maturity as a student. I really struggled with the SAT in high school and did not do well at all (below 1000). But I did quite well on GRE. GL!

tonic · August 2011

I took it 10 years ago (yikes) and only took it once. I wouldn't take it twice. Most schools average your scores, so I wouldn't take the test with a month notice and then retake it again. I'd put all your efforts towards the Nov test and possibly get a tutor. I didn't have a tutor but if there are any areas that you are not as well versed in due to transferring schools (I think you did this), then I would think the tutor could help you the most there.

sm23 · August 2011

I took the GRE once. I did not get a tutor but I used a book to study.

But my GRE experience was not a typical one. I decided very last minute that I wanted to apply for j-school right out of undergrad - and by last minute, I mean a month and a half in advance Tongue Tied I had a very busy quarter plus final exams right before the GRE so I spent very little time studying for that test. However, the program I was applying for did not place much emphasis on those scores (they were more interested in our writing samples, work and school experience, etc.) I think they really just wanted to make sure you weren't a total dummy and spent more time evaluating the other portions of your application.

In your situation - applying to schools that care a lot about the scores and require high ones - I would consider a tutor. If possible, I think I would take the test once and see how I did and how hard it was for me and then decide. If your first score isn't as high as you want, then definitely get the tutor.

pkw · August 2011

tonic:
I took it 10 years ago (yikes) and only took it once. I wouldn't take it twice. Most schools average your scores, so I wouldn't take the test with a month notice and then retake it again. I'd put all your efforts towards the Nov test and possibly get a tutor. I didn't have a tutor but if there are any areas that you are not as well versed in due to transferring schools (I think you did this), then I would think the tutor could help you the most there.

Luckily, since there is a new GRE format they are writing new rules. Most schools will instead of averaging your scores now look at score increase amounts. Meaning if you have multiple scores that are similar they will be less helpful to you than if you have one lower and one higher score (showing improvement, etc).

The schools I am applying to, most of them just use the GRE as an additional tool in evaluation, putting more emphasis on the recommendations and the examples of work or letter of intent. Only one institution I am applying to puts a huge amount of emphasis on the GRE. Another just requires you meet a minimum number and if you do then they focus on everything else above it.

sm23 · August 2011

PKW:
tonic:
I took it 10 years ago (yikes) and only took it once. I wouldn't take it twice. Most schools average your scores, so I wouldn't take the test with a month notice and then retake it again. I'd put all your efforts towards the Nov test and possibly get a tutor. I didn't have a tutor but if there are any areas that you are not as well versed in due to transferring schools (I think you did this), then I would think the tutor could help you the most there.
Luckily, since there is a new GRE format they are writing new rules. Most schools will instead of averaging your scores now look at score increase amounts. Meaning if you have multiple scores that are similar they will be less helpful to you than if you have one lower and one higher score (showing improvement, etc).
The schools I am applying to, most of them just use the GRE as an additional tool in evaluation, putting more emphasis on the recommendations and the examples of work or letter of intent. Only one institution I am applying to puts a huge amount of emphasis on the GRE. Another just requires you meet a minimum number and if you do then they focus on everything else above it.

Whatever you decide to do - good luck!

kouiii · August 2011

How many times did you take it? ... Once, but it was years ago.

Did you get tutored? ... No, and neither did my friends/classmates who took the GRE.

Would you recommend getting tutored? ... It depends. If some areas seem too difficult and if you can afford it, it wouldn't hurt to get tutored. But if you feel pretty confident, if money is tight, or if you don't mind taking it twice, a tutor might not be needed.

In any case, GL with the exam!

pkw · August 2011

Thanks for all the replies, I am going to just take it in Nov and I think I will continue my book studying and then sit down with the professor a couple times to ensure I am covering all my bases.

I am not overly worried about the test since after taking a practice one last night I did quite well. I will of course take more practice ones and continue to study.

The downer is with the revised format they have not announced what high scores will be so I don't know what I have to achieve. Grrr. Though this could also be in my favor since colleges themselves are trying to figure out what is considered a high score too. Time will tell.

Celyn · August 2011

I took them once and studied by the book. If you can afford a tutor, I think it's probably worth it. I was always kind of anti-tutor, but when you're up against others who have that advantage, you might as well make the playing field even.

ladipale · August 2011

I took it once, scored perfect on the math and terrible on the verbal (and they had just added the writing and I did OK) I studied (just for the verbal section) using a book for a few months. For my grad school programs, it was really just a formality, the scores didn't really matter, esp not the verbal scores.

hannikan · August 2011

ladipale:
I took it once, scored perfect on the math and terrible on the verbal (and they had just added the writing and I did OK) I studied (just for the verbal section) using a book for a few months. For my grad school programs, it was really just a formality, the scores didn't really matter, esp not the verbal scores.

We are exact opposites. Wink

I did okay on the math on the GRE but they weren't looking at my math scores anyway. All they looked at was verbal and analytical. So it will depend on what field you're entering, which scores they value. I think you have a good plan, K. GL!!

pkw · August 2011

hannikan:
ladipale:
I took it once, scored perfect on the math and terrible on the verbal (and they had just added the writing and I did OK) I studied (just for the verbal section) using a book for a few months. For my grad school programs, it was really just a formality, the scores didn't really matter, esp not the verbal scores.
We are exact opposites. I did okay on the math on the GRE but they weren't looking at my math scores anyway. All they looked at was verbal and analytical. So it will depend on what field you're entering, which scores they value. I think you have a good plan, K. GL!!

Exactly! The programs I am looking at base 90% of their focus on the verbal and writing and only 10% on the math because of the field.

I am glad since math is not my strong suit, this is the area in which I am making the huz work with me on since he is a numbers guy (2 classes short of a double major for the accounting degree, which I think he has decided to finish). He was taking college courses in math while in HS. Some people just have heads for it. I on the other hand can whoop his bum up and down the field when it comes to the verbal and writing (when I apply myself, so please do not take my super informal posts and emails as how I actually write and comprehend).

I like that the new format means you get your scores in 15 days!!! So I will not have to wait 6 weeks. *Whew*

hannikan · August 2011

PKW:
Exactly! The programs I am looking at base 90% of their focus on the verbal and writing and only 10% on the math because of the field.
I am glad since math is not my strong suit, this is the area in which I am making the huz work with me on since he is a numbers guy (2 classes short of a double major for the accounting degree, which I think he has decided to finish). He was taking college courses in math while in HS. Some people just have heads for it. I on the other hand can whoop his bum up and down the field when it comes to the verbal and writing (when I apply myself, so please do not take my super informal posts and emails as how I actually write and comprehend).
I like that the new format means you get your scores in 15 days!!! So I will not have to wait 6 weeks. *Whew*

Yeah, I agree about math. Although people tell me the same is true for verbal, too. That's interesting about the scores. When I took it you could see your score immediately on the computer. But maybe it still took 6 weeks to get your official paperwork in the mail. This was way back in 2001.

Taken the GRE? I have questions!

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