GREMasterEMPOWERRichC

Hi apoorvga, How did Test Day go? GRE Masters aren't born, they're made, Rich

Hi Squexy, Schools will vary on which Test Scores they accept, so before you commit to studying for the GRE or the GMAT, you should research the Schools that you want to apply to and see what they require from applicants. Many MBA programs now accept either Test Score, but it's better to know for sure (and a little web research should get you the info that you need). GMAT scores are valid for 5 years after the date of your Test, so you could conceivably use one score for BOTH your Master's applications and your MBA applications. In the event that your Score expired before you applied, then you would have to take the Test again. Many applicants choose to take the GMAT more than once and Business Schools don't care how many times you take the Test, so there is no harm in doing so. Have you done any prep so far for either Exam? When do you think you would want to take your Test? GRE Masters (and GMAT Assassins) aren't born, they're made, Rich

Hi apoorvga, Is this the last application deadline for the start of Classes in the Fall, 2015? If it is and you only have 1 week to prepare for the GRE, then you might be better off putting in MORE study time and applying for Round 1 or Round 2 this coming Fall/Winter for the Fall, 2016. I bring this up because you would not only have to take the GRE, but also put together the entire application while you're studying and doing everything else that you do during a typical week. Well-constructed Grad School applications take far more time to put together than you have here (sometimes they take MONTHS to put together). Considering your 'concerns' about standardized tests in general, I think that you need to invest far more time into the overall process than just 1 week. GRE masters aren't born, they're made, Rich

HI Chicago_Guy312, You've listed a number of really competitive Schools, so it's important that you strengthen your application in every way that you reasonably can. Based on historical acceptance rates, you could be a fantastic candidate and still not get an invite. I agree that your current GRE score puts you 'in range' of the Schools you named, so you shouldn't be apprehensive about applying to any of them. That having been said, those scores are not going to "wow" anyone. With a bit more study and the right resources, you could easily raise both your Quant and Verbal scores though. GRE masters aren't born, they're made, Rich

Hi Chicago_Guy312, Many Business Schools will accept either a GRE or a GMAT score as part of the application process. As such, you should take whichever Test you're more comfortable with (and have a greater chance to score at a higher level on). I wouldn't go so far to say that Business Schools look down on GRE Takers, but the Schools have a better understanding of the GMAT and how to rank applicants who take that exam. What Schools are you planning to apply to? Do you have any experience with the GMAT? GRE (and GMAT) masters aren't born, they're made, Rich

Hi All, Here's another great free resource if you're looking to improve your math "skills": Khan Academy (www.khanacademy.org) is a fantastic free site that can teach you all sorts of subjects. For GRE purposes, you should stick to the basic math subjects (Algebra, Arithmetic, Geometry, etc.), but the site makes the process more 'game-like' and fun (as opposed to many academic sources that come across are purely technical). GRE masters aren't born, they're made, Rich

Hi Kaitlynlea, None of the GRE "prep company" MSTs is a perfect match for the real GRE, but I wouldn't go so far as to call Kaplan's MSTs 'deceptive.' In these sorts of comparisons, the DETAILS matter, so here are some things to consider regarding how you took your MSTs: 1) What time of day and day of the week did you take the Tests? 2) Did you take the ENTIRE MST (including the AWA)? 3) Were there any difference in the location, environment, distractions, etc.? 4) Had you seen any of the PowerPrep questions before (during your studies, in chatroom discussions, etc.)? It could also be that you're starting to 'hit your stride' in regards to your performance. If that's the case, then you should keep doing what you're doing. GRE masters aren't born, they're made, Rich

Hi jordancannon, I'd like to know more about how you studied before you took the GRE: 1) How long did you study? 2) How many hours did you study in an average week? 3) What resources did you use? 4) How were you scoring on your practice MSTs? The GRE is a predictable, standardized Test, so you CAN train to score at a higher level. We just have to figure out what you were missing during this first round of studies. GRE masters aren't born, they're made, Rich

Hi All, While many Test Takers use a 'book-heavy' study approach, that option can sometimes cause problems. No book can properly simulate the physical aspects (and stresses) that you're going to face on Test Day and many Test Takers get 'stuck' at a particular scoring level because of it. To maximize your scores, you have to train in the same format that the GRE is administered - on the computer. Beyond building up your GRE skills, you'll also learn how to deal with the pacing and endurance issues that hurt many Test Takers. GRE masters aren't born, they're made, Rich

