Anyone taken the GRE test?

Gennaver, MSN · Jan 19, 2005

I am planning on taking my GRE or MAT in March 05. The grad school I am applying to requires at least a 1000 on V and Q, or combined 1500 on all 3.
They require at least a 50 on the MAT.
Have any of you taken the MAT?? If so, which one was better????

Hello CardioTRans,

My former boss took the Miller Analgies Test and if I am not mistaken it is more of an IQ test than an aptitude.

I think it is good for you to have a couple of months notice to practice both to see which you prefer! Test run them. I suggest taking advantage of these months to find out which test suits your style better. Personally I think I may have preferred the MAT but, am glad to have reviewed and taken the regular GRE.

Also I am glad to know that my scores were comparable to others who had been accepted to the program I am applying for, (got an email this morning!)

Good news to know that your minimum is 1000 but, I wonder if you may have the minimum for all three categories a little off? The Qualitative and the Verbal are worth individually from 200-800 with no one ever reaching two 800 and then the third section of Analytical is only worth a maximum of 6 points.

Good luck!! Maybe we should start another thread on this or is this one from the GRE the most appropriate?

Gennaver

Jess RN · Jan 19, 2005

Good news to know that your minimum is 1000 but, I wonder if you may have the minimum for all three categories a little off? The Qualitative and the Verbal are worth individually from 200-800 with no one ever reaching two 800 and then the third section of Analytical is only worth a maximum of 6 points.
Gennaver

I think the "new way" to calculate totals on the GRE is by multiplying the analytical writing score by 100 and then adding it to the sum of the verbal and math sections. So if you were 550V 600Q and a writing score of 5 your total score would be 1650.

-Jess

Jess RN · Jan 19, 2005

According to UIC's schedule the time from turning in the application to knowing the final choice is nearly 8 weeks. This should be good news Jess. Is there any way to find out your school's timelines?

Duh! What a great idea! I was kind of scared to contact my school, because I didn't want to appear too pushy, you know? I just assumed that they would take the same schedule as last year- which was interviews in Feb and a decision the first week of March. Well, come to find out that my first choice school is not doing interviews this year at all! So I should hear one way or the other from both schools in early March.

I'm kind of bummed about no interviews. I though that would strengthen my application, because I interview well. I'm also bummed that all I can do is sit around and wait for a month and a half!

Jess

HillaryC, RN, CRNA · Jan 19, 2005

I think the "new way" to calculate totals on the GRE is by multiplying the analytical writing score by 100 and then adding it to the sum of the verbal and math sections. So if you were 550V 600Q and a writing score of 5 your total score would be 1650.
-Jess

Interesting; I hadn't heard that. I just thought the old GRE had three 800-point sections, so the total was out of 2400, and the new GRE score was out of 1600 (like the SAT-I) with the analytical writing section being totally separate (and out of 6).

Jess RN · Jan 19, 2005

Interesting; I hadn't heard that. I just thought the old GRE had three 800-point sections, so the total was out of 2400, and the new GRE score was out of 1600 (like the SAT-I) with the analytical writing section being totally separate (and out of 6).

You know, I could be wrong- but I've seen it calculated the way I suggested a few times on other forums. I've also done a little research on averages on the GRE for different Master's programs and frequently found numbers between 1500 and 1800. The 1500 would be a very high average if the highest possible was 1600 and 1800 would be impossible.

But who knows- I wasn't able to find anything about it on the actual GRE website. I don't want to spread wrong information, but if your school lists a minimum of 1500, as the previous poster's school did, I'd bet what they mean is V + Q + (AW x 100)

Jess

CardioTrans, BSN, RN · Jan 20, 2005

I was wondering about all the 3's, 5's and such that some were posting on the writing. I was trying to figure out where the other points came in. I went back and re-read the requirements and it says 1000 on V &Q or 1500 on all 3 sections. So I dont know. It also says a 3.0 GPA.

I have a study book for the MAT and the GRE. I have been studying through them both over the last few weeks. I'm here to tell you, some things on the GRE I havent seen in 20+ yrs. Luckily it hasnt been that long since I took calculus and chemistry, so I did pretty good on those type questions.

And here I was thinking when I graduated high school eons ago, that I was done with ACT/SAT type tests!

Gennaver, MSN · Jan 20, 2005

I think the "new way" to calculate totals on the GRE is by multiplying the analytical writing score by 100 and then adding it to the sum of the verbal and math sections. So if you were 550V 600Q and a writing score of 5 your total score would be 1650.
-Jess

Hi,

This sounds like good news to me, (hopefully!)

I have to try to avoid doing my math though as there is the two week wait for the analytical writing score.

Thank you for telling me how this is calculated. :)

Gennaver

Gennaver, MSN · Jan 20, 2005

Duh! What a great idea! I was kind of scared to contact my school, because I didn't want to appear too pushy, you know?
I'm kind of bummed about no interviews. I though that would strengthen my application, because I interview well. I'm also bummed that all I can do is sit around and wait for a month and a half!
Jess

Hi Jess,

Glad that you called! There is a difference from double checking, (clarifying and following through) and being pushy. I have to remind myself this too! Follow through is good.

I am sure you will do very well Jess, your numbers are good and I am pretty darn sure that your letters of rec will be great!!

Gennaver

Gennaver, MSN · Jan 20, 2005

Interesting; I hadn't heard that. I just thought the old GRE had three 800-point sections, so the total was out of 2400, and the new GRE score was out of 1600 (like the SAT-I) with the analytical writing section being totally separate (and out of 6).

