So, I'm thinking about going back to school. I'm going to apply to the Master�s of Library and Information Science (MLIS) program at the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA).
That�s all well and good. I, apparently along with many of their other students, see this program as a change of career opportunity. It seems that most of their students are in their 30's or 40's (your humble poster is now 35). But....
But!
But, I have to take the dreaded Graduate Records Examination (GRE). Oi!
The GRE is comprised of three sections; verbal, math and analytical.
I think I have a fairly wide ranging vocabulary, so while the verbal section of the test makes me stand up and take notice, it does not frighten me so very much. Not so much, save for the one caveat, this being this is a library program, I�d better do pretty well on this section. So I�ve got the flash cards going which include such words as:
Acarpous Chary Ennui Inchoate Refulgent
And so forth and so on.
The analytical section, again, isn�t a section keeping me up nights. In fact, some of the best practice to be had has been arguing with you blokes. So, save for some spelling issues, I think I�m ok here. But....
But!
But the math section. Oi! The math pathways in my brain have closed off after years of non-use. We�re not talking hard stuff here either. It is apparently 10th grade level stuff. But, you do the math, I�m 35, how many years has it been since I�ve been in the 10th grade? Needless to say, the givers of the test, the Educational (Evil) Testing Service (ETS) likes to hide simple math in difficult wording. My task is to get through that wording, find out what�s really being asked of me, and then solve the problem. But of course, like most standardized tests, there is a time limit and the average time for each question, especially on the math portion, is, for a non-math-doer like myself, painfully short.
And don�t get me started on how bit of a racket this whole thing is!
So, what�s a fellow to do. Why study of course. Which is what I plan to do. More so than posting.
See, I could have written down another dozen words on flash cards in the time it took to write this.
Posted by Ultra Magnus (Member # 239) on :
Well, here's hoping you Make The GREade!
Posted by Masao (Member # 232) on :
I took the GRE almost 20 years ago as part of a plan B, in case my academic plan A didn't work out. I didn't study at all, since I figured I had already studied for the scientifically more rigorous MCAT, had two years of advanced math in college, and had done well on the verbal part of the SAT 4 years earlier. Anyway, I was completely unprepared for the analytical part and did pretty bad on it. All these questions about people standing on stairs ahead of each other and their relationships and characteristics. Yikes! Happily, Plan A worked out, so I didn't have to rely on Plan B.
Good luck! (I don't have any useful advice)
Posted by Ritten (Member # 417) on :
quote:Originally posted by Ultra Magnus: Well, here's hoping you Make The GREade!
You are also a terrible person....
Good luck to you Jay....
Posted by Nim (Member # 205) on :
I hate math. Math ought to shampoo my crotch, and schampoo it good.
Posted by Alshrim Dax (Member # 258) on :
Amen ...
2+2 = 22 right??
Posted by Styrofoaman (Member # 706) on :
Only for Special Very Large Values of 2... that was covered in 9th grade.
quote:Originally posted by Alshrim Dax: Amen ...
2+2 = 22 right??
Posted by Nim (Member # 205) on :
Posted by First of Two (Member # 16) on :
Make sure you score at least 2000.
And of course, I'll be sure to contact the faculty and write you a shining letter of reccommendation.
Whether you want me to or not. Posted by Jay the Obscure (Member # 19) on :
TO quote John Wayne in The Searchers, "that 'll be the day." Posted by Ritten (Member # 417) on :
I noticed B&N has a lot of GRE bibles, for idoit's and dummies...
Is there a Star Trek for Dummies, and if not, should we write and publish it....
Posted by Jay the Obscure (Member # 19) on :
Done.
Over with.
Finished.
I took the dreaded GRE yesterday, a near 4 hour process, and I'm still around to talk about it. Although not too loudly since I had to sign a non-disclosure agreement. Like I care, I�ll just come out and say it, gainsay was one of the antonyms!
Take that ETS!
However, in the end, ETS has the last laugh, and $125 of mine. I guess formerly mine is more correct.
Anyway, the scores:
Verbal - 680 Math - 520
Not too bad on the verbal. The math is serviceable. Percentile rankings later.
