<p>Mods: I know that I could post this in the GRE category, but I opened a couple of threads and they turned mean quick! I hope you'll let this stay here.</p>
<p>Ds is a senior in college and has no idea what he wants to do after college. He's leaning toward just looking for a job, but he's taking my suggestion of using his five-week winter break to study and then take the GRE, just to have it in the back pocket should he decide grad school is in his future.</p>
<p>The plan is to study every day over the break and then take it the week between Christmas and New Year's. Any reason that's a bad idea? I figure as a senior in college he's kind of at the top of his game, academically, so he won't need tons of prep. Is a month of everyday studying not enough?</p>
<p>xiggi, you're method worked great for my kids on the SAT. Any advice???</p>
<p>That’s why I’m asking. I guess we thought he was behind? If not, that’s great to hear!</p>
<p>Also, FYI, he usually works during this six-week break, but this year the way it falls it’s only five weeks so he’s not working. The thinking was that studying for the GRE would be his “job” this break. He seems quite motivated to put the work in, but maybe it’s less work than he realizes?</p>
<p>Most of my friends and I did minimal studying for the GREs. Honestly the best prep is learning what sort of essays are wanted in each essay section, a refresher on the math that will be covered (even if he’s an engineer, it’s likely there will be some stuff he hasn’t seen since middle or high school), and just understanding the format of the rest of the test. I feel like five weeks worth of studying, for a part of the application which isn’t weighted that much, is just overkill.</p>
<p>This may be my favorite thread ever. All going my way.</p>
<p>I took the GRE about 10 years ago. I have a GRE for Dummies book from 2002. Has the test changed significantly since then? I’m wondering whether to just have him use this this book rather than buy another.</p>
<p>The GRE has changed significantly since 2002. I highly recommend buying a new book. </p>
<p>If he’s pretty good at standardized tests, then he should be able to do fine on the GRE with some review and working through a prep book. He can take a practice test (ETS, I believe, offers two free electronic old GRE tests for download on their website) and get an idea for how much studying he needs to do. It differs widely between people so it’ll depend largely on him.</p>
<p>He’s better than your average bear at standardized tests (superscored 2200+ on the SAT) but doesn’t knock them out of the park. I’ll toss out this book, get a new one and stop worrying about it. He may not even use this GRE. I have a feeling he’s going to get certified to teach when he moves back home, but he could still get a master’s while getting his teaching credential; that’s what his dad did. In that case, he still needs a GRE.</p>
<p>Thanks, everyone, including the mods, for leaving my question in the friendly confines of the Parents Forum.</p>
He may not even use this GRE. I have a feeling he’s going to get certified to teach when he moves back home, but he could still get a master’s while getting his teaching credential; that’s what his dad did. In that case, he still needs a GRE.</p>