Hello Hillary,

The one that I took was the "General GRE" and not a subject GRE. Could that be a difference? What I experienced was just as I anticipated from the GRE practice information and the site. I was told that there would be four overall sections but that one of them would not count. There is a Verbal and a Quantitative and then the Analytic but the fourth non-counting section could be either verbal or quantitative as they were basically questions that ETS was test driving. I was hoping that my extra section would be verbal but, it was the math.

The Verbal and the Qant could each range from 200-800 in 10 point increments, (as per everything I read from the ETS website and studyguides.) The Analytical writing section can max out at 6 in half point incremements.

If those minimums listed on grad schools include the Q+A+(WAx100) I would be happy!

Although, some information that I read was contradictory and there may be more that I missed. I read that the paper and pencil test had to be requested months in advance and then read later that this was cancelled in 1993 ??

Gennaver

Jess RN · Jan 20, 2005

Hi Jess,
Glad that you called! There is a difference from double checking, (clarifying and following through) and being pushy. I have to remind myself this too! Follow through is good.
I am sure you will do very well Jess, your numbers are good and I am pretty darn sure that your letters of rec will be great!!
Gennaver

Thanks Gennaver!

Some days I feel pretty confident and others I'm sure I'm going to get two rejection letters in the mail. :rolleyes: I guess that's pretty normal.

I emailed with the program coordinator yesterday about another item too. My senior year of college I dropped out of the day school and enrolled in the night school so I could work full time. My parents had divorced the year before and we were just out of money for me to continue. I had a few WDs on my transcript as well- mostly because of how overextended I was. My final GPA was a 3.5 which is pretty good- but I really wanted the chance to explain my transcript in an interview. When I found out that there would be no interview, I thought I should write a letter explaining my transcript to put in my application file.

I asked the prgram coordinator but her response was that I should do what I think will strengthen my application- not much help[ there :)

I guess they dont want to help applicants and then be accused of preferential treatment. I don't know- I sent a short letter. I figured it can't hurt, might help. I kind of wasn't worried about it because I've done lots since college- and being not a recent grad I 'd hoped they wouldnt scrutinize my undergrad records so much. But then, if I am on the borderline of being accepted, I don't want that to be a strike against me, you know?

-Jess

westcoastgirl · Jan 21, 2005

I took the GRE text just this past Fall and had to take the exam while being extremely sick with the flu. Got a 1320 combined m+vand 5.5 Writing. Studied maybe 3-4 weekends intermittently which was not ideal.

Remember to ask the school when they must have ETS grade reports because sometimes they forget to tell you this: you'll know your scores right away and you fill out your application with those numbers, noting that the final report from ETS is on its way to the school. This might help you gain more time to study but check with the school first.

I could've done better in Math I think but while good at Math I'm not fast at math. I tend to write everything step by step and the GRE tests speed as much as anything else in my opinion. The Princeton book helps with time saving tips and I also looked at Math textbooks. Good luck! :)

Thanks Gennaver!
Some days I feel pretty confident and others I'm sure I'm going to get two rejection letters in the mail. I guess that's pretty normal.
I emailed with the program coordinator yesterday about another item too. My senior year of college I dropped out of the day school and enrolled in the night school so I could work full time. My parents had divorced the year before and we were just out of money for me to continue. I had a few WDs on my transcript as well- mostly because of how overextended I was. My final GPA was a 3.5 which is pretty good- but I really wanted the chance to explain my transcript in an interview. When I found out that there would be no interview, I thought I should write a letter explaining my transcript to put in my application file.
I asked the prgram coordinator but her response was that I should do what I think will strengthen my application- not much help[ there :)
I guess they dont want to help applicants and then be accused of preferential treatment. I don't know- I sent a short letter. I figured it can't hurt, might help. I kind of wasn't worried about it because I've done lots since college- and being not a recent grad I 'd hoped they wouldnt scrutinize my undergrad records so much. But then, if I am on the borderline of being accepted, I don't want that to be a strike against me, you know?
-Jess

Gennaver, MSN · Jan 23, 2005

Thanks Gennaver!
Some days I feel pretty confident and others I'm sure I'm going to get two rejection letters in the mail. I guess that's pretty normal.
clipped to shorten and to get to the point-
When I found out that there would be no interview, I thought I should write a letter explaining my transcript to put in my application file.
I asked the prgram coordinator but her response was that I should do what I think will strengthen my application- not much help[ there :)
... I kind of wasn't worried about it because I've done lots since college- and being not a recent grad I 'd hoped they wouldnt scrutinize my undergrad records so much...
-Jess

Jess,

I am glad that you posted this. I also had a couple years of transferring and also some WDs and then some less than stellar grades.

When I transferred to my current university I was advised that I had definately better address these on my application essay so I did. I tried to make it succinct and matter of fact while at the same time expressing my enthusiasm after learning that I can indeed work academically through trying personal times.

From that I learned that it is very important to address everything. Not necissarily with apologies. Jess, your 3.5 gpa and your high GRE scores do not need any quanitfiers or apologies. :)

Luckily for me, my final 60 hours, (as well as all hours) are above the 3.0, (not by much but, they count.)

You look academically strong. I am sure you also have all the pre-reqs for the program too? Your experiences since school and your letters of rec ought to have you right in the program. :)

Remember to let your enthusiasm, (more so than worry or concern I think) radiate in you interview!! You might really want to believe in yourself Jess, your grades and numbers are freakin' awesome.

Gennaver