<p>When would be a good time to take the GRE if I plan to apply for Ph. D programs and various fellowships this fall?</p>
<p>late summer if you have summers off... (gives you alot of time to study and such) otherwise just take it 6-8 weeks before the scores are due to ensure they are not messed up, and if they are you can fix them..
If you worry about needing to retake it, then give yourself even longer before scores are due.</p>
<p>i took it in october of the fall that I was applying. I had no intention of retaking it though no matter what my scores were b/c it costs waaaaaay too much. However, I had literally no time to study for it due to my classes (and summer laziness) so I probably could have done better if I took it during the summer or a couple weeks into school. You also need to keep in mind where the test centers are. The closest one to my school was about an hour away and I didn't want to drive all the way out there, so I waited until my fall break to take it in my neighborhood at home.</p>
<p>I'd do it very early fall or late summer if possible. There are some fellowships and school applications which are due pretty early (November or so), so you want to be sure everything is ready by then.</p>
<p>I didn't do much studying when I took mine and did fine, but I suppose if I had taken them over the summer when I had some more free time I might have at least looked over the math to know what kind of problems to expect.</p>
<p>Late summer looks like the time most people have recommended to me. It gives you the summer to study for it, but still lets you get it out of the way before you start getting distracted with classes and the actual application process.</p>
<p>This might be different if you have to take a subject GRE as well. I know I do, and it's only offered 3 times a year -- two of which are October/November. The sooner I get done studying for and taking the GRE, the sooner I can buckle down for the subject exam...</p>
<p>I have a question about this as well. If I'm not planning on applying to grad school right away (taking a year or two off first) but want to take the GRE while still in school, can I go ahead and send it to schools I'm interested in and take advantage of the free slots, so as to not have to pay for each one after my break? Or will they just throw them out after a while anyway and I should just wait til later to send all the scores?</p>
<p>You can wait. You don't have to use up your free slots right away I don't think. Call to be sure.</p>
<p>I would NOT count on any graduate program to retain your scores for a year or two. There are too many potential ways for administrators at both the administrative level (Graduate School) and departmental level to lose them. Send them when you apply, not before.</p>
<p>I took it in september. Just make sure you have adequately prepared, or else you are wasting your money, and make sure you have time to take it again before apps are do, just in case</p>