Those stupid GRE scores to count....

Nursing Students SRNA

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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:

Specializes in ICU, SRNA (class of 2010).

I got accepted to Evanston NW program in IL. I had a pretty decent score after studying Kaplan words and Kaplan prep book. I would recommend that to you. I took 6 months time to study since I have a full time job and 2 young children. Please take your time to prep well...

Good luck

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I used the Kaplan GRE exam book. It came with a CD disk that had a math tutor that started all the way with simple fractions and worked up through every thing.

Specializes in SRNA.

I had books from Kaplan and Barron's and found the Barron's book to be really great. There were only two words on the verbal that I didn't recognize and I owe that to the Barron's vocab list. Studying for the math seems to be a crapshoot. Just do all the problems you can find and get used to the oddness that is the GRE math section.

-S

Do not be discouraged. The staff at TWU (As I'm certain it is at most places) is open and honest. Practice themath problems. Study them for at least one month, to the point that you can solve problems without crib notes. Raise your score. Added CCRN certification and your determination to improve your chances will be big. They will remember you from last year. get your application in early!!! You can interview in November or December, make a strong case for yourself that above all, you want to be a CRNA. I would recommend that you also apply to more than TWU before your interview. They tend to place some weight on the fact that you are wanting to choose this profession over what school you want to get into.

You can do it. Keep your head up!

I found the free Powerprep and study guides available directly through ETS most hopeful, despite also using Kaplan. Some of the math questions I had on the GRE were VERY close replicas of sample questions on Powerprep. I agree with previous posters- take your time. I would supplement by saying you should at least take the two free sample GREs offered through ETS- I found them to be quite helpful. Good luck to you.

I used the "GRE for Dummies"! i thought it helped me a lot...

Specializes in Trauma/Surgical ICU, L&D.

NG I was in a similar situation, but had a month to prepare (Studied 2-3 hrs a day) I studied Kaplan prep book (and word flip book....excellent) and the GRE prep book that ETS puts out (the people who write the GRE)

A word of caution, I thought that if I could master the tests in the ETS book, that I would rock the GRE. Toward the end I consistantly scored 1300s and 1400s and though I was set. The math on the test was WAY harder than the prep tests. I scored well enough to get into school this fall ( 610 math 450 verbal) but I think I lucked out because while I was taking it I though I was screwed!!! (math timed out with 8 questions that I hadn't even looked at so I rushed throught the verbal....bad idea) That being said, take your time studying. Master the HARD math and be able to do it quickly. I have also heard good things about Kaplans prep classes. Good luck to you. I am sure you'll be in a great position for fall applications once you retake the test!!!

Specializes in ER/ICU, CCRN, SRNA (class of 2010).

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

Specializes in Postpartum / Mother-Baby.

I recently took the GRE and studied using the Dummies book, the Kaplan book and the powerprep software from ETS. My first practice test score was like 900 or so combined but after working through all three, my actual test score was 1180 combined. It takes a LOT of practice and patience but it's well worth the time!

get the full kaplan gre course. do the book work, do the homework, go to all the classes, do the computer practice exams, make flash cards, do the entire 4/8/12 week program that is laid out in the book- what ever fits your schedule- you got a year at this point. i took the test once, got a 790 math, and 620 verbal, and 4 writing (analytic portion was gone when i took the test).

Specializes in Neuro & Trauma ICU.
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:

Ok, don't stress. First of all, I did the SAME thing. Took the test the same week I registered for it without studying. I think my score was like 800. Am horrible at math. So I applied to TWU with that. Then when I prepared to apply to TCU found out that they will also accept the MAT, which has NO math. So I took that and scored really high. Well, I was accepted to both programs even with the stupid 800 GRE but TCU liked the fact that I had the higher MAT score. I don't know what your whole "package" looked like for TWU, but I would focus not only on a higher GRE score but also on any other improvements you can make to look more appealing. For instance, do you have your CCRN? Even though TWU doesn't require you have it, it does add to your overall "score." Same goes for any other certs as well as more extensive experience. Don't lose faith, it's almost time to apply again! Good luck this go round!

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