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GRE Literature as Subject Test HELP!

miss-lapin — Wed, 27 May 2009 15:06:54 -0800

I'm trying to find a prep course for the Literature Subject Test of the GRE (which is not the same as the general GRE) in NYC. While I did well with the verbal section of the GRE, I scored lower than I hoped on the Lit. as Sub. practice tests I took in the fall. I also have test taking anxiety so a course specifically for this test would help with my confidence. It doesn't appear that Kaplan or Princeton Review offer a specialized prep course for this test. Any hints where I might look? Also, while I have several books I am using to help review, other advice on ow to prep is welcome.

The Cell-Molec Bio-Biochem subject GRE, and the vanquishing thereof

palmcorder_yajna — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 14:04:40 -0800

Help me knock the biochem/cell and molecular bio GRE out of the park! This fall, if things continue to go the way they are, I'll be sending out applications to Ph.D programs in molecular and cell bio and/or biophysics. I've taken the general GRE and I did well on all three parts-- but in a season or so, it will be time to take the subject test. I downloaded a bunch of practice problems last night from the ETS website, tried to answer them, and got a really pukey score. @#$&.

The good news is, I have 6 months or so to prepare to take the thing. Unfortunately, unlike the general GRE and the more popular subject tests, no one seems to have published any good exam prep materials. Given that, what should I do?

Resources on hand at home include:
(1) Alberts on cell bio
(2) Karp on cell and molec.
(3) Intro to Genetic Analysis (undergrad text-- I don't remember who it's by)
(4) 1 fairly okay, recent developmental bio text
(5) A bunch of random Neuro textbooks including Kandel.
(6) All the PubMed material I can stand.

Classes I'll be taking (or at least starting) between now and test-time include:
(1) Molecular bio skills lab
(2) Junior-level intro physiology
(3) The first quarter of a 1-year, senior-level biochem series.

One caveat I will give: I work 80% ft and do research in addition to going to class, so I need a reasonably streamlined study plan. Trying to memorize all of Alberts in the (abbreviated) downtime between work and o-chem lecture is probably not going to cut it.

Thanks for your help, all!

Can anyone recommend a good graduate school for Nutrition Major?

pixxie — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 00:32:43 -0800

Hi, I only have 1 1/2 years till I'm completely done my undergraduate nutrition degree in Canada. I've already established that I want to pursue a masters, however, the only school I have been checking online is Columbia's Department of Nutrition because it is the only school I can think of which offers a decent program. Is it true? If not, does anyone have any good suggestions (NA, Europe, Asia)? Right now, I'm mostly interested in the subject of metabolic disorders. Before telling me your answer, I think it is important to know the pros & cons about me.

Pros:

1] I've been taking a lot of 500-level courses relating to physiology and experimental medicine (e.g. advanced applied cardiovascular physiology and endocrinology)

2] I have been volunteering for a non-governmental organization for quite a long time now

3] GPA is +3.6

Cons:

1] Haven't written my GRE yet (this summer, but I don't know where to begin!)

2] This is my 2nd degree, I did a degree in chemistry before but my GPA was very low (3.12), got some F's that I'm not very proud of :(

3] No research experience because I feel that my degree doesn't really offer any good biological lab techniques compares to someone in physiology or biochemistry let's say. This is definitely my downside. I hope to email some professors this summer who work in the hospital, but why would they hire me instead of a physio major?

4] Haven't taken Genetics

Give me a qualitative analysis of the GRE.

zoomorphic — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 07:31:14 -0800

At the very last minute, I'm applying to grad school to get my PhD in English. Hooray! Except that I'm abysmal at math. How much will that hurt my chance at top PhD programs in English? Because I've got two weeks to A) teach myself basic algebra for the GRE, and B) stop psyching myself out to the point of panic attacks. I always figured I'd go back to grad school eventually to study English and teach, and this decision feels really right. Too bad I reached it three days ago. My first pick among English programs has an admission deadline of 12/1.

Here I was, worrying about whether I should write a statement of purpose about postcolonial feminism or new-history theory, and ha ha, I can't multiply decimals. I've always struggled at math, but since I haven't touched it since high school, I am exponentially dumber than when I took the SAT.

Let's assume I will do well at verbal and writing on the GRE. Let's assume I produce a sterling 20-page admission essay and a humbly ambitious statement of purpose. Let's assume I earn disappointing marks on quantitative. How much will (really) low quantitative scores mar my overall English PhD candidacy?

