So you've decided to go to grad school, huh? Do you know if the program you're applying to requires the GRE? The G-R-E, what? The Graduate Record Examination. Your worst nightmare that you can't run away from. So you do your research. You know the format inside and out. You've visited the location of the test center. You found countless articles giving advice on how to ace the test without studying. Everything. But there's some things that are impossible to find on the GRE website and some things the advice articles won't tell you, mostly just small obvious things that we undergrads glance over, but here's my 10:
1. The test, with taxes, costs $205.
But don't cry about how much money you lost until after you've received your scores.
2.There are paper exams.
But they only occur two to three times a year. Otherwise, you'll be at a computer for four plus hours, watching the clock countdown to zero minutes left, antagonizing you at the flashing 5 minute point.
3. The test starts at either 8 AM or 12:30 PM typically and you're told to be there 30-40 minutes early.
But once you're there and signed in with everything, you start. Regardless of whether its 7:40 AM or 12:25 PM. No mental prep time. There may be others in the room already typing away at their writing portion, which means they will get up and leave their seats while you're still going (prepare to be distracted). Not everyone is at the same place at the same time like it was for the SAT.
4. If you want to reschedule or cancel, you must do it four days in advance.
5. Ear muffs are provided to drown out the noise.
But, after so wearing them for so long they become very uncomfortable, doing more harm than good.
6. What does my school mean when they say there is no minimum score?
7. Does my school realllllly look at the score or just require it as a formality?
8. The GRE is just an "adult" version of the SAT.
Basically the same format and the questions really aren't any harder. But, the SAT is easier because you're most likely fresh on your math skills, whereas as in undergrad (depending on your major) you might not have taken a math course since those high school courses. It may be helpful to study concepts from a SAT prep book too.
9. You can bring a piece of paper with the school codes that you wish to send your scores to.
The test prompters willl hold on paper until you're finished with the exam. Make sure to write the codes not just the school names because some schools have almost the same names and you might not remember which is which.
10. Most importantly: Take the GRE over the summer.
If your exam is scheduled while school is in session, you will have zero time to study. Literally zero time.
But somehow you'll make it through those dreaded four plus hours and maybe even miraculously do better than you imagined! Otherwise, I find it best to just accept what you have been dealt. Unless you reallllly want to torture yourself again...
