Those stupid GRE scores to count....

[gasmaster]

Well everyone. As most of you know, I received my BIG rejection letter from TWU. Well, here's the facts. I decided to apply to TWU 1 week before the January deadline. I still needed to take my GRE (I had already been accepted into TCU's CNS program and was exempt from the GRE based on my GPA so had never taken the stupid thing). I applied for the GRE on a Monday and took the test THAT SAME FRIDAY!!!! H-U-G-E mistake! I made a 770 on it. I am SO bad at math. Anyway.....the moral is I should have retaken the stupid thing cuz I spoke with TWU last week to find out why I wasn't accepted, "could you tell me my areas of weakness"...blah, blah, blah. You know the story. Here's what I was told: interview was strong, GPA great, references excellent, GRE S#*&@D! Basically, when they calculated my scores my GRE pulled mine down far enough to take me out of the running. AAGGGGHHHHHH!!!! What really stinks about this is I was told my FORMER TWU students not to really worry about the GRE, that they don't really care about the score....just that you took it. So I am warning ALL of you, this isn't so! Now I not only have to retake the CCRN (I'm a CNRN and let my CCRN expire 5 years ago!) but I ALSO have to retake my GRE. So....can anyone turn me on to a good prep program for the GRE? :rotfl:

[sugarlesssweetie]

Princeton Review book with the online prep was great. I took the ETS practice tests, took the practice exams online with Princeton Review, and studied like my future depended on it. I took the first practice test cold to get a feel for things and then studied the identified areas of weakness before taking another test. The amount of time you put in directly correlates to how well you'll do. Follow the test taking tips in the book, don't slack off on studying, and take as many practice exams as you can. You'll be fine.

[billythekid]

I am preparing for the GRE now, I have used the Princeton review and still feel like I need more prep. I am now in the Kaplan review course. I am to go one day a week for the next two months and will take the GRE in June. This course is expensive about $1000.00, fortunately my employer will be paying about half that price (be sure to look into reimbursement from you employer for noncredit career enhancement classes:idea: ). 500 bucks is a lot of money, but a higher score will improve my chances of getting into CRNA school. I really want to score a 1200 or higher to be more then competitive.

Also, I think that doing poorly in math is better then doing poorly in the verbal section. As far as retaking the test is concerned. You can improve your math score dramaticly with some study and review. The verbal is a lot of vocabulary and that is not so easy to improve upon.

Good luck

SmileyRn96.. you said "Also, I think that doing poorly in math is better then doing poorly in the verbal section."

A colleague who was recently accepted into anesthesia school told me during their interview they were asked to explain their GRE math score in the 50th percentile (their verbal was 90th percentile). The interviewer told them that a strong math score was more pertinent to the program than a high verbal score. Of course, scoring in the 90th percentile on both would be ideal! hah But as I mentioned, my colleague is now a SRNA, so that testifies to the fact that an average GRE quantitative is not insurmountable.

[sleepeasy]

I too did not score so well on my GRE.. outside the fact that I have 16 years critical care experience..it is disappointing that this means relatively nothing.... In years past one particular school has not really stuck to the 1000 necessary...until this year..just my luck. Didnt get an interview this go round and I was informed that it was due to my GRE.

[Paris2010]

sleepeasy...which school did you recently apply to that did not accept you strictly because of your GRE? I have too recently heard that alot of schools are getting strict and cutting students out if they do not at least meet the minimum requirements. I have heard this is due to the large amount of students that are now applying.

However, I have also heard that having your CCRN goes a long way as well.