<p>I'm planning to take the GRE in the middle of November. I'm sure that is plenty of time to practice. But is that too late for graduate school. Many of the programs I'm thinking about applying to has deadlines in between Dec 1-15.</p>
<p>The GRE has changed since I took it, but if it has an analytical writing component, or something similar that has to be graded by a human, then middle of November is way too late. You should take it preferably before you start the Fall term, but no later than the end of September. I took mine the last day before fall quarter at UC Davis, and had my scores in time to meet the December 15th deadline.</p>
<p>Actually I took mine during the Thanksgiving break, and the scores were in on time for Dec 15th deadlines.</p>
<p>online scores take 10-15 days. written scores take longer. So if you take the gre on the 24th of Nov, then you still have 3 weeks until the december 15 deadline. I think that’s what I’m doing. $175 is pretty hefty price to do it twice.</p>
<p>First, it takes about two weeks for GRE scores to be sent to the schools, so if you have at least two weeks between taking the exam and submitting the application you should be fine regardless.</p>
<p>Second, most departments only have a hard deadling for the application package itself - they know that you do not control when GRE scores and LOR’s are sent out, and as long as they have them in hand before they actually start parsing apps you are generally fine. This winds up meaning that they will usually accept scores taken up to the application deadline, even if it takes a few weeks to get the scores sent out. Remember that application deadlines are usually followed by the end of fall term and the start of winter holidays, so those applications sit there for a few weeks before anyone is going to touch them.</p>
<p>Finally, I would always give yourself a 1 month cushion just in case. While most people will not need a second attempt, you should always leave space for one. If you are sick the day of the exam, or something catches you by surprise, or something else throws you off your game that day, you want the possibility for a do-over, damn the expense.</p>