The GRE
 

Has anyone taken the GRE (Graduate Record Examination)?
What was it like?
Is there any way to prep for it?

Was just tossing the idea around of going to grad school.

I read that as GED and was wondering why you dropped out of HS.

I have never taken it. Will never take it. The thought of more schooling makes my skin crawl.

I have a few co-workers in the Masters program. I'd love to say I'll remember to ask them tomorrow, but the brain is full. If you shoot me a message (PM or IM) I will ask them tomorrow :)

I'm so sorry I hit college right after high school. Ugh, two years and I was soooo done ... and so I'm not a college grad (and so, d'uh, can't even qualify for grad school).

I should have taken a year or two off to become a person, and then hit school again. My everlasting regret.

I took it about 25 years ago - don't remember much, other than I didn't have the money to move on the grad school so I tabled that for awhile - a long while. I think the main reason you take it is that the school you want to get into requires it. I believe there are study programs to help you do well. I recall doing specialized tests in philosophy.

I think that fact that I DID take two years off is the only reason I was able to complete college. It was not intended as taking time off: when I completed high school, I was done. I needed the two years to grow up and realize that I needed college.

From what I can find of it, it sounds like a slightly beefed up SAT. You'll probably want to do some sort of prep course. I'd bet there are self-guided ones that you can do online on your own. Though if you're like me that would just give you plenty of excuse to procrastinate in which case enrolling in a live prep course might help you follow through on it.

Basically, not difficult if you just learn how to take it, which is all they really want to know you can do.

I never took the SAT (I was a Community College transfer). Since I am pretty good at taking tests, I have always been curious to take the SAT just to see how I would score.

But I am not quite THAT masochistic.

Tanked the SAT. Went to community college right out of high school. I think if I took 2 years off and did something else I would have still had my BA by now.

I took it, but it was awhile ago and I think they've changed the format since then. Get a book of sample tests and see how you do. If you do well, no need to spend money on a prep course.

:)

I took it. When I took it it was basically like the SAT, only they have an added logic section. I agree that you're probably fine investing in a book of practice tests. I got the one from the people who write the test. I think now that the test is conducted online.

I took it about 12 years ago. It was a standardized test on paper, I don' know if they've electronicized it by now. Nothing too complex and I generally rock at standardized tests so I wouldn't be a good yardstick.

A friend took it earlier this year after deciding she'd go to grad school when her Peace Corps stint was up. She just bought a prep book and did standardized tests a lot. Don't know her final score but it sounded like it really improved her math score.

Can't speak to any particular program but other than providing some people the rigor to make sure they actually prepare for the test it never seemed like any of the standardized prep courses did much for the people taking them.

10 years ago for me...I remember being locked in a room with no water or food with the (then) new computers on which we were to enter our answers, and because there was some glitch we could not take the test on time nor could we leave...finally about 3 hours late we got to start. Had some scratch paper to work out the puzzles on. There was some basic math stuff and vocabulary, but I remember the logic puzzles...so MANY of them! Luckily that was what I'd practiced...I did very well on the GRE, and later that same year the LSAT. I'm a good test-taker though. I didn't get into the grad school of my choice because I had great grades, high test scores, many accomplishments, and broad interests. Apparently those things don't count. But I'm really glad I didn't get that PhD, because as it is I now have a useless MA that I often drop off my resume so I can at least get an interview. Well, when I look for a straight job that is. Which I don't do much anymore heheh.

Oh but enough about me...and hi, everybody! Back to the GRE: logic puzzles -- practice them, looooove them, know they are tricksy but there is always a way to solve them -- get good at them and the GRE will be your new bestest friend. I'm figuring since you're here on the LoT that the vocabulary stuff will not be a problem either, but don't forget your math. Do you remember how to solve quadratic equations? If not -- better look into that. Good luck!

I took it about 14 years ago (my senior year of college). I would reiterate what others have said - do the test books and see how you do, then decide if there's any need for more formalized preparation or to bone up on a subject.

I took it, um, 30 years ago OMG. I remember enjoying not caring about whatever math score I got, since any grad program in French would also not care. I also remember loving the specialized GRE in French for its thin-lipped twistedness. Instead of being given a first line of a poem to identify, we were given last lines, for example.

So yes, like a SAT on steroids.

Yeah, as I said the only reason I'd recommend a course is that it makes it harder to put it off, which is what I would do with a book. But Prudence makes a good point, if you can get hold of a practice exam and do well, just go ahead and take it.

No need to buy those test prep books - your local library has them.

CP... I was just going to say that!

I remembered to ask, and they took something else, not the GRE. Sorry!