AHHHH!!!!! I JUST REGISTERED FOR THE GRE!!!!! I'm SCARED

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

SHITLESS!!!

Yes, I'm screaming. I'm scared. So scared. And I'm a good test-taker.

I've been preparing for it. I'm scared. My undergrad GPA, made 12 years ago, sucks, so my GRE score has to rock.

Did I mention I'm scared?

Monday, October 4. 9 am. I'm going to vomit now.

If I don't cut it, I don't get into grad school, period.

No masters for me, ever, which means no moving up in career, EVER.

Yes, I am being a total drama queen. I don't care.

Hold me.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

1. Good luck :)

What are you going for? Pre Vet?

On Edit: Graduate school, I see...Well we all know what MY scores on the GRE will be :crazy:

[Coventina]

2. I took it last December

If I can do it, you can also.

It's a paper tiger.

You will do fine.

Do you know what scores your program is looking for?
:hug:

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

11. Yes and on

computer-based practice tests, I have scored higher than they are looking for.

I think I have just put this off for so long that there is now an incredible amount of anxiety behind it, more than if I had just taken it right away, know what I mean?

[sbj405]

3. Godd Luck.

I'm sure you'll do fine. Also, a lot of programs don't place a lot of weight on test scores. But just relax. It's not bad.

[liontamer]

4. have you been preparing?

You'll do fine, good luck. I was the same way when I took mine, and it turned out fine

[DrWeird]

5. Yawn.

The general GRE? Or the subject test? Because if it's the former you've got nothing to worry about.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

8. The general?

Really?

Usually only super-smart people say it was easy. I have taken two full-length practice tests on the computer (just like the real thing) and I DID make more than high enough to get in, but I want to really blow it away. I am afraid about my undergrad GPA. If I have to, I will go up there and ask for a personal interview and plead my case (case being I was a slacker in college--smart, but a slacker and am kick-ass now).

[ThomCat]

6. Try to relax

It really isn't as hard as it is reported to be. I thought it was no more difficult than the SAT, and yet you have several years more knowledge to work with.

Stress and fear are bigger issues than the test itself.

:hug: I hope you do well.

[tjdee]

7. Que sera, sera....whatever will be, will be...

One of the more irritating things I'm learning as I get older is that the cheesy cliche is true.

Do your best. If you don't get into grad school, you weren't meant to go to grad school just yet (or ever). You can always take the test again if you're upset with the results. If you do well, great, on to the Master's degree!

I'm in grad school, it's eh, okay. :)
Good luck, I'm sure you'll do fine.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

9. I know

I wish I could be more Buddhist about this and let go of attachment to outcome.

Problem is, I've been putting this off for 12 years, so the stress has gathered....

[tjdee]

13. That will happen after 12 years, LOL.

Things take on a life of their own after that long...when are you supposed to take the test?
on edit: DUH, just re-read your original post.
Try to prepare a bit, that may help and make you feel like you're a bit more in control so you don't worry so much.

[punpirate]

10. I found that my GRE scores...

... on a GRE taken ten years after the SATs, were pretty close to those. I didn't prepare for SATs at all, nor did I for GREs. Relax and plan to about as well as you did on the SAT.

Cheers. Save the vomiting for when you have intestinal flu. :)

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

12. You know what?

On the first full computer-based practice test I took, my scores were IDENTICAL to that of my SAT scores in 1987!!!

Weird, huh?

[liontamer]

14. the gre of today is pretty close to the sat of 87

except for the bullshit essay which doesn't even count for many grad programs

[mailman82]

15. mailman82

Good Luck. I have confidence in you!!

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

17. Aww!!! You are so sweet!!!

Thank you!

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

16. It counts on MINE dammit

Shit shit shit.

BUT writing skills ARE my forte. I've been a frigging English teacher for years and dissecting arguments and putting forth my own are one of my favorite things to do.

[Mandomaniac]

18. Dude, its cake.

Seriously. I studied the sh!t out of the vocab words, I made up some flash cards. You DO have one of the Kaplan study guides, right? Those things are great. So know the vocab words from the Kaplan guide like the back of your hand.

I studied the math a lot as well, since I was going for an engineering program.

Oh, and on the essays? Just make stuff up. Seriously. I scored 5/5 on both essays, and I made stuff up. Usually one of them is "defend your point on this subject", and I made up facts to "verify" my claims. After reading some of the practice essays that scored 5's, mine were no where near those.

What really sucks about the test is that you have to take each part twice, without knowing which will be graded. So don't get frustrated, stay relaxed and focused.

Just take a couple practice tests a couple days before the exam, and you'll be fine. No worries!

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

20. Thanks dude! LOL!

Fortunately my math score does not count for the program I want, BUT I don't want to look like a total retard and my math skills are fairly low for a college-educated person. So I don't want that part of it flat-out embarrassing me or anything.

English is my thang. I majored in it and have been an English teacher and technical writer for 12 years. But I guess knowing this is my only shot has me freaked out.

Plus my boss is retiring in three years and wants to recommend me for his position....it requires a masters (it's educational administration--curriculum and instruction type stuff) and three years is just enough time to get it! So the pressure's on.

But I will take your advice, it was good. Relax. Breathe. LOL.

[deadparrot]

19. Buy a prep book, read a bit every night.

You'll be fine. Good luck!

[liontamer]

21. I actually teach gre courses

Here's the basics : 1)study the vocab
2) memorize these three right triangles 3-4-5, 6-8-10, 5-12-13. (they come up often and it'll save you time with the pythagorean)
3) the first few questions determine your score range(make sure to take your time and do them carefully)
4) finish each section (if you see that you're out of time, pick a letter and guess)

Good luck

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

22. Thanks, I knew all but #2!!!!

I suck at math. Fortunately my math score doesn't count for the program I want but I don't want to look like an idiot.

[sir_captain]

23. Honestly

I thought it was easier than the SAT--don't freak out too much--I'm sure you'll do fine.

[WinterStorm]

24. If you live near a Borders Books

They have a study guide marked down to $4.95.

[crispini]

25. You GO girl!

That's AWESOME.

We should swap stories... I just registered for the LSAT. (Not til Dec., though. Not nervous now, though.... have plenty of time to be nervous in the future. Heh.)