I’m Serious, Postpone Your GRE Exam

You will understand why you need to postpone your GRE Exam date after you read this article. It will be a bold decision to postpone your GRE Exam, but it’s definitely worth doing that. Read more

6 Step Guide – How to Register for GRE Exam

Even though ETS provides instructions on how to Register for GRE at International locations, many students planning to take GRE are not sure how to register for the test. This guide will help you understand the process and where to find information within ETS site. Read more

GRE General Test or GRE Subject Test?

Question -

I have completed my Masters in Biotechnology and now want to pursue Doctorate in Biochemistry form US. Which will be better to give GRE general test or GRE subjective test?

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GRE Range – 200 to 800

GRE Exam has 3 sections and each section has its score range. So, GRE Exam Score depends largely on how you performs in the GRE CAT test format.

GRE Range

Three scores are reported on the General Test:

• Verbal Reasoning GRE Range score reported on a 200-800 score scale, in 10-point increments
• Quantitative Reasoning score reported on a 200-800 score scale, in 10-point increments
• an Analytical Writing score reported on a 0-6 score scale, in half-point increments

GRE Range – Admission

Graduate Schools will have Minimum GRE Score requirements to consider an application for admission. Some Universities are bit relaxed on this rule, but some are not. For instance, University of South Florida is strict on Minimum GRE Score requirements.

Some universities will consider higher TOEFL and Academic percentages to offset lower GRE Range.  Universities usually specify the minimum GRE Score required for admission, rather GRE Range. So, while searching for Universities, look for

• “Average GRE Scores“
• “Minimum GRE Scores Required”
• “Average GRE for Graduate Programs“

Don’t spend time searching for GRE Range for a particular university for admission. Search for above terms within University website to find more accurate details. Usually Universities will not publish the GRE Score Range of admitted students.

GRE Analytical Writing Topics

GRE Analytical Writing is part of GRE Exam, which is evaluates on the scale of 6.0 points. During GRE preparation, its important to give equal importance to Analytical Writing section too. Having GRE Score of 1300 and Analytical Writing Score of 2.5 will not look good. So, make sure you spend enough time to prepare for Analytical writing section in GRE. Read more

GRE Analytical Writing Samples 2 – Coping with Change

Following GRE Analytical Writing Sample essay was submitted by the same user who submitted GRE Analytical Writing Samples 1.

Start – GRE Analytical Writing Essay

For most of us, change is disorienting, creating within us an anxiety. We become numb afraid. With an established routine, we don’t have to think much; life just goes on…but when something upsets it, we have choices to make.

Learning to make the right choices leads to growth and maturity. Looking at change in a negative way destroys us and those around us. Coping with change follows the same steps as the grieving process after loss. The first steps are shock and denial; then anger; then despair and a longing for the old ways; finally acceptance of the change. Most of us respond to change by burying our heads in the sand and pretending that it did not happen; or we fight it with every source of energy we have. Our first reaction is to avoid change if we can. Even worse is to fight it. Both these reactions come with limitations. There is another, better option that can help us overcome the fears, uncertainties and frustrations that come with change — look at change differently.

Instead of thinking of the change in your life as the worst thing that could happen to you, think of it as a detour to achieving your goals. Change can be the means to your goals, and a better future, not a barrier to them.An old proverb says, “Every change brings an opportunity.” A change in our external circumstances often provides us with an opportunity to grow as human beings. It may teach you leadership skills, or patience. It may bring new people into your life whom you might not have met otherwise, or present a new career or lifestyle.If we can embrace change in our lives with a positive attitude, we will find the period of change exciting, stretching our minds and hearts and bringing new hope.

< End  GRE Essay>

Leave a comment below on how much do you think following essay will score and additional questions you may have. Also, you can submit your sample GRE Essays to be posted here.

GRE Analytical Writing Sample – The Slumdog Effect

GRE Analytical writing sample, submitted by one of the blog reader.  If you come across any mistakes in this GRE analytical writing essay, do write a comment to this article. If you have written any sample GRE Analytical writing essays during your GRE Exam preparation, do email us the essay, we can post it here in the blog and get inputs from other students preparing for GRE Exam. [ Average GRE Scores for US Universities ] Read more

How Much Does GRE Cost?

If you are preparing to apply for Universities in US for Graduate School (Master of Science M.S.) as an International Student, you will have to take GRE. GRE exam is not free of cost. GRE Cost varies between countries. Read more

Tips to Improve GRE Reading Comprehension (RCs) Test Score

If you are preparing for Graduate Record Exam (GRE) offered by ETS and have taken practice test, by now you should have realized, scoring in GRE Reading Comprehension is going to be easy. Read more

GRE 1430 – 10/11 Universities Rejected Admission – What Next?

I just read this comment and thought I will post it here. This not something new this year. I will add my comments later today. Read more

GRE Cutoff – US Universities

Don’t you think world will be much better place if all the universities display the GRE Cutoff score in admission page? I bet it will make life easy for so many students applying to US Universities for Masters Degree and PhD programs. But, not all the universities have GRE Cutoff displayed in their admission web page. Read more

When to Take GRE To Attend Fall Semester

Previous article When to Take GRE gave an introduction of factors that have to be considered before deciding to take GRE. After you have made decision to attend Fall semester, following will be typical time line to take GRE Exam and apply for Fall semester, but you can take GRE even before 1 year and also multiple times, if you are not satisfied with the GRE Exam Score.

GRE Exam Date – Fall Semester

For example, lets assume you plan to apply for Fall 2010. So, this is how the time line should look like

1. Before August 2009 – Start preparing for GRE
2. August 2009 – Take GRE Exam and TOEFL Exam
3. September 2009  – Browse Universities, Prepare documents
4. October 2009 – Create some 20+ universities you plan to apply, prepare applications documents
5. November 2009 – Decide on schools to apply ( 5 to 10, maybe more)
6. December 2009 – Send applications by Dec first week.
7. January 2010 – Contact professors
8. February 2010 – Keep checking application status
9. March 2010 – You will start hearing about admission decisions
10. April 2020 – Admission Decisions and I-20 will be sent out
11. May 2010 – Prepare for F1 student visa, book dates
12. June 2010 – Visa Interview
13. July 2010 – Learn to cook
14. August 2010 – Fly to US in 1/2ned week of August

Above time line is not hard and fast rule. But it should give you general guideline for Top tier schools. But, if you like your applications to be considered for financial aid, its better to apply early. Some schools have 2 separate deadlines. One for financial aid and one regular admission deadlines. So, they will consider applications received before Financial aid deadlines for scholarship.

Some schools have single deadlines. It can vary from Nov 2009 t0 May 2010 for Fall 2010 semester. But, for international students most of the universities will have deadlines before March/April. They have to process your application and then send I-20.

Late Applications for Fall Semester

There are many questions answered here regarding applications deadlines and when to apply for Fall Semester. Here’s some of the previously answered questions related to submitting college admission applications to Fall Semester

• Which is Better – Fall or Spring Semester Admission?
• Can I apply for Fall Semester in March?
• Took GRE in January, Can I still apply for Fall Semester?

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