languages-etc

In this situation it's really your relative who is losing out -- perhaps even being taken advantage of. If it is one of those for-profit universities, her degree won't be worth much after she graduates and she really doesn't have the knowledge and expertise that a doctor of philosophy in her field should have. I feel sorry for her. 
 
That being said, she WILL have a PhD, and she DID do the work required by her institution, so I'd try to be gracious and not say anything negative about her. Most people who have not been through the PhD grind won't understand the difference between her degree and a research PhD, and you'll sound petulant. You can just clarify that you're going for some very competitive programs where they actually pay you to attend. 

Practice on the computer (pay for a CD or other program), simulating the conditions of the actual test as much as possible. Start as early as possible and practice as often as you can, until you are totally comfortable answering GRE type questions.
 
I was very happy with my scores for Q and V. However, my AW could've been higher. For AW, practice typing as fast as you can and write A LOT (4-6 paragraphs for the issue essay). I wish I had practiced the writing sections more. 

In this situation it's really your relative who is losing out -- perhaps even being taken advantage of. If it is one of those for-profit universities, her degree won't be worth much after she graduates and she really doesn't have the knowledge and expertise that a doctor of philosophy in her field should have. I feel sorry for her. 
 
That being said, she WILL have a PhD, and she DID do the work required by her institution, so I'd try to be gracious and not say anything negative about her. Most people who have not been through the PhD grind won't understand the difference between her degree and a research PhD, and you'll sound petulant. You can just clarify that you're going for some very competitive programs where they actually pay you to attend. 

In this situation it's really your relative who is losing out -- perhaps even being taken advantage of. If it is one of those for-profit universities, her degree won't be worth much after she graduates and she really doesn't have the knowledge and expertise that a doctor of philosophy in her field should have. I feel sorry for her. 
 
That being said, she WILL have a PhD, and she DID do the work required by her institution, so I'd try to be gracious and not say anything negative about her. Most people who have not been through the PhD grind won't understand the difference between her degree and a research PhD, and you'll sound petulant. You can just clarify that you're going for some very competitive programs where they actually pay you to attend. 

If you have been practicing the quantitative for awhile and don't seem to be improving: 
 
1) First ask yourself: do you have the basic mathematical knowledge and skills under your belt? Do you know immediately (without having to look back at a crib sheet) how to figure out things like percentages, mean-median-mode, probability, area and volume of different shapes, properties of triangles and the angles of other shapes, ratios, how to multiply and factor polynomials? Are you comfortable with reading graphs, reducing fractions, finding LCD etc? 
 
2a) If you aren't comfortable with the basics, then it might not improve your score if you're just doing lots of practice exercises. First take time to get the basic concepts down well. 
 
Not everyone can learn math on their own -- so perhaps a math tutor could help for a limited time, within your budget. They'd be teaching you a very limited range of concepts for the GRE, so a few sessions might make a big difference. 
 
2b) If you're very comfortable with all of the basic skills required, then it's just a matter of learning the test. What I mean is that the GRE questions are predictable: the quantitative section always has the same types of questions which you should expect to encounter. As others have said, practicing a lot helps, but more than just trying to plow through dozens of problems, read the answer explanations thoroughly. Also, try to figure out for each type of problem, what the best strategy for that type of problem is. Again, not everyone can learn math on their own, so a course or tutor might help here also. 
 
 
 
That's my 2cents. During college, to earn extra income I taught for one of the major test prep companies. Keep in mind -- test prep courses vary a lot -- those that just have students do lots of exercises are not as helpful as those that teach strategy and understanding how to score the most points within the time you have. 
 
Good Luck!

Some good suggestions here - I also recommend teaching English abroad, which can be exciting and a great adventure (but only if you like to experience new cultures, foods and places.) 
 
