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Anyone ever taken the GRE? Alternative title: my anxiety is killing me,lol.

Started by Ltl89, August 31, 2013, 07:51:03 PM

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Ltl89

Hello all,

I'm just curious if anyone has ever taken the GRE here.  I'm sort of going crazy from anxiety and keep panicking about taking it, so I wanted to hear about everyone else's experience with the test.  My biggest fear is the math portion because I have always sucked at math.  See, I studied political science and made sure to avoid numbers as much as possible.  I'm afraid my scores are going to be weak and then I'll never make it into a school.  Since my dream is to be a political science professor in the future, it's important that I get accepted.  Even though I have good credentials (graduated with a 3.9 gpa, graduated with multiple honors, have awards, been in honors societies, and have great recommendations) I do fear my ultimate scores will hurt me.  I haven't taken the test as of yet and plan on doing it at the very beginning of November.  With any luck, these past next 2 months will give me a good opportunity to crack down on my stupidity.  In any event, I wanted to know if anyone took the GRE.  If so, how difficult was it?  Was it harder than you imagined?  And do you feel like it was as relevant to the decision making process as people claim? My goal is to enter a Ph.D program, so I expect them to hold me to a very high standard; therefore, I have a lot of anxiety about it.  I have all the books and have been studying them like crazy, but I worry a lot about my ability to perform the Gre math in a time controlled setting when it math is a major weakness of mine.  I am unable to sleep because of it and can hardly think once I stress out.  I've already delayed this for a year in order to finish a very stressful job which left me no time to study.  God, maybe I just need a prescription for xanax,lol. 

Anyway, thoughts or feedback on the test would be appreciated.  Thanks. :)
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Ltl89

P.S. Mods, I was unsure where to post this.  If it's in the wrong spot, feel free to move it to the proper forum. :)
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LordKAT

I'm going to say I  don't know what a GRE is so I likely haven't taken it. Is it like a college entrance exam or more like a high school grad exam?
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MadeleineG

LtL, I think you are placing far too much emphasis on your GRE score. In terms of acceptance, it's much more important to target and make proactive contact with a prospective supervisor. In terms of external funding, GRE score can't hurt, but writing a quality proposal that's current and references the right literature is more important.

Good luck.

Maddy
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Jamie D

The GRE was easy.  In 1980   :o

"My advice to you is to start drinking heavily."

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DriftingCrow

I haven't taken the GRE, but I have taken the LSAT. The LSAT is a big PITA but doing all the Princeton Review study books was really helpful. (My LSAT score kinda sucked in comparison to my practice tests though, because I was working 3rd shift at the time, and did all the practice tests at a time when I was fully awake (like 1-3 am  :laugh: ), so when I had to take the actual test at 9am-12pm, I was falling asleep. My actual score was 10 points lower than my best practice test. So yeah, don't work third shift if you're planning on taking the GRE).

My LSAT score did hurt me though, because I wanted to go to Northeastern, where the average LSAT score was 160 (my score was 152). Since law school is so competitive, I didn't get in (despite having a 4.0 undergrad GPA), even though I got accepted at Tufts Medical School for the dual-degree program I was applying for.

But, life works out in the end, and I got into another law school where I really fit in, have friends, and basically already have a job lined up for when I graduate.

So, I'd try not to worry about the GRE score too much. You seem very intelligent, I am sure your score will be fine, just do those study books over and over again at the same time of day that you'll actually be taking the test. And, if your score is lower than you hoped for, just take it again, or it'll work out for the best anyways.  :)


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Edit to add: don't forget to set a timer and do the practice tests in the same amount of time the GRE will give you.  ;)
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Ltl89

Quote from: Fairy Princess with a Death Ray on August 31, 2013, 08:10:49 PM
LtL, I think you are placing far too much emphasis on your GRE score. In terms of acceptance, it's much more important to target and make proactive contact with a prospective supervisor. In terms of external funding, GRE score can't hurt, but writing a quality proposal that's current and references the right literature is more important.

