gre hell

[quellers]

So I'm scheduled to take the GRE on the 25th, which is now a week-ish away. I'm doing fine with verbal, but the quantitative section is really killing me. I haven't taken a math class since high school, haven't done math without a calculator since middle school, and generally feel math illiterate. I've been working primarily with Barron's GRE book

Comments

[mallyns]

My suggestion, which I know you might not like, but it might be the best way to do what you want is, don't take the GRE right now. Instead, take some more math classes so you can really learn this stuff. If you are taking a look at school, make sure your area of study doesn't include math.

I'm not great at math and I'm taking the GRE in about a year. That's the route I'm taking.

[gangur]

Do universities offer basic math courses? The GRE covers middle school and early high school math.

[mallyns]

Yes, but not for credit towards your math in order to graduate.

[gangur]

Okay, but as far as GRE prep, it's probably best to focus on what's on the test.

[diva_tami]

Mallyns, my school offers the basic math for no credit. I think they cover just about everything that's on the GRE though... I probably should have audited it, but I wasn't thinking about the GRE then.

[mallyns]

The great thing about being an older student going back to school for a first BA, is that if you know what you want you can plan ahead. I haven't had a math class in over 10 years so I knew that I needed a refresher. I also knew I was planning on taking the GRE. I was able to see the big picture and adapt.

[quellers]

either I take the GRE in a week or I take the GRE in a month. I'm applying this fall no matter what, so I can't change test dates all that much. I'm in the humanities. good luck on your gre.

[mallyns]

The I would make sure the schools you apply to don't look at the GRE math too much. Good luck as well, I'm also in the humanities.

[gangur]

If you're in the humanities why do you need a 600 on the math section?

[quellers]

I might not need a 600, but I want to try anyway. I realize that I'll probably get 500 at best, but I'd rather shoot higher, you know? Plus I'm applying to pretty competitive places. I don't think Yale would like my 400Q.

[mallyns]

Well for me because the grad school I want to go to wants at least 600 on the math and verbal.

[brittdreams]

I'm not sure what you mean by this but I took the GRE the first week of November. All my deadlines were Jan 1. It wasn't a problem for my applications.

[quellers]

mine mostly seem to be dec 15th, plus I don't want to be doubly stressed by the time I'm writing my term papers and all that good stuff. I'd rather get it done before school starts if possible, or at the very least before my schedule gets too crazy.