leo89

@Pamphilia Cheers! Thank you so much! I share precisely the same opinion... Good luck with your applications!

Yes, that's what I meant. But as for what you should do, that's entirely up to you, and it really all comes down to (1) your discipline's approach to the GREs (as illustrated by my exchange with @swisnieski), (2) when you think you could do your best on the test, and (3) how you think the changes to the test can affect you. (See the ETS website for more information about the changes; I think the New York Times also did an article about them.) I'd recommend researching the changes to the test and talking to a few advisers.

@glasses You mean I should take the GRE and keep the scores. then pay the $80 fee when the time comes to submit the application, is that right?

@glasses Paying the additional $80 is fine for me, however, would anything change if I knew the options I would like to go for? Can I send the scores to these 4 schools in Aug 2010, one year before applying?

Thanks, Jacib I was not aware of the new version of the test...do you have any more info about it and when it will become available? Also how different is it from the old version? For me, taking GRE in Aug 2010 really seems the best option because I can devote sufficient time to it...I will not be able to take off time from work after Sep 2010, so I cannot see any more appropriate time to study at this moment...

@swisnieski I can see your logic but then what's the use of the test validity of 5 years if nobody takes it seriously? I dont seem to understand this... Also, I will be in a very stressful full-time job (about 16+ hours a day) from September 2010 and I am quite sure I will not find the time to study after that. So it seems strange to expect candidates to only take the test in the year of their application... any other thoughts? thanks

Hi everyone, I'm planning to apply for a master's in Int'l Affairs in the fall of 2011 for a start in 2012... So it's long time ahead but since I've got a couple spare months this summer and the scores seem to be valid for 5 years, I would like to take the GRE in advance, say in August 2010. any ideas whether this is possible?...what will happen to the scores? Do I need to send them to schools immediately even though I dont apply straight away? any help would be appreciated... good luck to everyone taking the tests!