When is the best time to take the G.R.E's?

Question

I'm a sophomore in a 4 yr. university and I've trying to figure this one out. I know the graduate schools that I would like to apply to require that you take this examination. So when would be the best time to start preparing for it and when should I actually take the test. Also are they like the SAT's in the sense that, does it look bad to the graduate school if you take them more than once?

Answer 1

VERY SMART to plan ahead on this, so props to you. I would recommend studying to take it near the end of this year or beginning of next year. That will let you have plenty of opportunity to retake it if you don't do so well (btw I don't think Universities really care about how many times you take either the SAT or the GRE, since they aren't the most important part of the application anyways). I would aim to take it near this end of this year/beginning of next year for the first time, late next year for the second time and if there needs to be a third, make it no later than October of your senior year. If you need to take a subject test, it's good to take that more than once also (or at least leave the option open) so maybe November of your junior year for the first time taking the subject test, April of your junior year for the second time, and November of your senior year for the third. That should give you plenty of time to get high scores, though truth be told they're probably the least important aspect of a graduate application.

While on the subject, it wouldn't be a bad idea to consider doing a research project (or something of the kind) with a professor in the field you want to do graduate work in. That will make for a GREAT recommendation letter and would give you great experience in the field (which are the two most important aspects of the graduate admissions process). Good luck!!!

Answer 2

Look at when the application deadlines are for the schools that you're thinking about. Many PhD program deadlines are in December. MA program (usually schools that don't offer a PhD in that field) have deadlines in February or have rolling admissions. I would take GREs no later than October of your senior year, and you may want to go as early as September if the deadline is in December. You could take them as early as late in your junior year. I really don't think that I'd do them earlier than that. If you're unhappy with how you do, do some prep and take them again. However, I would not take them more than twice. Among other things, they are just not that big a factor in most admission decisions and are just too expensive to keep taking!

A lot of people do prep courses. The GRE people will send you a cd with practice tests on it. However, I found that when I took them during my senior year I did very well without any prep. I didn't go to grad school then (didn't graduate then, actually). Years later I did some prep work, nothing intensive, and took them. I did not do as well, but did well enough to get into both schools that I applied to - one with competitive admissions, one without.