When should I take the GRE for an application for acceptance in Fall 2012?

[Sceneofcrime]

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I figured I'd wait till late summer to start studying for the GRE to take in September/October... Does anyone think this is too late/a bad idea? I currently have a full plate between taking Physics 1 and 2 and doing observation hours so I think trying to study for the GRE right now would likely destroy me both mentally and physically. 😕

Any thoughts/suggestions? Gracias.

 

[TheOx777]

The answer to your question would depend on which schools you are applying to. The GRE will be changed this August, thus so many programs are not accepting the new GRE scores this cycle. If you visit the schools' websites and contact the admissions coordinator for each program you plan to apply to in order to gauge how taking the GRE in late summer/early fall will effect your application.

 

[Sceneofcrime]

Instead of creating a new topic, I'll ask some more questions here.

About how long should I plan to study for the GRE before taking it for the first time? I plan on taking the new one in September the latest... there's no way I'm gonna be able to take old one. And what materials do most people use to study? Any advice? Gracias y'all.

 

[Onyang]

I was in a similar situation. I just took the GRE and did bad. I have so many other things going on right now. Trying to study for the was very hard. The only reason why I took it is because they are changing the format. If you do not take it before Aug 1, 2011, you wont be able to apply for programs that begin in 2012. I was in a rush. I took a gamble. Hopefully my GPA, observations, and letter of rec compensate for my low GRE.

 

[markelmarcel]

TheOx has it, some schools will accept the new GRE and some won't-- so you'd be best to apply to schools that accept the new format. I work at a university and although I *try* to be sympathetic towards students-- everyone has a sob story and so it's unlikely that an admissions committee would say, "Aw shucks, you seem so nice, go ahead and take the new GRE even though we said we wouldn't accept it!"

So, apply to schools that will accept the new GRE (the list is on PTCAS) and good luck!

As far as studying, I studied on and off for about 2-3 months and then really studied every day (for hours) for about 2 weeks before the exam. I was also taking physics 4x a week in the summer session... Was it easy? No, but I did it to get that first score in so I could send my app out, then I took it 2 more times (Once in September & October) and updated my application from there...

 

[Sceneofcrime]

Thanks for the input guys. Jeeze, between observation hours, taking a summer class, and studying for the GRE, we're masochists!

My plan is to start studying for the GRE through July and August and take it in September. I don't think I'd do well with only 3 weeks of studying (latest I can take the old GRE is July 22nd). How does this plan sound? And from the list on PTCAS, it seems like a lot of schools will take the new GRE... I'll just have to knock the ones that don't off my list.

 

[Litlwarrior08]

I took the GRE in June w/ the old format because all of my schools want the old. (not great w/ 1040) But I am also taking the new format in Aug. (at a 50% cost) just to give it a shot. They may not accept the scores but the way I see it is.......... scores get reported ....... they see them.... could be better than the first set. Who knows? The scoring is different but there must be a comparison chart since schools accept scores from past years. The 2013 entering classes will have a mix of old and new, schools will have to adjust somehow. Any other thoughts on this???