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.

Textbook Bundle/Borders Closing

Abnormal Psychology in a Changing World by Nevid, Rathus, and Greene
Globe Literature by Globe Book Company
Gilbert’s Living With Art by Mark Gelten
An Introduction to Modern Philosophy: Examining the Human Condition by Castell and Borchert
Paso a Paso 1 by Scott Foresman
Weight: 17 lbs
Method of Disposal: Donating or giving away

I have chosen this collection of books for a variety of reasons, the main one being that all together they are very heavy. I chose them, by weight, out of guilt. See, the thing is, well, Borders is going out of business, and I got an e-mail today saying that everything was 60-80% off. I thought I would just drop by to say good b ye to the big ol’ beast. I’m getting rid of all my books so there would be no reason to buy more. Maybe I could get some stationary or a journal. And, all of the sudden, I left with 4.5 lbs of books, despite myself. Don’t worry, I will give them away too. They were just so cheap, and I was overcome. I was not thinking clearly, I guess. I know I should have just gone to the library but…
The Great Penguin Rescue: ( Come on!—inserted by me) 40,000 Penguins, a Devestating Oil Spill, and the Inspiring Story of the World’s Largest Animal Rescue. How could I resist the world’s largest rescue of my favorite animal or a fiction book acclaimed by Deb Olin Unferth?

Whatever. I do not need to justify myself any further.

A very brief history of the textbook bundle:
I have carried around Abnormal Psychology since I went off to college. It was one of my mom’s old textbooks. Globe literature must have come from a garage sale, but it looks like a book you would use in middle school. Living with Art has a three dollar sticker on it, but I do not know if I bought it or if it came from someone else. Paso a Paso is from high school. It was the book used in the Spanish Classes. It was the school’s property, but I am not the one who stole it. I inherited it. I took Français anyway. The Modern Philosophy book was found outside of a professor’s office at NC State in Raleigh. It was free to a good home and so I took it. I was visiting Tracy, and I lugged it all around town and then back home.

Another reason am letting these books go is because it is September 1st, and I am 29 days away from taking the GRE. My brain is on ridiculous standardized testing and on whether or not I will ever get up the courage to go to grad school. Where would I even go? It seemed appropriate to choose scholastic books. I will be much lighter now and that much closer to leaving for school again?