The GRE is vocabulary (I'd consider it fairly advanced), writing and math. For the math portion, it involved trig, geometry, algebra, and maybe some calc concepts (I don't remember it too well). Don't freak out about knowing every last math concept you've learned. The test is designed to test you on how you approach problems and use logic to solve them, not necessarily how well you memorized how to to trig problems. For example, if I give you 1, 3, and 1, you should be able to come up with 5 if I didn't give you 3 and 2 (that's seriously oversimplifying, btw). That doesn't mean you shouldn't prep and try to wing it. At least take practice tests (the ETS service has free prep software) so you get familiar with the way the problems are written and how to approach them. You can find fairly cheap prep material through Amazon as well!
My 2 cents: Unless you are having trouble with the math concepts and need someone to guide you through them, I personally wouldn't take it. You could find oodles and oodles of practice problems and vocab flashcards for wayyyyyyyyyy less than that, so I would look into getting math workbooks/practice problems with explanations rather than taking a very expensive course.
I didn't take a formal course, but I'm inclined to say a GRE prep course is not worth $800. There are tons of prep materials out there that you can buy and even resell. The MCAT? Sure, a prep course is worth it in some cases. GRE? Not so much.
If you have parents willing to pay for it and you learn well by having someone review concepts with you, then go for it. I did take a prep course, but I don't remember if it was Princeton Review or Kaplan. They do pretty much the same thing. I found it beneficial because of test anxiety.
I feel like its a bad plan to take it that early. GRE scores expire at some places so if you don't get into vet school right away or end up taking a couple gap years or graduating later than expected you could be stuck taking it again...
I technically just finished my sophomore year, and I took it in March, but then again I'm graduating early/ applying this cycle for 2021. But then again, I wouldn't recommend anyone doing this plan either lololol
I think I'm going to get Magoosh. It's definitely cheaper than the other- plus it has better reviews. And yeah, I bought GRE books, but I read fast and understand little if I read them too fast. Videos force me to slow down and think about it.
Yeah, I used to hear that advice in undergrad too --their reasoning was that you should take it as early as possible so the Quant concepts would still be relatively fresh in your mind (being that it's mostly high-school level stuff), but you're probably better off reviewing anyway so I don't think that's a very strong reason. I'm REALLY glad I waited, not only because of everything you mentioned, but also since in my case if I'd taken it that early it would have been around the time of the score format change. (I also can't imagine I'd do as well on the GRE while having to prioritize a full-time class load, so taking it during summer/a break/less busy time is ideal, saves lot of potential stress)
still salty) but didn't do so well on quant because I didn't review enough and ran out of time with unanswered questions in the first couple Q sections. Sooo I'm currently practice-cramming my weaker math concepts tonight for my retake tomorrow...
Haha I was totally the same way. Except when I got to the test mine said to pick now or it'll be a fee later. So I said basically "well ****. I guess it's time to determine where I want to go to vet school." Luckily the codes for the schools I sent it to matched.
YES, so important! I was in this position last year because since it was way before VMCAS opened and my first cycle applying, I hadn't taken an in-depth look at what schools I would be applying to, so I just chose my 4 best guesses. Ended up having to pay like $80 to resend scores to a completely different set of schools...luckily now that I've been through a cycle I know which schools I need to send them to.
