<p>International to-be applicant here. :) I have a couple of questions about the GRE Subject test.</p>
<ol>
<li>The first application deadlines are the beginning of December. ETS says they send out results 6 weeks after the test date which would work if I take the mid-October one. Can I rely on them to send them out within those 6 weeks?</li>
<li>Some program descriptions I found say things like "the GRE subject test is not required/is optional/is not required but recommended". Is that a subtle hint that I should submit the results? </li>
</ol>
<ol>
<li><p>I think the mid-October one is fine for December dates. That’s what I did and I had no problems with score reports.</p></li>
<li><p>I took this to mean that you submit if you have a “good” score, but what “good” means seems to be debatable.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>hi robbi702,
check the ets website for approximate date on which you will be mailed your score reports.you will be able to get your scores by phone 10 days before it is available for view online.
for ex. i took my test on nov13 and found out my scores by phone on dec13.and 10 days later it was posted in my greaccount.since most online applications have space for you to enter your subject scores you should be able to enter them since you are planning your sub test for an oct date,even though the institutions you apply to may receive them at a later date.if you score high it will be an asset,especially for internationals.</p>
<p>i took the Subject test in October, and received the score end of November, which still left enough time to send it to all schools - although it is ok for most schools to receive the GRE scores after the deadline.</p>
<p>As an international applicant myself, I would recommend to you to take the subject test. If you did your undergrad at a not so well-known institution, the subject test is a way to show the adcomms that you are proficient in your field.</p>
<p>The subject test may not be so easy, however, it is up to you to send the scores - if you score high, it can only help your application, if you don’t perform so well, simply do not send it (I think NOT taking the test will not hugely impact your chances, to be honest).</p>
<p>Thanks a bunch, guys. So I’ll take the subject test then. Actually I am more worried about the general test though. I’m in an undergrad biomedical science program and think I am well prepared for the Biochem GRE but not so sure about the general one. </p>
<p>Ash, any recommendations on how to prepare for the general test as a non-native speaker?</p>
<p>The only special preparation I did (for the Biology subject test though) was to study some language specific terms, e.g. tissue names. After all, the connection between “Schilddrüse” and thyroid gland is not that obvious. Otherwise just do a general review of all possible contents, do the practice test on the ETS website to determine which areas you have trouble with, and focus on them.</p>
<p>Thanks. Like I said, I am not at all worried about the subject test. I took anatomy classes (it’s glandula thyroidea in Latin), spent a year at an American university, use many English-speaking textbooks and research papers so I am not concerned about not knowing any technical terms.</p>
<p>It is rather the general test that bugs me. I’ve heard it is hard even for Americans so I am not sure how to prepare?</p>
I am a nonnative speaker and my weakest point was vocabulary. I did my undergraduate degree in the US so I was good on everyday English as well as technical science terms, but I did not know any of those fancy words you only see in the literature. (I freely admit that I am not a big reader.)</p>
<p>Going through Sparknotes’ 1000 Words for the SAT raised my verbal GRE score significantly (by 100-150 points, judging from my Power Prep runs). I consciously chose this word list over the various GRE vocab lists because it contained more of the unfamiliar terms on the two Power Prep exams. And I am happy with the choice I made :)</p>
<p>Submit one. All international students who did not do their undergrad in the US are at a significant disadvantage in the graduate application process due to a lack of undergrad recognition. You have to show that you have the brain power. However, Americans and international students who schooled in the US tend to score lower on GRE subject scores though because of the liberal arts curriculum.</p>
<p>However GRE subject tests are really easy. Just do old exams and you should be fine.</p>
<p>I can only second b@r!um’s advice - go through some word lists. I prepared with the Princeton Review, they have a list of the most frequently used GRE words… this list may not be sufficient, though. I learned some more words from Barrons (but by far not the complete list!! I realized it would be impossible to do for me in the time I had left before the exam)…</p>
<p>what is to your advantage, though, is that you will apply to some biomedical PhD programs - same as me. These programs put a lot more weight on your quantitative score, which - fortunately - you can improve more easily. again, I studied with the Princeton Review, which proved to be very helpful! Good luck!!</p>
<p>What if the subject test is not mentioned at all on the admissions website? Should I still submit it?
Also, does anyone know when registration becomes available for October 2011? Right now the latest date they have listed is April.</p>
<p>Thanks for the book recommendation ash! I was not sure whether to get Kaplan or Princeton Review (or the official ETS guide) but I think I’ll go for Princeton.</p>
It won’t hurt to submit them if your scores are strong. If your scores are weak and you would prefer not to submit them, I would ask the program whether or not they require scores; just in case you missed the relevant section of their application instructions. In my experience programs in fields with a Subject GRE are very explicit about whether or not they require scores.</p>
<p>
ETS operates on an academic year schedule. In past years the test dates for the next academic year were posted in June and I would assume that registration opens at that time as well. (Found the dates using the Web Archive.)</p>