Taking GRE multiple times

[zebrastripe86]

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Hello everyone,

So I am in a rough situation. I obviously want to go to vet school, i have the experience, my gpa isn't great (3.2), but I am doing a masters program specifically designed to help boost the gpa for those that want to go to vet school. The only thing I am lacking is a solid GRE score. So far i have taken in 4 times...and I will probably need to take it again...ugh. I feel embarrassed to even admit how many times I have taken it. My highest score is a 980, I wasn't happy with that so after getting a princeton review tutor, I took it again and my score actually went down! to a 970. Maybe I should have waited in between test times, because I took it 2 months after the 980 score. So, I am going to take it again, but I am afraid that my score will not improve. I just want to break a 1000. My highest verbal score is OK, a 520, and my highest math was a measly 480. too bad those scores are from two different tests.

I don't even know why it went down even after the tutoring because I really thought he helped. Maybe I should just focus on pacing and keep taking practice tests over and over? I know all of the curve balls ETS can throw at me its just I think that maybe I get nervous and spend too much time on certain problems.

Any advice anyone?

Sorry this is so long!

 

[Horsingaround31]

Sorry to hear you're having a rough time with the GRE. I've had my troubles too, but my scores are getting much better. My problem is that I'm a terrible standardized test taker -- always have been -- and sometimes I psyche myself out. The only thing that has helped me bring up my scores is taking a lot of practice tests so I get comfortable with the test and learning the tricks. I don't know if you have read any of the other threads on the GRE, but people have some good advice -- like concentrating on the first 15 questions since they pretty much set the bar for your test score.

Don't get down, though. That will only psyche yourself out more. I wish I had more concrete advice to offer!

 

[168135]

I'm kind of in the same boat. If my pre-req average stays the same, I would have needed to be in the 80th percentile to guarentee myself an interview. I wrote it today for the first time and almost broke 1000. I have no idea how I did on the essays yet!

I've been studying on and off since May, but August was a busy month for me and I didn't get much studying done. I worked through most of the Kaplan workbooks this summer then took a couple of free practice tests before I wrote. I was making 700s :S

I'm going to re-write in December and make sure I give myself at least two weeks to study hardcore. I'd also appreciate any advice that people have to offer.

Im trying not to let it get me down. Looking at the big picture, I think I'm going to do well enough in other areas to get an interview. I just have to keep up the hard work!

 

[CurrySpice]

Taking the GRE is a totally different skill than succeeding in a college class. You need to play their game. Do as many practice problems as you can. Time yourself, don't get into the habit of taking a long time to do the problem 2 or 3 times. Get the basics down well enough that you are confident in a first answer quickly.

I would worry much more about your quantitative score than your verbal. Your verbal score is not outstanding, but percentile-wise it's not bad. Your quantitative score, however, puts you in a very low percentile.

What problems are you having with the quantitative section? Since you are a pre-vet student succeeding in science classes, you must be decent at math. Is the geometry giving you trouble or the algebra? There's a lot of mental math involved, and if you don't do it on a regular basis then that can be time consuming. I loved the Baron's prep book, but I know different books work for different people.

If you are confused about the basic concepts, I would search for a better tutor. If you are working too slowly, I would simply do 100s of practice problems. It's a common test so there is a lot of material floating around.

Good luck with your GRE problems! I am sure that you can succeed if you apply yourself again and keep your confidence up! Don't think about needing to acheive a specific score because it's just going to psych you out. On test day, just remember how hard you've studied (and yes, it was enough), and let yourself relax and demonstrate what you've learned.

Oh, and I wouldn't take the real GRE until you are consistently getting 1100 on practice tests. Don't assume that you'll magically do better on test day (although that does happen sometimes!)

 

[twelvetigers]

Taking the GRE is a totally different skill than succeeding in a college class. You need to play their game. Do as many practice problems as you can. Time yourself, don't get into the habit of taking a long time to do the problem 2 or 3 times. Get the basics down well enough that you are confident in a first answer quickly.

I would worry much more about your quantitative score than your verbal. Your verbal score is not outstanding, but percentile-wise it's not bad. Your quantitative score, however, puts you in a very low percentile.

What problems are you having with the quantitative section? Since you are a pre-vet student succeeding in science classes, you must be decent at math. Is the geometry giving you trouble or the algebra? There's a lot of mental math involved, and if you don't do it on a regular basis then that can be time consuming. I loved the Baron's prep book, but I know different books work for different people.

If you are confused about the basic concepts, I would search for a better tutor. If you are working too slowly, I would simply do 100s of practice problems. It's a common test so there is a lot of material floating around.

Good luck with your GRE problems! I am sure that you can succeed if you apply yourself again and keep your confidence up! Don't think about needing to acheive a specific score because it's just going to psych you out. On test day, just remember how hard you've studied (and yes, it was enough), and let yourself relax and demonstrate what you've learned.

Oh, and I wouldn't take the real GRE until you are consistently getting 1100 on practice tests. Don't assume that you'll magically do better on test day (although that does happen sometimes!)

