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TimRuns
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Joined: 11 May 2003
Posts: 10062
Location: Coquitlam, British Columbia
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 Posted: 02/19/05 - 19:12 Post subject: The GRE and grad school admissions
Has anyone here taken the GRE for grad school admission? I'm considering in applying for graduate school sometime in the future (a year or 2 down the road) once I'm decided what I want to pursue for graduate studies. My field of interest lies in the life/biological sciences...I understand that there's a general GRE and a subject specific GRE...is it necessary to do both or does taking a subject GRE depend on the school? And what would be the best type of preparation I would need to do well (I need at least a 550 score to be considered) for both general and subject tests?
For grades, I'm currently at a B to B+ standing...Although my grades have taken a nosedive since junior year due to a heavy and demanding courseload (I was taking 6 mostly hard courses a term until the end of last fall)...If I can pull off decent grades this term, my GPA may be brought up abit...
As for research experience and letters of recommendations are concerned, I had 2 previous summers of research assistantships in 2 labs and I will be working as a lab/research assistant in my previous supervisor's lab for a year or 2 starting this summer so that's not a problem...Plus I got to know a couple of profs from a few of my courses that I took...
Thanks for the advice... 
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andydp
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Joined: 23 Sep 2003
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Location: Upstate NY near Albany
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Posted: 02/19/05 - 21:40 Post subject:
You'll need several letters of reccomendation. I suggest you tell your profs what you're planning so they can be ready for the requests.
Take a GRE now and see how you do. then you can work on improving your score. Individual subject exams like you asked are dependent on the school's requirements. Like the SAT, not all admissions are solely based on the one test. School records count also.
Lastly: Just because you did not make it into grad school right off the bat do not despair. Many people get into grad school via the back door: Register as non matriculated, get 12 credits with a B or above, then ask for matriculation. (That's how I did it...)
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runaroundsue
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Joined: 18 Sep 2002
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Location: supporting GREENer pastures
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Posted: 02/19/05 - 23:04 Post subject:
but of course you're not expecting me to remember anything about it are you? I took it in 1987
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youngrunner
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Joined: 03 Jan 2005
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Location: warm and cozy in the computer chair
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Posted: 02/19/05 - 23:08 Post subject: Re: The GRE and grad school admissions
| TimRuns wrote: | . My field of interest lies in the life/biological sciences...
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What field of biology? I want to go into that field after high school. I'd like to be a Genetic Counsler. You, Tim?
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youngrunner
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Joined: 03 Jan 2005
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Location: warm and cozy in the computer chair
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Posted: 02/19/05 - 23:09 Post subject: Re: The GRE and grad school admissions
I'm such a science geek...
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crazyfrog
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Joined: 31 May 2003
Posts: 7610
Location: atlanta
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Posted: 02/20/05 - 01:23 Post subject: Re: The GRE and grad school admissions
| youngrunner wrote: | | I'm such a science geek... |
welcome to the club. 
tim, you remember my lovely experience with the GRE last year, right? 
i only took the general, some schools only require the general, some require both. i tried one of those study guides to prepare, but i dont have much will power when it comes to studying like that. my advisor strongly recommends a prep course. in the states, kaplan is a good "brand" to use, but i think the courses are pretty pricey.
if you want to contine research, the two summers you have will not doubt be helpful, if not make you stand out. if i go to pursue my PhD, then i will be relying on experience heavily, as my GRE scores leave something to be desired.
good luck on what you decide. are you going to go to school in canada or in the states?
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sonnylax
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Joined: 30 Sep 2003
Posts: 2942
Location: Living in a lollipop and unicorn world
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Posted: 03/15/05 - 10:24 Post subject:
I've previously took Kaplan (SAT; ~ 16 years ago) and Princeton Review (GMAT; ~ 10 years ago). At the time, I liked the Princeton Review much better. Better instructors, better coursework, etc. It was more expensive, but I felt I got more out of PR (vs. Kaplan).
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