The truth about the GRE is that it does not truly test your intelligence, the only thing it really does is test how well you can take the GRE. In light of this, some universities do not require the GRE for some degrees, so be sure to check what the requirements are for your program and whether you might have to take a subject GRE test. Taking the test can be an arduous and grueling process. The key is to prepare before taking the test so you will know what to expect. You’ll make it through this component of applications, and you’ll do fine.
The GRE is used to auto-reject unqualified candidates, not admit exceptional ones. There are thresholds to achieve but beyond this, the GRE does not help your application, so it does not need to be perfect. For graduate school in engineering, the advice one of us received was to shoot for 90th and 50th percentile for quantitative and verbal, respectively; try for 3.5 or above for writing. Above this, applicants all applicants are equal.
Register well in advance! Testing centers will fill up, especially on weekend days so you want to make sure you register early. Also, leave yourself enough time so that you can retake the test, if needed, before the end of the summer.
Take a diagnostic test to determine your weakest points, and study and drill those questions to become better (you get two free online practice tests when you register for the GRE.) Buy, rent, or borrow the most recent edition of GRE study materials and use them. Check your school library to see if they have study guides that you can check out.
We used:
- Kaplan’s GRE Math Workbook
- The Princeton Review’s Math Workout for the GRE
- The Princeton Review’s Essential GRE Vocabulary Flashcards
- Supplemental books from Manhattan Prep’s GRE Series
- Magoosh free GRE vocabulary flashcard app
- Great for studying vocab on the fly when you 5-10 min of downtime.
- Magoosh GRE Prep ($129) with lessons, over 500 practice questions each for verbal and quantitative and full-length tests. The questions are very similar to the actual GRE and is the best way to prepare for the test if you are willing to shell out the money.
The GRE allows up to send your scores for free to up to 4 institutions in addition to your undergraduate university. Take full advantage of this by planning ahead and knowing where you want to send your scores. You will see your scores for that test before you have to decide where to send them for free. It will cost an extra fee ($37 in 2018) per school to send them afterwards, so get your money’s worth out of what you spend for the test.
Journey to Grad School 