Studying for the GRE's - Page 2 - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

StellaLuna · 09-11-2007, 01:54 PM

I just took mine this month (yay!) and can highly recommend the books that include the practice test CDs, like the Barron's books. I borrowed a really nifty little book that was a breakdown of many mathematical tips and vocabulary words, which was also a big help (Barron's Pass Key to the GRE). Any time I was stuck on a question during a practice exam, I'd write down what type of problem it was, like "multiplying fractions", and then look up the tip. I could do geometry alllllll day, but couldn't for the life of me remember how to multiply fractions.

And I owned that test.

Redlemon · 09-11-2007, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StellaLuna

but couldn't for the life of me remember how to multiply fractions.

When I pulled out the study book before I took the exam, I got stuck on long division.

Pretty embarrassing for an engineering major; what is that, third grade math? Anyways, I killed the exam as well, but didn't go to grad school, so it's moot.

StellaLuna · 09-11-2007, 02:19 PM

Redlemon... I couldn't do that either. And I still count on my fingers when I add.

Redlemon · 09-11-2007, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StellaLuna

Redlemon... I couldn't do that either. And I still count on my fingers when I add.

*hugs StellaLuna*

Hey, did you ever hear of Chisanbop? It lets you count to 99 on your fingers. I still use it.

StellaLuna · 09-11-2007, 03:03 PM

Eee! Now people can really look at me like I'm crazy. But I like the system!

GRE's-- don't forget to study writing! It's on there. And daaaaaaaaaayum I hated that section.

ratbastid · 09-11-2007, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StellaLuna

couldn't for the life of me remember how to multiply fractions.

You may punch me for this later, but.... The phrase "multiply straight across" is lodged somewhere deep in the math centers of my brain...

Redlemon · 09-12-2007, 05:41 AM

Hey, you already have your fingers with you, might as well use them!

Midnight · 09-12-2007, 06:33 AM

*chuckle*

I'm "studying" for the LSAT and the MCAT .. while I figure out if I want to go to med school or law school more. Want to have a study group? *snicker*

Funny how my migraine meds never seem to last as long these days.....hmmm

Jinn · 09-12-2007, 06:58 AM

hahah.. I don't ever intend to go to grad school, but I want to take the GRE for fun. I love tests, particularly standardized ones. If they didn't charge so damn much, I'd take it.

roachboy · 09-12-2007, 06:58 AM

what field do you want to study?

i did a phd in history at the best program in the country for what i wanted to do. i didnt particularly prepare for the gre's--i tried to compensate for my dislike of simpler forms of mathematics by studying, but it didnt help.

since then--DEPENDING ON WHAT YOU WANT TO DO (i put that in caps because it is a really important caveat to be placed over what follows)--i have found out that in the humanities it's unclear how big a deal the gre tests are in graduate school admissions.
transcripts and recommendation letters matter more.
but the scores are used in ranking, which shapes financial aid levels at the point you are admitted....

generally, however, the "better" the school the less important they are.
"better" is in quotes because ususally when you go to grad school in the humanities anyway, you are not so much going to study in a program as you are to work with particular people---it isnt like being an undergraduate that way---so you typically go where the faculty that you want to work with are. given the way the academic market works, there are good people all over the place--the old days of alignment between an institution's reputation and the quality of its faculty are long gone.

filtherton · 08-18-2009, 02:11 PM

I just took this mofo this morning. I managed to do pretty well, despite only two weeks of lazy studying.

Now the tricky part: writing the personal statement.

09-11-2007, 01:54 PM	#41 (permalink)
StellaLuna Psycho Location: hiding behind wings	I just took mine this month (yay!) and can highly recommend the books that include the practice test CDs, like the Barron's books. I borrowed a really nifty little book that was a breakdown of many mathematical tips and vocabulary words, which was also a big help (Barron's Pass Key to the GRE). Any time I was stuck on a question during a practice exam, I'd write down what type of problem it was, like "multiplying fractions", and then look up the tip. I could do geometry alllllll day, but couldn't for the life of me remember how to multiply fractions. And I owned that test. __________________ Screw tradition!

09-11-2007, 02:19 PM	#43 (permalink)
StellaLuna Psycho Location: hiding behind wings	Redlemon... I couldn't do that either. And I still count on my fingers when I add. __________________ Screw tradition!

09-11-2007, 03:03 PM	#45 (permalink)
StellaLuna Psycho Location: hiding behind wings	Eee! Now people can really look at me like I'm crazy. But I like the system! GRE's-- don't forget to study writing! It's on there. And daaaaaaaaaayum I hated that section. __________________ Screw tradition!

09-12-2007, 05:41 AM	#47 (permalink)
Redlemon Devoted Donor Location: New England	Hey, you already have your fingers with you, might as well use them! __________________ I can't read your signature. Sorry.

09-12-2007, 06:58 AM	#49 (permalink)
Jinn Lover - Protector - Teacher Location: Seattle, WA	hahah.. I don't ever intend to go to grad school, but I want to take the GRE for fun. I love tests, particularly standardized ones. If they didn't charge so damn much, I'd take it. __________________ "I'm typing on a computer of science, which is being sent by science wires to a little science server where you can access it. I'm not typing on a computer of philosophy or religion or whatever other thing you think can be used to understand the universe because they're a poor substitute in the role of understanding the universe which exists independent from ourselves." - Willravel

09-12-2007, 06:33 AM	#48 (permalink)
Midnight Banned Location: Chicago's western burbs	chuckle I'm "studying" for the LSAT and the MCAT .. while I figure out if I want to go to med school or law school more. Want to have a study group? snicker Funny how my migraine meds never seem to last as long these days.....hmmm

09-12-2007, 06:58 AM	#50 (permalink)
roachboy Super Moderator Location: essex ma	what field do you want to study? i did a phd in history at the best program in the country for what i wanted to do. i didnt particularly prepare for the gre's--i tried to compensate for my dislike of simpler forms of mathematics by studying, but it didnt help. since then--DEPENDING ON WHAT YOU WANT TO DO (i put that in caps because it is a really important caveat to be placed over what follows)--i have found out that in the humanities it's unclear how big a deal the gre tests are in graduate school admissions. transcripts and recommendation letters matter more. but the scores are used in ranking, which shapes financial aid levels at the point you are admitted.... generally, however, the "better" the school the less important they are. "better" is in quotes because ususally when you go to grad school in the humanities anyway, you are not so much going to study in a program as you are to work with particular people---it isnt like being an undergraduate that way---so you typically go where the faculty that you want to work with are. given the way the academic market works, there are good people all over the place--the old days of alignment between an institution's reputation and the quality of its faculty are long gone. __________________ a gramophone its corrugated trumpet silver handle spinning dog. such faithfulness it hear it make you sick. -kamau brathwaite

08-18-2009, 02:11 PM	#51 (permalink)
filtherton Junkie Location: In the land of ice and snow.	I just took this mofo this morning. I managed to do pretty well, despite only two weeks of lazy studying. Now the tricky part: writing the personal statement.