Too late to register for Lit GRE?

[smokehouse]

Hi,

I have spontaneously decided to apply for Comp lit grad programs for Fall 2010. I took the standard GRE a few months ago, but wasn't planning to apply until recently.

I would like to take the Lit GRE asap, but on the ETS website it is only listing dates in April 2010 to register, which would be way too late. Is it impossible to register for the test any sooner than that?

Thanks. (I would've put this on the GRE board, but figured it was a specific question that people here would know the answer to).

[glasses]

Hi,

I have spontaneously decided to apply for Comp lit grad programs for Fall 2010. I took the standard GRE a few months ago, but wasn't planning to apply until recently.

I would like to take the Lit GRE asap, but on the ETS website it is only listing dates in April 2010 to register, which would be way too late. Is it impossible to register for the test any sooner than that?

Thanks. (I would've put this on the GRE board, but figured it was a specific question that people here would know the answer to).

Yes, it's too late. I think you can still get on standby, though, which means that if someone flakes out, you'll be on the list to get their seat.

[JackieW]

Just do standby--- I did, and there were 3 or 4 extra tests. No worries!

[Phedre]

most (90%) of Comparative Literature programs do not require the Lit GRE. The regular GRE should suffice. Make sure you check with each indiividual school though. Good luck!!

[smokehouse]

I don't know, I appreciate the support but this is one of the obstacles that is making me think I should put off applying for another year.

Although I was intending to do Comp Lit, which was my undergrad major, my russian's been out of practice for a year. I have a 3.0 GPA, which would definitely increase a little once I add international GPA from year in Russia, and a 600/600 on standard GRE. I'm interesting in applying to NYU, UTexas, UC Santa Barbara. I haven't made any headway in apps. I know that I could get them done by the deadlines, but am just wavering right now.

Also, I'm not sure if I'm past "I just love to read!" as a motivator for grad school. Definitely interested in academia and working as a prof, but having a single area of focus has never been my strong suit. I don't feel like there's much market for a Russian-speaking Comp Litter whose primarily interested in Joyce-Wallace-Pynchon, Proust, Mann, Tolstoy.

Please post encouragement or "You're right, give up"

[rainy_day]

I was in your shoes last year! Grad school wasn't a whim, but applying that year was, and I scrambled to get everything in order--missing the GRE Lit deadline. I could have gone stand-by, but I decided to let the whole things sit another year for two reasons: 1. I knew I wouldn't study that hard since I *might* not get to take it, which could definitely result in a terrible grade. 2. What if I couldn't take it stand by? Then all that prep was for naught. and 3. I figured the stress of scrambling wasn't worth it.

So I stepped back, saved some more money, and I am applying this year. In the time between I took a grad school class that was really, really helpful. I feel more prepared both for school and for the application process and am quite glad that I decided to take another year.

That is, of course, just my story. You might decide to do something very different, but I thought I'd share my own story.