If I had a penny for every time I saw someone ask a question about standby testing for the subject GREs (Psychology, Computer Science, Literature, etc.), I wouldn't have any student loans left. If I had a penny for each response that I saw... well... I'd be just as broke as I am now.
😉
I went on-line to register for the Psychology GRE on October 13th, 2008. I knew it was rather late, so I was feeling good about having a moment to sit down and finally take care of it. And that's when I saw it - that dreadfully unholy "last day for registration" date staring nastily up at me from the web page: October 10th, 2008. I had missed the deadline by three days.
After hating myself for a number of minutes, I called my rational, level-headed boyfriend, Joe, to tell him what a numbskull his girlfriend had been in missing this deadline. After patiently listening to my hysterical banter, he took a deep breath and immediately switched to plan mode. Without leaving you in suspense, I will tell you that I was able to take my test, with very few glitches. I do have Joe's rationale and dedication to the task at hand to thank for it, though, because he was absolutely wonderful during the experience! (You'll see evidence of his goodness below). I would like to do the kind and selfless thing and post my story on here so that you guys finally have the ANSWERS that I so desperately sought.
You can trust that the following will work well if you do it right. Why? Because I'm one of the most obsessive, on-top-of-everything students I know, and if it hadn't been for Joe, I would have had a stroke before I was handed that blessed packet of test questions. =)
So, if you happen to find yourself in this wretched situation, don't flip out: you have more control over the outcome than you think. Following the below steps will increase your chances exponentially of being able to take the test:
1) Open this PDF, and go directly to page 9. This is a list of ALL of the testing centers for the subject GREs. Choose at least four (4) that are convenient for you to get to, and write down their names and testing center codes. **** Next to the testing centers, you will see three columns, some containing boxes, others blank. If you look at the top of the chart, each of the three columns corresponds to one fo the three test dates. You see, not all the testing centers provide the tests on EVERY testing day. Make sure to choose only testing centers that are marked with a box for your preferred day, and note that the boxes are not subject-specific. That you have to find out from ETS (Step 2).
http://www.ets.org/Media/Tests/GRE/pdf/gre_0809_tclist.pdf
2) Look at your calendar. Find the Saturday test date that you wanted, mark the Monday directly before it (in other words, almost one week before). That morning, promptly at 8 AM when they open, call ETS at this #: 866-473-4373 and be prepared with your list of testing centers/codes AND a writing utencil. Press the prompts for registering, and get connected to a live person.
This is how your conversation should go:
You: Hi, I am looking to test standby for Insert date here . Can you please help me find a testing center?
Customer Service Rep (CSR): Sure. What test are you looking to take?
You: Insert test
CSR: Okay, where are you located/which testing centers were you looking at?
You: I'm located in insert state and I have a few testing centers I'd like to inquire about.
Then, he/she will ask you to give them to him/her one by one. It's easier if you provide the name and the codes - it will make their search quicker and more efficient.
**** VERY IMPORTANT: ETS is NOT allowed to give out specific information (i.e. : I know there are 40 extra tests at this testing center), but, they do their best to help you if you understand the way that they manipulate their ethics code:
"Standby testing is available at this testing center" = "At this testing center, there have been cancellations or we have sent extra tests."
"This is the better test center for you to try" = "Here is where there are the MOST standby slots for you."
Fact: ETS DOES send extra tests. If you ask them, especially the newbies who are frightened to say anything that will get them fired, they will tell you "It's not our policy to send more tests than are required for those registered." It's bull; don't believe it.
Now you are (hopefully) equipped with the names of a few testing centers to try (my CSR gave me the okay on all three that I tried, but suggested to try one in particular - which I did). Map out how you're going to get there ahead of time.
3) Do NOT wait until that Monday to start studying. Your chances of being able to take the test standby are much greater than you might think, and you wouldn't want to go through all of this just to be underprepared.