Have you considered going to night school to obtain a professional certification? You wouldn't have to go too much into debt if you are working at the same time. Nurse, paramedic/EMT and X-Ray technician are jobs that come to mind but there are lots of others too. Of course, this doesn't include the "travel" part that you mentioned, but it will get you out of the bank and into a more interesting career. 
 
Like you, I'm returning to school a little later than other grad students. Please don't think 30 is old - you are still young. You have so much time ahead of you, and from what you've said you're smart (summa cum laude) and responsible (holding down a job for 7 years). So please don't be afraid to try something new if you don't like your present circumstances. 

I've never heard of a request for a video statement before! The positive side is that you can do it as many times as you need if you make mistakes, and upload the one that is the strongest. 
 
What I would do is to ask a good friend (whom I feel comfortable with) to stand behind the video recorder and ask the questions, so I could speak naturally to a real person. Just make sure to be professional and clear. Good luck. 

Since the law campus is in Queens (not Manhattan), I wouldn't recommend living in NJ unless you had a very good reason. It's too far and there's no reason to do that commute when there are many decent neighborhoods in Queens. There is a range from quiet residential areas to artsy neighborhoods to dangerous/not nice places too. I have been to Queens often but have never lived there, so I'll let others comment on specific places. 
 
Yes, NYC is expensive in general, but in my experience, it's most expensive when you first arrive; you don't know where to find affordable grocery stores, restaurants, furniture, used books, happy hours, etc. It takes some time to know where to shop, but you'll figure it out after awhile. If you're into music, there is always something going on here. If you like diversity, ethnic food and energy, it's a great city! 

Since the law campus is in Queens (not Manhattan), I wouldn't recommend living in NJ unless you had a very good reason. It's too far and there's no reason to do that commute when there are many decent neighborhoods in Queens. There is a range from quiet residential areas to artsy neighborhoods to dangerous/not nice places too. I have been to Queens often but have never lived there, so I'll let others comment on specific places. 
 
Yes, NYC is expensive in general, but in my experience, it's most expensive when you first arrive; you don't know where to find affordable grocery stores, restaurants, furniture, used books, happy hours, etc. It takes some time to know where to shop, but you'll figure it out after awhile. If you're into music, there is always something going on here. If you like diversity, ethnic food and energy, it's a great city! 

I sent you a PM.

I agree with comments here, especially fuzzy logician. Very bad idea. Grad school means a ton of study, reading, research and writing (especially in PoliSci, the OP's field). If you can't write a 2-3 page statement, why go to grad school? 
 
But people actually doing it? This article was highlighted on LinkedIn. http://chronicle.com/article/The-Shadow-Scholar/125329/
I don't know if he's mostly talking about international students whose main struggle is writing academic English, but it was depressing. 

I agree with comments here, especially fuzzy logician. Very bad idea. Grad school means a ton of study, reading, research and writing (especially in PoliSci, the OP's field). If you can't write a 2-3 page statement, why go to grad school? 
 
But people actually doing it? This article was highlighted on LinkedIn. http://chronicle.com/article/The-Shadow-Scholar/125329/
I don't know if he's mostly talking about international students whose main struggle is writing academic English, but it was depressing. 

I agree with comments here, especially fuzzy logician. Very bad idea. Grad school means a ton of study, reading, research and writing (especially in PoliSci, the OP's field). If you can't write a 2-3 page statement, why go to grad school? 
 
But people actually doing it? This article was highlighted on LinkedIn. http://chronicle.com/article/The-Shadow-Scholar/125329/
I don't know if he's mostly talking about international students whose main struggle is writing academic English, but it was depressing. 

I agree with comments here, especially fuzzy logician. Very bad idea. Grad school means a ton of study, reading, research and writing (especially in PoliSci, the OP's field). If you can't write a 2-3 page statement, why go to grad school? 
 
But people actually doing it? This article was highlighted on LinkedIn. http://chronicle.com/article/The-Shadow-Scholar/125329/
I don't know if he's mostly talking about international students whose main struggle is writing academic English, but it was depressing.