Good luck.

Maddy

Quote from: LearnedHand on August 31, 2013, 09:29:01 PM
I haven't taken the GRE, but I have taken the LSAT. The LSAT is a big PITA but doing all the Princeton Review study books was really helpful. (My LSAT score kinda sucked in comparison to my practice tests though, because I was working 3rd shift at the time, and did all the practice tests at a time when I was fully awake (like 1-3 am  :laugh: ), so when I had to take the actual test at 9am-12pm, I was falling asleep. My actual score was 10 points lower than my best practice test. So yeah, don't work third shift if you're planning on taking the GRE).

My LSAT score did hurt me though, because I wanted to go to Northeastern, where the average LSAT score was 160 (my score was 152). Since law school is so competitive, I didn't get in (despite having a 4.0 undergrad GPA), even though I got accepted at Tufts Medical School for the dual-degree program I was applying for.

But, life works out in the end, and I got into another law school where I really fit in, have friends, and basically already have a job lined up for when I graduate.

So, I'd try not to worry about the GRE score too much. You seem very intelligent, I am sure your score will be fine, just do those study books over and over again at the same time of day that you'll actually be taking the test. And, if your score is lower than you hoped for, just take it again, or it'll work out for the best anyways.  :)


---------------
Edit to add: don't forget to set a timer and do the practice tests in the same amount of time the GRE will give you.  ;)

I'll try to listen to both of you and not let the GRE destroy my sanity.  I'll study hard, but I can't let it overwhelm to the degree that it already has.  I just feel like it's now or never.  Besides my age (24), I'm afraid of what will happen to my recommendations once I change my name.  Clearly that will be an issue, and I don't know if I can convince people to write a letter with my new name.  Personally, I wish I could just get more work experience and save for srs, but I feel like this is my only shot at getting into a good program.  So a lot is riding on this for me. 

Quote from: Jamie D on August 31, 2013, 08:39:19 PM
The GRE was easy.  In 1980   :o

"My advice to you is to start drinking heavily."



I don't know if starting an addiction and studying while drunk will solve anything, but thank you for your feedback.  ;)

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DriftingCrow

Could you have the people do your recommendations under your old name, and put on your application that the recommendations might be under a different name?

Quote from: learningtolive on August 31, 2013, 10:03:24 PM
I don't know if starting an addiction and studying while drunk will solve anything, but thank you for your feedback.  ;)

Lol, the first day of law school orientation they had the Health and Wellness people come up and give us a big talk on how alcohol is bad. Half an hour later, they're serving us complimentary glasses of wine, and telling us all about the first year start of the year party which everyone lovingly calls the "Booze Cruise" (they take you out on a river cruise and give you free liquor all night). Almost every after-school activity serves alcohol. I am sure other grad schools are the same, get ready for either a lot of drinking or running from booze.  ;) (I run because I get drunk too fast)
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Ltl89

Quote from: LearnedHand on August 31, 2013, 10:11:16 PM
Could you have the people do your recommendations under your old name, and put on your application that the recommendations might be under a different name?

If they would allow it, I would be fine with that.  I don't really know the protocol, but I would imagine I'd have to come out in that scenario. Maybe it would work to my advantage. 

Quote from: LearnedHand on August 31, 2013, 10:11:16 PM
Lol, the first day of law school orientation they had the Health and Wellness people come up and give us a big talk on how alcohol is bad. Half an hour later, they're serving us complimentary glasses of wine, and telling us all about the first year start of the year party which everyone lovingly calls the "Booze Cruise" (they take you out on a river cruise and give you free liquor all night). Almost every after-school activity serves alcohol. I am sure other grad schools are the same, get ready for either a lot of drinking or running from booze.  ;) (I run because I get drunk too fast)

Yeah, not much of a drinker.  I suppose I will do some running and finally get the exercise I need,lol. 
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MadeleineG

LtL, you've suggested that you have good relations with your referring profs. Do you have a sense how transfriendly they are? Perhaps you should just drop in and have a frank office chat with them.
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Ltl89

Quote from: Fairy Princess with a Death Ray on August 31, 2013, 10:38:53 PM
LtL, you've suggested that you have good relations with your referring profs. Do you have a sense how transfriendly they are? Perhaps you should just drop in and have a frank office chat with them.

