I was originally interested in applying to business school. I took a GMAT prep course, visited a few schools (across the country), took the GMAT, then decided I wanted to do urban planning instead. I bought a GRE prep book, visited a school for UP (across the country), took the GRE, sent out 9 sets of transcripts from 3 different schools, GRE scores to 9 schools, overnighted an extra copy of my personal statement from LA to Boston. Add all that up and it's probably over $3k. Then of course all the destruction it caused in my personal life :wink: Academia is a bitch