<p>I'm slightly confused so instead of trying to figure this out myself I thought I'd post a question. I'll be applying to grad school next fall and I've decided to do, obviously the general GRE and the Biochem subject GRE (I'll be applying into neuroscience, or respective bio umbrella programs). I have time to study this semester - since I predict it wont be too bad and all of summer. I'm not sure when I should take the tests - should I do them both next fall, or if I could, sign up to do the subject test this April? Or do the subject test next fall and do the general GRE sometime during the early summer? </p>
<p>Any thoughts? I kind of want to do the subject test in April, I've taken all the necessary courses and I figure the more time passes, the more I'll forget. I also don't care that much about it because it isn't my field, I've mostly taken physiology and neuroscience courses since. I know it takes a variable time to prepare, but can anyone give me approximately how much time is necessary/hours?</p>
<p>Here's what I'm mainly confused about, as I understand, with the general GRE you can list up to 4 institution to send the scores to, and extra will be $20. Okay, so, what if I do the test in June - when would the scores be sent? What if they are sent in August or whatever, but obviously the rest of my application will come in late Nov/early Dec. Is that normal? I just figure I have time to study now, I might as well do either of the tests and get it out of the way - or also, if I majorly screw one up, I have time to re-do it. I just don't get how it works with sending the scores to the schools - because I'm not 100% sure what schools I'm going to apply to, although I'm sure I can think of 4 right now.</p>
<p>Excuse my ignorance guys, I'm from Canada, if that explains anything ;-). </p>
<p>You should take the subject GRE when the material is fresh in your head.</p>
<p>The general GRE, at least in the US, you can take pretty much any day you want as it is just a computer based test. </p>
<p>As for sending scores, MAYBE, you might be able to call the schools in advance and say hey I will be applying in Fall but I am taking the GRE's this April, can you hold my GRE's on file until then? Usually they mail the scores out 4-6 weeks after you take the test. So that does raise an interesting dilemma.</p>
<p>With all that being said, take the test when you feel you can do your best. If that means taking it in April and then having to maybe resend 4 scores and paying $80, so be it. A bad GRE subject score hurts. Believe me. </p>
<p>Don't worry about the logistics, just do what will get you the best possible score.</p>
<p>Hmm thanks, but what if I re-do it, and get a better score? Also, what if I re-do the general GREs and get a better score, do I have to pay more to re-send it, or can I not send the scores in the first place if I do both of the tests fairly early? Also, since the subject score is recommended and not required for any of the programs I'm applying to - and further, because it really isn't what I'm going into, what if I do the test and do not want to send the score anywhere (I doubt it, but still) - then do I just not indicate any schools from the get-go - and then have to pay $20 per school? Hm.. applying to grad schools is going to be oh-so-expensive.</p>
<p>I'm not sure whether this is true for every single school (it very well might be), but in the case of quite a few institutions, "receiving GRE scores" means they're sent electronically from ETS and uploaded into the school's database. The scores will be stored in their system under a unique ID tied to your name, so it's not like somebody will receive a piece of paper and not know where to file it - they'll just sit there until your name (ID) is retrieved when you begin your application. Even if you never apply, you'll still be in the system with just your scores, but nobody will think twice of it, since there are tens of thousands of IDs in the database.</p>
<p>That I can't help you with, sorry. Several weeks (at least 14 days, IIRC) seems to be the standard length of time for most people - my guess would be that it takes slightly longer around this time of the year (peak season) for ETS to process all of them. Then the school gets them, uploads them and they get marked off as "received". It's a pretty straightforward process, but if you're concerned about a deadline, I'd call the school and ask for an ETA.</p>
<p>It's my understanding that schools arrange to have ETS electronically deliver scores once a month -- so the time it takes for scores to be delivered is variable, as the scores could be available just before or just after ETS has delivered scores to a school for the month.</p>
<p>When do we pick the schools we want to send our scores to? I registered for the GRE already but there was no where to list schools to send the scores to...do we do that the day we take the exam?</p>
<p>Thanks for the info! And the additional reports I can request to be sent at anytime after the results are available? So if I write the subject test in April, name 4 schools then, but decide later to apply to a bunch more, I can do that at anytime thereafter, just making sure they reach the school prior to the deadline, right?</p>
<p>Uh excuse my ignorance, but when doing the subject tests shouldn't the department one is applying to care about the test one is writing? </p>
<p>I mean some schools care about the subject test more than others and it would only make sense that they only concern themselves with scores to tests that cover material relevant to that field.</p>
<p>Are you sure any of the neuro depts you are applying for require or even recommend one take a subject test? If so, why would they care abt the biochem test?</p>
<p>I mean I'm a genetics/microbiology student and as such I have a stronger background with the material covered in that subject test and it still seems a bit troublesome. Hell, I doubt I'll be doing it at all although I would benefit from a subject test score (that is good).</p>
<p>I mean do you think chm139, hmb265 (assuming you took this), bch210, and bio250 are enough?</p>
<p>Couple of things. Scratch my Biochem subject test idea. I looked it over in closer detail soon after posting my question and you are absolutely right. I don't have the background solid enough and I don't want to review that stuff. I did just go through the practice Biology subject GRE from the ETS website, obviously in longer than 170 min that's normally given, but without <strong><em>any</em></strong> reviewing of any material (a mix of BIO150 (quite a bit actually!) and BIO250, some BCH210, PSL302 and HMB265), and I just got 79%ile, so I think I'm sticking with this one! </p>
<p>All of the programs I'm thinking of applying to either recommend or <em>strongly</em> recommend the subject test (Yale and Rockefeller sites say "strongly"). Others say recommended/optional. Believe me, I wouldn't be cracking open my bio150 notes and paying the cash if I didn't think it would be useful. I just looked at Cornell (though haven't thought about about applying here), and their neuro program actually requires the Bio GRE, surprisingly. </p>
<p>Now, <em>why</em> would they give a crap? I don't know. I mean, the bio subject test covers pretty basic knowledge (+ a bunch of plant stuff :S), but it is not neuro-related at all (minus the 1 or 2 questions about the neuron!). So, I don't know! I can't recall which sites said it, but I recall reading something along the lines of "take the subject test in which you think you'll score the best at". Especially since people come into neuroscience from a lot of different backgrounds (psych, computer sci, biochem, etc.)</p>
<p>I get the sense that you really don't want to do the Subject GRE. You know what, just do it. Just study for it, and write it and get it over with - whether it is required, or recommended (albeit, do well too!). I think it can only strengthen your application, especially since I'm assuming the Biochem subject GRE is a lot more relevant to your degree than the Bio is to my degree.</p>
<p>Do the subject test only if your gpa is weak, or if you come from a low rank school. Otherwise, save yourself time for more important activities, such as research.</p>
<p>Well safetypin has a very high GPA and goes to University of Toronto so I don't see the use of the subject test unless particular depts say it is required.</p>