I can picture you saying this now - it made me smile. 🙂

 

[lunajett]

I don't have GRE stuff anymore, but seems like I remember there was some limit on how many times you could take it. Five, maybe? Might want to check on that, if true you've only got one shot left. On the plus side, most schools that I've seen take the highest score for each section. So your highest verbal from one test and your highest quant from another test would be the numbers they *should* consider. But, they will have the report of all your previous tests, and I can't help but think that if they see many low scores or erratic results, that would have to figure in the adcomm's calculus. I actually went down a bit in both my scores my second time, a year after the first, and I do believe that hurt my chances on my second round of apps.

And, well, I hate to be the harsh one, but if your GPA "isn't great" (I assume that is maybe under 3.0?) and you haven't broken 1000 after four shots at the GRE, well, I can't see you getting into a US school. Sorry, but those numbers just won't do it. Usually one number can somewhat compensate for the other - if you have a GRE around 1000, you might still have a shot if your GPA is like 3.8+. Or if you have just amazing incredible experience and LORs that knock the socks off the adcomms. But even than, usually your numbers have to be above a cut-off before the other stuff is even looked at, and your numbers won't get you through that cut.

And what is this master's? I've never heard of one "specifically designed to help boost the gpa for those that want to go to vet school." Not sure how realistic that is.

Sorry to be harsh, I don't want to crush anyone's dreams and I certainly overcame long odds to get into vet school. So strange things can happen. But you also need to be realistic. If four tries at the GRE, with tutoring and lots of hard work, don't get you over 1000, you just might never get an acceptable GRE score (ie, one that will clear whatever minimum a school might set.) I'd encourage you to look at non-US schools, or maybe even better, what can you do with the master's in a field that will make you happy? I wanted to be a vet more than anything, but I also knew there were very long odds and I always had other backup possibilities in the back of my mind, just in case.

 

[zebrastripe86]

lunajett-
My Gpa as stated above is a 3.2. and the masters program is called masters of lab animal science. It helps people who do not have the best gpa because it can boost the last 45 credit hour one. It offers courses that many first year vet students take like pharmacology and physiology. I have talked to a few vet schools, like penn for example, and they said that there is no penalty for taking the GRE multiple times, they will just take your highest set of scores. I am doing the Master's also incase I can't get in anywhere, I'll have something to fall back on, but it would be awesome if I could get in somewhere.

 

[twelvetigers]

Is it the program at Drexel?

CSU has a 'plan B' program, too. We have a number of students here from either program (and quite a few now in vet school).

The only restrictions with the general GRE (that I'm aware of) are only being able to take it once a calendar month, and the scores expiring for tests older than five years at most schools. You can take it as many times as you like, though I imagine you would raise some eyebrows if you took it eight times or something. 😉

The quant, near as I can tell, is just about learning all the little 'tricks' and keeping yourself within the time limit. Practice is probably the best way to improve. Have you taken many practice tests?

 

[zebrastripe86]

yeah it is the program at drexel. My goal is to get a 4.0, which could be possible since I don't do much else but study with the occasional outing. I just want to be a vet really really bad, which is why I considered the program in the first place. If only I could just do better on the GRE. I have taken a lot of practice tests, but I have taken the princeton reveiw once so many times, I already know the questions. So if anyone else has sources for practice GRE tests (other than the one on the CD that ETS gives) it would be most helpful!

 

[psilovethomas]

One can only take/write the GRE once in a calender month and up to 5 times per year. Other than that, I think you can take it as many times as you want or can.

 

[twelvetigers]

I wasn't aware of the 'five times a year' rule! Huh. I guess that is a LOT...

Zebra, armymutt included some really helpful links to practice tests and problems in this thread:

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=758138

 

[NStarz]

I would take a step back and try to understand why you're having problems--is it the questions themselves? Are you rushing? Not taking enough time? Having anxiety? If you're taking the test multiple times and not improving (after studying, which it sounds like you are), you need to rethink how you're doing things. Obviously something's not working for you. I would figure out what that something is before you try to take it again. Good luck!

 

[CorporateFatCat]

So if anyone else has sources for practice GRE tests (other than the one on the CD that ETS gives) it would be most helpful!

ETS also has a book with a couple of practice tests. However, it does not explain answers for a good part of the practice problems. ETS would be the best source though for possible test questions.

 

[LovingLife10]

Hey zebrastripe86!

First of all I wouldn't feel embarrassed about taking the GRE multiple times.I myself have taken it 5 times, and it wasn't until my 5th time that I improved my score! I was told by an admissions counselor at a veterinary school that even if you do not improve your score, retaking the test shows that you are committed to this process and are working to improve your application. So that's plus a point or two right there!

As for how to improve your score, I can only speak for what I did. I took an Online Kaplan course. It was two days a week, and lasted about 6 weeks. It really helped me in the math section especially because it taught me how to pace myself and work through the problems faster. And the teacher's are really motivational too! The downside is that it is NOT cheap. It was about $1200 for the class. 🙁 But I figured that if it helps me get into vet school, than it's worth it!

I would also recommend looking at what veterinary schools assign the most points and the fewest points to your GRE. That way you can send your application towards schools that emphasize GPA more than GRE. I know you said your GPA is around 3.2 but with your master's program I'm sure your last 45 GPA will be higher!

Best of luck to you! 🙂