I Took the GRE for the First and Last Time

Kaplan GRE Comprehensive Program 2007-2008 Edition

Kaplan GRE Exam 2007-2008 Edition

Kaplan GRE Premier Program 2008 Edition

The Princton Review Cracking the GRE With DVD

The Princeton Review Math Workout for the New GRE 2^nd Edition

The Princeton Review 1,014 Practice Questions for the New GRE 2^nd Edition

Weight: 12.5 lbs

Method of Disposal: Selling or donating two revised editions and recycling all the rest since they pertain to the old test

It would seem, if you looked at this list, that I was well prepared for my GRE.  You would also wonder why I had so many books that were so similar.  I inherited the 2007-2008 editions from several people.  I purchased the two New GRE books and a couple of vocab drills for my Kindle.  Yes, I have a Kindle.  I really did not study a lot and there are still a lot of untainted drills if you need a few study guides.

The GRE was not as painful for me as it is for some other people because I did not go in with a score in mind that I had to get.  I did not go in there with the knowledge of which grad schools I really wanted to go to.  I was just trying to take the baby step in the grad school direction.  I even enjoyed the absurd security measures.  They make you sign a statement, in cursive, about their policies.  Then, they take a picture of you, have you pull out your pockets, use a metal detector wand on you, get you to sign in and out with your id, and every move you make is filmed.  I felt like I was doing something of the utmost importance.

Of course, with great relaxation and little worry comes a price.  I did not do all that well on my almost 4 hour long exam.  I will not take it again.  I feel like I got the same score on the practice tests before I ever studied anything.  I could not see an improvement, and I will be happy to never see another math problem again. 

I was and am feeling a little hard on myself but, luckily, I have an amazing friend who dropped me off and picked me up at the testing center.  She took me straight to a whiskey and a coke where we made “friends” with a married, childrened man “desperate for adult conversation.”  When that got old and the third person to our party arrived, we left for Flux.  

I was just glad she was there, my most influential cheerleader, so that I did not have too much time to dwell on my scores and over think what they mean to my life.  Thank you, Friend.