My time is very limited. Because I anticipate that quantitative is going to put a huge chink in my armor, I'm tempted to spend most of my time perfecting a good essay, drafting an impressive statement of purpose, and beefing up my verbal abilities, which is where I shine on tests. This strategy also has a whiff of avoidance to it: throwing my hands up in the air because I can't juggle quadratic equations.

Secondly, how I stop freaking myself out about this? I crack open these GRE math study books and I am near-tears with terror that I'm blowing my chances at an academic future.

Thirdly, what books helped you out? I've got til November 17th to reacquaint myself with math concepts.

Lastly, if anyone has good or bad anecdotes or words of advice, please, lob them at me. I'm slightly adrift in my priorities and insecurities, and I need some perspective. I'm applying mainly to schools in Chicago, but I'm currently in NYC, if that helps.

High GPA Versus Low GRE

Delfena — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 15:51:46 -0800

Does a high GPA make up for a low GRE score for grad school admissions? Should I send my scores to schools if they are "recommended" but not required? I'm scheduled to take the GRE in two weeks. I took a Princeton Review study course over the summer, but didn't improve as much as I would have liked. My practice test score is around 1160, but I did receive a 5 (out of 6) on both writing sections. I'm applying to 4 grad schools, and only one of them requires GRE scores. My question is, should I send my scores to the schools that only "recommend" but not require them? If I do, and they end up being low (around my practice score), will my 3.98 GPA and good letters of rec make up for it? Would it look bad if I didn't send in my scores at all? Oh, my field of study is Urban Planning, and the schools I'm applying to are Portland State, NYU, UC Irvine, and the University of British Columbia. (UCI is the one that requires the GRE) Thanks!

Test: Skill :: MAT : ?

Miko — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 13:21:55 -0800

MAT vs. GRE: Does it matter? The graduate program I'm applying to [American Studies with a certificate in Public Culture and History] requires either the GRE -or- the MAT.

I don't want to take both and won't have time to take either more than once between now and the application deadline. I'm inclined to take the MAT because it's shorter, cheaper, and I think I have good skills at logical analysis. Evidence suggests I would probably do very well on the GRE verbal, but low-mediocre-to-very-poor on the mathematics.

My question is this: is there any reason to think one is a better choice than another? Funding? Strength on the application? Fit with field? Just want to make sure I don't create a detriment. Thanks for anything you can offer.

Stuck in a bog of Graduate Decisions

stratastar — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 15:11:23 -0800

Help me decide what venue of higher education to pursuit. Let me give a rough rundown or blueprint of my situation so you all can get a feeling of where I am and why I'm in this quagmire:

-Recent graduate of undergraduate humanities program. Really enjoyed my course load and did well in my respective fields of practice. General affinity towards academia
-completed honors thesis, which was a mix of aesthetics/art history, literature, structuralist theory and philosophy.

-Pragmatic (financial) thinking coupled with a good tenure in my university's student judiciary and intellectually stimulating pre-law classes prompted me to take the LSATs...scored well (mid 160s) but not great (170+). Instead of applying straight, graduated and moved to a job as a legal assistant to get a feel for that field (as well as some needed cash).

-Currently working as a Legal Assistant and am quite miserable with the banality of the job and "office life." Planning on quiting in the next week or so...perhaps fill in the time with a temp job (what to do?) to keep the finances in order.

--------

Basically, I've ruled out Law School. Although I have seesawed between the idealistic starving artist/academic path and the pragmatic/enjoy a 911 Turbo/Law Career path, I truly believe that the former and not the latter will be right for me because my heart is in the humanities and my sense of cash is in law.

But here's the kicker: What area of graduate studies do I pursuit? I was an English Lit/Lang major but I tended to draw myself towards more theoretical and philosophical endeavors. A PhD in Phil is a huge commitment and it seems like an uphill struggle in a competitive field of academia.

I am quite certain that I will take the GREs in about 6 -9 months, but I don't know what programs I could apply to?
I also have some interest in economics and financial markets, but no real formal undergraduate experience in either (I started off in the business school but left to pursuit education in the humanities).

Basically, I feel like a Renaissance man in that I have interest in such a wide variety of fields, but I can't really hone myself into one that I believe will have a future in terms of stability as well as intellectual and personal gratification.

Any tips? Many thanks...