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TIPS FOR SURVIVING THE GRE EXAMINATIONS
Before you even think about the GREs… You can make your life easier and increase your chances of getting admitted to graduate school by thinking ahead. 1. Do your best in every course (as if you would do anything else!) As you probably well know, the competition for entry into graduate school is getting tougher and tougher. Schools can afford to be VERY selective and we all know difficult it is to bring up our GPA. 2. Meet academic staff in your department of interest. Getting to know people, their interests, and getting a feel for the department can be invaluable. This is your first step towards scouting out potential advisors. 3. Look for opportunities to volunteer. This allows people to get to know your work style & abilities. It also help you learn more about your own interests. Preparing for the GREs… 1. Decide what amount of time you need to prepare for each exam. Be realistic as to how much time you’ll need to prepare as you do not want to risk rushing & doing poorly. Writing the Subject and the General GRE in the same academic year may be too much of a time commitment for you, especially if you are still taking classes. 2. Invest in a study guide (for the General, especially). These books are great for helping you plan & practice on paper. The good ones also have lots of invaluable hints. 3. Set a study schedule that is realistic & stick to it. 4. If you have the time to do so, get yourself a Thesaurus/Dictionary (General) and a good Introductory Psychology Textbook (Subject) and go through as much of them as possible. 5. Find a study buddy. Even if you prefer to study alone, find someone to report in with & set mutual goals to meet prior to reporting in. 6. Take some sample tests online.
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General stress busters… These exams are stressful at the best of times but you can make the experience as painless as possible if you plan ahead. 1. Practice on the computer so that you are used to being timed. 2. Memorize the directions for each section of each test. 3. Do NOT procrastinate!!! You are paying a lot of money (and time) for the opportunity to write these exams. 4. Get full nights’ sleep the last couple of days prior to writing. 5. Eat well & drink lots of water the day prior & morning of (healthy body = healthy mind). 6. Wear comfortable clothing the day of. 7. Arrive early. Being late is a stressor that you do not need. You will not be given extra time if you arrive late. 8. Visit the facilities prior because you cannot pause test if you should need to leave during it.
~ You will be asked to decide if you want to keep your exam score or not before you are told your score (somebody’s idea of a cruel joke, I know!). My experience has been that the tendency is for people to be mentally exhausted by the end and experience a temporary, panic-inducing lack of confidence in their abilities. You did not make it all this way by having less than average abilities. Unless 99.9% sure you scored less than 500, accept your score. ~ Don’t be swayed by the horror stories. You do not have to be a superhuman, A+ generating machine to get into graduate school. After all, I got in! Your grades & GRE scores are a large part but only part of the factors that determine your academic future. Your personal statement, work/volunteer history, past awards, and who recognizes your name & is interested in working with you also play significant roles. Happy academic trails!!!!