DrFaustus666

twelve steps

bouncing baby

I can't comment on the Chemistry advanced GRE, but your general AW-5.0 is fine for almost any university and almost any major except Journalism or Creative Writing. The V-530 is OK but not stellar for a hard-science major. The only GRE score that seems to really need improvement is your quantitative score. A 650 is only about 60th percentile over all GRE takers, and I would think admissions committees would expect somebody in the hard sciences to hit 700 or over --- for engineering it would be 760 or over. My two cents based on what I've read here.

check mate

rain forest

cough drop

acute perception

oblique angle

benign intention

(down in the gutter to rectal polyps?) no ! benign polyps

coral polyps

reef madness

language barrier

I second this advice, having investigated the subject at considerable length. Don't hire a tutor unless you're SURE you need one! In my area (Washington, DC suburbs) there are dozens of tutors on craigslist, and probably dozens more available simply by calling the nearest university's Math or English department's graduate office. I say don't hire a tutor until you're sure you need one because the quality varies widely from execrable to quintessential; and the prices vary widely also, though none are inexpensive. And, most importantly, the most expensive, most experienced tutor is not necessarily the best for YOU.

binary tree

guy noire

look smart

Hi Schadenfreuded, I think your nerves probably got the best of you. Note well though, that your verbal score only went down 20 points. That could be 1 question difference from your last time. Second, your quantitative went down more, but it is less important, I would think, for international affairs unless you're looking at international monetary or financial issues. Third, many universities consider the topmost score (provided it's within a couple of years time) anyway. I won't say if you should retake or not, but I will say I think these scores are not as damaging as you believe. Hang in there! John

home plate

I read an article the other day .. if i can find it, I'll post it, about the oldest grad student in the world. He's 92, lives in Australia, and already has DDS (dentistry) LLB (law) and is now studying for a PhD in Anthropology, I think.

play games

I can only speak for one university, the University of Maryland. UM keeps funding and admissions decisions completely separate. That is, first you have to be admitted. Then they decide if, and how much, funding they will offer you. But I think it's based on merit, not need. In other words, I think they don't really care how much money you have or don't have, they only care how qualified you are, for BOTH decisions. That's how I understand U of MD to work; I always assumed that most U.S. universities work that way, though I could be completely wrong. John

Not only is Powerprep II NOT reflected on the current GRE, I got the very distinct impression that Powerprep II is a sort of "light" version. It only gives out a RANGE of scores, and the questions seemed way too easy. For example, I scored a RANGE of 690-800 on both tests in Powerprep II. I wouldn't trust it until ETS refines it a bit more, which they won't have much incentive to do until the advent of the new test is closer, i.e., I'd guess sometime about April 2011 or so, Powerprep II will be fully fleshed out and useful if you're taking the NEW GRE. John

math phobia

Math Guru