When to take the GRE? (limited options remaining)

[pterosaur]

I procrastinated on signing up for the GRE, and now I'm stuck with limited options and not sure what the best course of action is.

 

I could take it 9/27, but I have a ton of stuff due right beforehand and wouldn't have any time to prep.

 

I could wait and take it 11/1, but I'm concerned that's too close to the application deadlines (12/1 and 12/15), especially if something goes horribly wrong and I want/need to retake it.

 

I could take time off of work (currently on co-op) to take it on a weekday sometime in between there.

 

What's my best course of action?

[themmases]

I think you should try and get your hands on a practice test to decide. Some people need more prep time than others. It's usually better to be earlier so you have time to retake if you need to, but that assumes you have some time to study.

 

If your scores are close enough to where you want them, go earlier and just do what you can to study, because at least you'll have time for another shot if you're wrong. If you find out from your practice test that you'll need a lot of prep, take the later test and use your study time to make it count.

[pterosaur]

I took a single practice test (last fall, I think?) and got a 164 Q / 166 V. I didn't do any prep, though, and I really have no idea how accurately this reflects how I'll do in an actual test setting.

[Applemiu]

That's a great score for a practice test with no preparation. Anyway, to maximize your chances, I would take it with some preparation but not at the very end. So I would take some time off in the middle of October.

[bbuoy10]

I looked at the GRE site and it says the official computer-based test scores are released 10-15 days after the test. But I'm reading a lot about things going horribly, horribly wrong with score delivery. I was thinking about taking the test in early November, but it seems like that's too late for early December deadlines. Should I shoot for mid- to late-October?

 

Thanks.  

[Applemiu]

Yes, better mid-october so you leave yourself one chance to retake. Always leave yourself a margin in everything, if possible.

[bbuoy10]

Good idea. Thanks. 

[grad_wannabe]

FWIW, I'm seeing that a lot of schools will accept a scan of your test-taker report that you get right after the test, and will only need the official scores if you're accepted. Call and ask! Some schools have posted "last day to take the GRE" dates on their sites. 

 

And don't forget the margin between retakes is 21 days. 

[pterosaur]

Thanks for the reminder on "official" scores @grad_wannabe. That should save me a chunk of change on score reports!

 

Just signed up for Oct. 16. And dang, it's expensive... So hopefully no retakes just because of the cost.