4) WAY ahead of time, make sure you have these things available and completed to bring to the test:
1. Photo ID (license, passport, etc.)
2. A check for $180.00 ($130 for the test, $50 for the standby fee) (or credit card #)
3. Print this form out and fill it out completely. This MUST be completed for the day of the test. http://www.ets.org/Media/Tests/GRE/pdf/gre_0809_pbtregform.pdf
5) Here's where the tough part comes in. Think about how much you want to take this test (because NOT taking it probably means you'll have to wait another year to apply to graduate programs, and we all know that that just plain sucks!). Do you want it badly enough? I'm assuming that, if you've read this far, the answer is a resounding "YES." So, get yourself into SAVAGE mode. Darwin said that the fittest of us proliferate, while the weaker ones lack the evolutionary power to continue. I'm normally a kind and considerate human being, but when my boyfriend and I got inside that testing center, there was only one thing on my mind: GETTING INTO THAT DAMN TEST. Now that you're in "savage" mode...
6) BE BOLD AND ASSERTIVE. Try to call the testing center itself and see if you can speak to someone at the security desk. Ask them what time they open the building, and don't be shy to tell them your situation. Chances are, they will give you inside info. The guy I spoke to at the security desk at my testing center gave me the low-down... that all standbys/registered testers wait in the lobby and are retrieved by the proctors when it's time to go to the testing rooms. He also mentioned that, in all of his years there, he had never seen anyone turned down for standby. I don't know how much I believed that overgeneralization, but his confidence made me confident.
7) GET THERE EARLY. You know when it's so early that it's still dark out and the birds aren't chirping yet? Yeah, that's when you know that you've slept too late. ETS tells you to get there no later than 8:15 AM, but the cold, hard fact of the matter is this: You will NOT get into the test standby if you get there that late. Joe arrived at my house prompty at 5:15 AM (I can hear the "Awwww's!" already!), and we were at my testing center by 5:45. Yes, we waited in the car (during which time he tried desperately - the poor guy - to calm me down, and managed somewhat) until 7 when the security guys opened the building, but, believe it or not, there were already several people lined up outside the testing center, THREE of whom were looking to take the same test as me.
8) If you're put in a waiting room of sorts, sit RIGHT BY THE DOOR. Initially, Joe and I planted ourselves on a comfortable couch a mile away from the doorway, and I was like a paranoid maniac, constantly checking for the proctor. After about 20 minutes of this I admitted humbly that I couldn't sit there anymore. I had been surveying a soft bench right next to the doorway. He very reluctantly said a tearful goodbye to his sofa, and came with me. And this worked! When the proctor finally came in, Joe and I shot up. She told everyone to line up and I was the second on line. Some guy with REALLY long legs ran ahead of my 5'2'' self... go figure.
9) TELL THE PROCTOR RIGHT AWAY THAT YOU'RE A STANDBY TESTER. They had a separate room for standby testers for ALL subjects, and she directed us there. My assumption is that this method is somewhat popular.
10) This is obnoxious, but get as close to the door of the standby room as you possibly can. I am so fortunate that Joe is (among many other wonderful things!) 6'2'', and was able to part the crowd easily. We reached our destination in front of the door, and Joe basically stood in front of it so that no one could surpass me. When the proctor came out and said, "Okay, standby testers in here, one at a time, please," he shoved me in and I got the first Psychology "ticket." After kissing Joe goodbye and stammering many words of gratitude, I ventured up to the testing room and did my thing.
I know that all of this sounds rather pushy and obnoxious (and, indeed, like I used my boyfriend... but don't worry, it's four days later and I haven't stopped humbly thanking him for his unwavering support!
😍). But this is the absolute truth about standby testing, and what needs to be done if you are to take the test. Now, maybe some people had easy experiences, where they just sauntered in at 8:15 AM with no preparation at all and said, "Hey, 'sup, can I take the Psychology test standby? Oh, there's extras? Thanks, dude." But, I was not going to take that chance. And, while the steps I outlined above will certainly not guarantee you will be able to take the test, they will greatly increase your chances.
If you have any questions whatsoever, feel free to ask. I promised myself that, if this worked out for me, I would promulgate it to everyone who is desperately searching for confidence.
😳
Best of luck!
~ Jenny