Hi All, The process for learning vocabulary for the GRE can be tedious, depending on how you approach the task. If your goal is to learn 100s of words and their dictionary definitions, then that task could really 'bog down' your studies. Much like everything else on the GRE, the vocabulary that shows up on Test Day falls into patterns that you can take advantage of when you're learning that vocabulary. Certain words show up more often than others on the GRE, so it's important to learn words based on their frequencies. Beyond learning definitions, it also helps to learn 'context' (with pictures and other visual cues) and the "tone" of words (whether they're 'positive', 'negative' or 'neutral'). The EMPOWERgre Vocal Modules present all of this in an easy-to-use format; you can actually sample a couple of those Module for free right now at our website (www.empowergre.com). GRE masters aren't born, they're made, Rich

Hi Chrissy, You ask a good question. My advice is to contact the Admission's Department for the program that you're interested in and ask your questions directly. They'll likely tell you exactly what you need to know and might even offer some suggestions about the overall application process. GRE masters aren't born, they're made, Rich

Hi All, For anyone who's researching their study options and certainly for anyone who feels 'stuck' in their studies, we have a variety of free resources at our website (www.empowergre.com) that you can use to test out our Course. If there are any questions, please feel free to ask. GRE masters aren't born, they're made, Rich

Hi baal, What you're experiencing happens to many Test Takers, so you're not alone. Practice MST Tests are "measuring devices" - they won't make you a better Test Taker, but they will give you an accurate assessment of your abilities (assuming that you use them correctly). Thus, you should NOT be taking a practice Test every day and you should NOT be skipping sections of the Tests when you do take them. Test Day is a specific "event" that you have to train for. To raise your scores, you have to define the types of questions that you're getting wrong and WHY you're getting them wrong. You also have to put in the necessary practice time and hone your skills. For example, on this last Test, how many questions did you get wrong because of a silly/little mistake? What was the mistake? How could you avoid making it next time? In the Verbal section, how many questions did you get wrong because you 'narrowed it down to 2 choices and "guessed wrong"?' That means you were really close to getting the question correct, but you still missed something. That problem won't fix itself - taking another Test the next day won't fix it either. Thankfully, the GRE is a predictable, standardized Test, so you CAN train to score at a higher level. To that end.... 1) How long have you been studying? 2) What practice materials have you been using? 3) When are you planning to take the Official GRE? GRE masters aren't born, they're made, Rich

Hi jmk, With an August Test Date, you've given yourself plenty of time to study, which is good. While some people are naturally strong Test Takers, we generally advise a 3-month Study 'timeline.' You might need more or less time than that, depending on your goals, how quickly you can learn the various concepts and learn to deal with the various question types. To get a sense of your current GRE strengths and weaknesses, you should take a FULL GRE MST (you can download 2 for free from www.gre.org). A FULL GRE takes almost 4 hours to complete, so make sure that you've set aside enough time to do the full Test in one sitting. To make sure that you're not 'surprised' by anything, you might want to do a bit of practice work prior to that first Test, but that's up to you. GRE masters aren't born, they're made, Rich

Hi darkstream, If you ask nicely/professionally, many Admissions Committees will tell you why your application was rejected. If you can gain any insight into the reason (or reasons), then you can focus on fixing whatever the "issue" is. It might be that your GRE score was fine and that some other part of your application was the reason why you did not get accepted. If the issue IS your GRE Verbal Score, then that can be improved; you just have to invest in the proper resources, practice the right tactics and learn the 'secrets' of that section of the Test. As an aside, there was a bit in one of the posts about the AWA score. In real basic terms, Grad Schools expect EVERYONE to score a 4.0 (or higher) in the AWA, regardless of whether English is the applicant's first language or not. There are templates that you can follow to lock in that score without too much trouble. GRE masters aren't born, they're made, Rich

Hi Moriba414, Your original post in this thread did not include any information on your GRE score. You also mentioned your 'last attempt', so did you take the GRE more than once? So, to start, I'm curious about your GRE score(s), including the sectional scores. Your overall profile sounds really strong though. Do you have any stats on the MPA program that you're interested in (and how your GRE score compares)? GRE masters aren't born, they're made, Rich

Hi All, One of the things to remember about the GRE Quant section is that it is NOT, strictly speaking, a "math test." While you will do lots of math-related activities (take notes and translate english into "math", use formulas/rules, do some calculations, etc.), many of the questions that you'll face can be solved with a combination of certain tactics, pattern-matching and a little math. This is especially true of QCs, which you'll see often on Test Day. Beyond (re)learning the math that you learned when you were younger, you also should invest in practice materials that teach you the tactics, patterns and "secrets" of the GRE. GRE Masters aren't born, they're made, Rich