I have no idea how they will take this.  One of them I was really close with.  It would be almost as hard as coming out to an additional mother in a way.  I mean it's obviously different, but my mentor meant a lot to me.  I'm a bit scared.  I also have a good recommendation from someone in politics.  I don't know what I'll be able to do with that letter,lol.  That's why I think getting it done now is probably for the best.   
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MadeleineG

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Ltl89

How I wish someone could invent that machine in the matrix.  You know, the one where they force feed you information and you automatically absorb everything.  God, there is no reason someone studying political science needs to answer math questions to get into grad school.  Ask me about things that are relevant to my subject.  I haven't been able to sleep at all lately over this test.  GRR.  The math isn't THAT bad, but I'm having so much anxiety that I can't think clearly.  Oh well, I don't think the xanax suggestion is a joke anymore,lol.  Seriously, I just want to do well and get into a good program.  I wish I had more faith in myself and could just concentrate.  Sorry just needed to vent. 

Quote from: Antonia J on August 31, 2013, 10:59:33 PM
Took it twice.  It's not that bad.

I hope you're right.

May I ask, what field are you studying? 
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Shards

I've taken the GRE. I recommend that you do your practice tests in one sitting (in fact, do several if you have time). If you are doing a subject area test, that means do the general test in the am and the subject in the pm with only the permitted break times. Like so many aspects of grad school, the GRE is an endurance test. It's exhausting, so make sure that you take good care of yourself as you prepare to write.
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Arch

Well, this comes from someone who took both the general test and the subject test all in one day after a few hours of sleep. Sonoid2 might have taken both exams on the same day because that is how it is done now, but find out. Everyone in my honors class was aghast to hear that I had done a doubleheader because they had done the tests on different days. I was the consummate procrastinator.

If math is not your strong suit, then two months is not a lot of time to prepare.

Of course, I did not prepare for either one, beyond running through the free practice booklet on the subject test. But I was a math minor, so I suppose that helped me on the quantitative. On the other hand, I did not do particularly well on the analytical. If I had taken, say, a few hours to prepare, I would have done much better on that portion. I went in almost blind.

I think I took one of the last pencil-and-paper tests, and I was competing against other grads who were taking the computer test and getting, on average, something like a hundred points higher. I thought that was dreadfully unfair, but I was still accepted at half of the schools I applied to, including my top choice.

Research your schools. Some even require no GREs, but that might vary by discipline. Others don't care about non-relevant portions of the general test. As I recall, UCLA's English Department required a combined score of 1300--the language portion of the general test, plus the subject test; they didn't care about quantitative and analytical. And so on.
"The hammer is my penis." --Captain Hammer

"When all you have is a hammer . . ." --Anonymous carpenter
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JLT1

LTL,
I was 28 when I went back to finish my bachelors.   Your only 24.  You have so much ahead of you. 

I agree with Arch and sonoid2 plus others but especially like those two.  I would add that you should figure out what you do to perform your best.  I always tested better just slightly tired.  In that state, I avoided over thinking the questions. Find that equivalent mental state for you and go there.  Maybe it's just after a good night's sleep or after a good breakfast or no breakfast but cranked on caffeine.  What ever gets that brain function optimized.  After the first little while in the test, you start to feel good and then, you cruse.

