Ever take the GRE?

[Aurora63]

I took it yesterday, as I have decided to go to grad school. It is all computerized. Since it is all computerized, you get your score on the multiple choice (verbal/quantitative) right then and there. I though that was cool.

I didn't do a whole lot to prepare. Yet somehow, I managed to pull out a score of 1150 ( they use the same scale as the SAT). Made a 530 on the verbal section, and get this...620 on the math! I was in shock when I saw that. I am not a math person, and I haven't seen a quadratic equation in years. I was doing this math section, thinking Dear God, I'm gonna have to retake this, I don't know what I'm doing! But somehow I did okay.

When I told my husband, the superacheiver that he is was not impressed. So I ask, those of you who have experience with the GRE, do you think my scores are decent, or should I prepare more and take it again? I thought they were great, and they are high enough for the program I want to go into. Was just curious as to what the rest of you thought!

 

[bekkiz]

I would take it again. I took it twice. The first time I scored very well in 2 sections (there used to be a 3rd multiple choice section) but scored very low in the verbal. I called the school I was applying to and they said if I took it again, they would look at the highest score in each section, not the highest cum. score. When I took it again I studied only verbal, made tons of flash cards and improved 150 points. My other two sctions went downhill, but it didn't matter.

I guess it depends on where and what you are going to school for. I was going into an MA Education program and they didn't care as much about test scores. However for an MBA, or Law or more demanding program they may look closer

 

[ErikdaRed]

In the sciences all they look at is the logic section. The math is actually easier than the SAT (because those englis majors don't need to take math, of course us engineering majors don't need to take english but....) so 800 is expected. Anything over 500 in verbal is acceptable and the higher the better in logic.

 

[Rajah]

It really depends on you and what you want. If your GRE score is high enough to get you into your desired program, that's good enough. Or, you might ask them what they do if you take it again -- if they do like Bekkiz's school and look at your highest between the scores, it can't hurt to try again. But really, if you're happy with the score and it gets you where you want to be, why not keep the score.

Congrats and good luck in grad school, btw. I'm attending now and absolutely love my program.

 

[caitycaity]

they don't have a logic/analytic section anymore. they replaced it last year with writing.

i purposefully took it right before they got rid of the analytic section b/c i have always done very well in that section. if i apply for a ph.d program after my scores expire and i have to take it again i'm screwed. LOL

anyways, if the scores are good enough for the program you are interested in, i wouldn't take it again. i prepared before i took mine and i did better on the actual test than i did on any of the practise ones i had done so i figured why take it again. my scores were also good enough to get me into the programs i wanted.

i also did better on the math than the verbal which was a shock to me as well.

if you do decide to take it again remember that most schools will average your scores rather than take the higher one. also remember that different schools (even within the same field) weight gre test scores differently. sometime very differently.

when applying to grad school, i think the most important thing is to have a strong overall application (including personal statement, recommendations, undergrad grades, and test scores). if you have a weakness in any of these areas, it might kill your chances depending on what the school/department is looking for. especially these days with the economy not doing too well, grad schools have seen a huge increase in applications. last year when i applied my number one choice told me that they seen a 100% increase in the number of applications in my program. that program only accepted 15 people and they had like 500 people apply.

 

[sap1227]

When I took it, I did not do any prep for it. I went and took it and when my score was high enough to get into the program I wanted I stopped there. I can not remember what I got on it, I know I needed a 900 so it was something over that.

If your score is high enough to get you in, don't worry about it.

I think you did great!!

Christy

 

[CRSNDSNY]

Originally posted by sap1227
When I took it, I did not do any prep for it. I went and took it and when my score was high enough to get into the program I wanted I stopped there. I can not remember what I got on it, I know I needed a 900 so it was something over that.

If your score is high enough to get you in, don't worry about it.

I think you did great!!

Christy

That's exactly what I did! I got what I needed to get in and didn't want to take it again. Now, I know that when applying for Doctoral programs that your scores need to be recent (no more than 5 years old). My 5 years is almost up and I really don't want to take them again...now I'm struggling with applying to a program or not. Don't know what I'm going to do.

 

[Aurora63]

Thanks for all your comments. I don't think I'll take it again, simply because I did what I needed to do already, and at $115 a pop, it's an expensive test!

I'm applying to an Information Sciences program, which is the fancy way of saying Library Science. I think my application is strong...I already served a year as a school librarian (which is what made me want to do this), I have good recommendations from that, I had a decent undergrad GPA...so, if all goes well, I get accepted, and get back to school!

 

[WDWAurora]

Congratulations! I just took it in October, and I had decided when I went in there if I made anything over 1000 I would not even begin to think about taking it again. Most programs for me (school psychology) are only looking for 900 combined score, so I figured that would be fine....I beat the 1000 (by a lot! I was excited!) and I still think I could do better with more prep work like you, but I did well and I will not sit through that thing again. You did great, don't even think about doing it again. It's not worth the stress!!

Once again, great job and good luck!!

 

[CRSNDSNY]

Originally posted by Aurora63
Thanks for all your comments. I don't think I'll take it again, simply because I did what I needed to do already, and at $115 a pop, it's an expensive test!

I'm applying to an Information Sciences program, which is the fancy way of saying Library Science. I think my application is strong...I already served a year as a school librarian (which is what made me want to do this), I have good recommendations from that, I had a decent undergrad GPA...so, if all goes well, I get accepted, and get back to school!

That's great...I'm sure you'll get in without a problem. Please let us know what happens!

 

[caitycaity]

good luck aurora! i'm finding that i enjoy my grad program more than my undergrad one.

 

[KathyFP]

I took it, but it was a long time ago.

I know that there are computer software that you can use as a study aid.

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

Took the GRE years ago but I knew that the school to which I was applying would accept the Miller Analogy also and I had passed that with flying colors. Since I had to pay for both in advance and already had my Miller scores the GRE was redundant so I did what I always wanted to do. I went in and made a pattern on the score sheet just to see what I could score without reading it(before computer). Well I passed even without reading the test I do not remember my score but I do remember that I hit the lowest cut off point for the grad school I was going to attend. Of course I would not advise this and not many people have the luxury(I had already paid so I had nothing to lose) of doing this but it was interesting.

 

[Dan Murphy]

I just wanted to take a moment and congratulate you, Aurora63. Very good and good luck!!!!!!


Dan