GRE for me was in 1991 and it wasn't bad.  I had three days to prepare.  Yep, messed up on the exam test dates.  Go in with confidence because you are one seriously smart girl. 
To move forward is to leave behind that which has become dear. It is a call into the wild, into becoming someone currently unknown to us. For most, it is a call too frightening and too challenging to heed. For some, it is a call to be more than we were capable of being, both now and in the future.
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Ltl89

Quote from: sonoid2 on September 03, 2013, 02:43:58 AM
I've taken the GRE. I recommend that you do your practice tests in one sitting (in fact, do several if you have time). If you are doing a subject area test, that means do the general test in the am and the subject in the pm with only the permitted break times. Like so many aspects of grad school, the GRE is an endurance test. It's exhausting, so make sure that you take good care of yourself as you prepare to write.

Thanks for the advice.  I've been taking the practice tests for the verbal reasoning section.  I'm quite comfortable in that area.  I'm just afraid of the quantitative section, but I have been studying and will soon get the courage to take practice tests for it. 

Quote from: Arch on September 03, 2013, 02:50:33 AM
Well, this comes from someone who took both the general test and the subject test all in one day after a few hours of sleep. Sonoid2 might have taken both exams on the same day because that is how it is done now, but find out. Everyone in my honors class was aghast to hear that I had done a doubleheader because they had done the tests on different days. I was the consummate procrastinator.

If math is not your strong suit, then two months is not a lot of time to prepare.

Of course, I did not prepare for either one, beyond running through the free practice booklet on the subject test. But I was a math minor, so I suppose that helped me on the quantitative. On the other hand, I did not do particularly well on the analytical. If I had taken, say, a few hours to prepare, I would have done much better on that portion. I went in almost blind.

I think I took one of the last pencil-and-paper tests, and I was competing against other grads who were taking the computer test and getting, on average, something like a hundred points higher. I thought that was dreadfully unfair, but I was still accepted at half of the schools I applied to, including my top choice.

Research your schools. Some even require no GREs, but that might vary by discipline. Others don't care about non-relevant portions of the general test. As I recall, UCLA's English Department required a combined score of 1300--the language portion of the general test, plus the subject test; they didn't care about quantitative and analytical. And so on.

Math isn't my strong suit, but I'm not terrible at it.  I have taken math, physics and astronomy courses in college.  I imagine some of the mid level astronomy courses would prepare me to some degree.  Plus, I have already gone through 2 math text books outside of the GRE practice books.  Hopefully, that will have me ready for early November. 

Quote from: JLT1 on September 03, 2013, 11:32:25 PM
LTL,
I was 28 when I went back to finish my bachelors.   Your only 24.  You have so much ahead of you. 

I agree with Arch and sonoid2 plus others but especially like those two.  I would add that you should figure out what you do to perform your best.  I always tested better just slightly tired.  In that state, I avoided over thinking the questions. Find that equivalent mental state for you and go there.  Maybe it's just after a good night's sleep or after a good breakfast or no breakfast but cranked on caffeine.  What ever gets that brain function optimized.  After the first little while in the test, you start to feel good and then, you cruse.

GRE for me was in 1991 and it wasn't bad.  I had three days to prepare.  Yep, messed up on the exam test dates.  Go in with confidence because you are one seriously smart girl. 


Thanks.  I'm a bit worried, but maybe it won't be bad.

3 days?!  How the hell did you do it?  I don't see how anyone could prepare in that time frame.  Then again, I remember writing my undergraduate honors thesis in 3 days (about 60-70 pages) so I guess it's doable when you have enough adrenaline pumping through your system. 
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Arch

Quote from: learningtolive on September 05, 2013, 02:45:32 PM
3 days?!  How the hell did you do it?  I don't see how anyone could prepare in that time frame.  Then again, I remember writing my undergraduate honors thesis in 3 days (about 60-70 pages) so I guess it's doable when you have enough adrenaline pumping through your system.

I didn't study for the general test, although I looked at a couple of practice problems the night before...I wish I had taken three days! Nowadays, I would start months in advance.

You made it sound as if the math would be a serious problem, but you appear to have a solid background.
"The hammer is my penis." --Captain Hammer

"When all you have is a hammer . . ." --Anonymous carpenter
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