The writing sections now go to the readers for grading although I think I did a pretty good job on them.
Did I mention I was done with this horrid process??
Anyone want GRE books or flash cards?
Posted by Cartman (Member # 256) on :
Hey, congrats. Now get thee to a pub and celebrate. B)
Posted by Grokca (Member # 722) on :
Are those scores, out of 1000? Congrats on getting it over with.
Posted by Fleet-Admiral Michael T. Colorge (Member # 144) on :
Damn, I didn't know Jay that you live in Los Angeles County also... and that you want to be a Bruin.
I don't know what's worse though since I'm taking the LSAT this coming spring. I am about ready to puke.
Posted by Balaam Xumucane (Member # 419) on :
Congratulations, Jay, and well done.
Posted by Jay the Obscure (Member # 19) on :
Thank you.
The scores are based on a scale where 800 is the highest and 200 is the lowest.
The verbal score shuld do well enough, depending on the percentile rank. The math, well let's just say that part way through the process, I found out that the math wasn't as important, so the math score is what it is.
I'm just glad it is over with.
Michael, my advice is, if you've got the cash, take a course. Start studying now and take as many practice exams as you can. And good luck when it comes up.
Posted by Toadkiller (Member # 425) on :
I would agree on the course, took one prior to my GRE and it helped. Now I find myself faced with taking the stinking test again though. I'm thinking of going back to school (another degree) and they tell me my test has "expired".
Posted by Jay the Obscure (Member # 19) on :
Yeah, that's how they get you. It's like the academic version of the mafia.
Posted by Jack_Crusher (Member # 696) on :
quote:Originally posted by Nim: I hate math. Math ought to shampoo my crotch, and schampoo it good.
Amen. Unfortunately, as an Economics major, I would have to take precalculus, elementary stats., applied calculus, and it has been recommended that I also take plain calc. 1. Math sucks. If I had trouble with simple highschool geometry, then what hope is there for me in calculus? Of course as fate would have it, I wanted to do the things that require math like engineering or the sciences (and to a smaller extent Economics, but I like it much better than those things), but I got the verbal and written expression genes in the family. My sister however, has gotten all of the logical and math genes in the family, although she wants to be a lawyer which would more so require my skills. Oh what a tangled web we weave.
Posted by Jay the Obscure (Member # 19) on :
The answer to my aplication:
quote:Dear Mr. Webb:
Thank you for applying to graduate study at UCLA. We regret to inform you that you were not admitted.
I feel like a deflated baloon.
Posted by Omega (Member # 91) on :
They have pills for that.
Sorry, man.
Posted by Malnurtured Snay (Member # 411) on :
Don't give up, Jay. Take another course, apply again. You will succeed ... if only because they get so damn tired of seeing your application Posted by Toadkiller (Member # 425) on :
Yeah, if at first you don't succeed and all that stuff. What about other programs/schools? They each have their own admission quirks....
Posted by Cartman (Member # 256) on :
"I feel like a deflated baloon."
Maybe your wife can do something to inflate you again. B)
*ducks*
Posted by Omega (Member # 91) on :
See my prior post for the same joke, but far more subtle. -5 redundant.
Posted by TSN (Member # 31) on :
Well, when I read your joke, I assumed it was just a reference to, say, anti-depression pills. Whereas Cartman's joke was obviously phallic in nature. So, either they were not the same joke, or yours was too subtle.
Posted by Cartman (Member # 256) on :
I did briefly consider the possibility that Omega might have been referring to Viagra, but I just didn't think it was in his character. B)
Posted by Jay the Obscure (Member # 19) on :
Ah, levity. I used to understand and appreciate it.
At the moment, I'm just trying to figure out what happened and why they made the decision they made.
I'm still more than a little bit shocked, because, while I'm clearly not THE best candidate, I thought for sure I'd be in the top 60%...which apparently was the admission % this year.
It's really quite a blow.
Posted by Ultra Magnus (Member # 239) on :
I THOUGHT CARTMEN MEANT TO BLOW UP THE BALLOON
BLOW JOB = BLOW AIR
INTO THE BALLOON A.K.A. JAY"S PENIS
Posted by Ultra Magnus (Member # 239) on :
Also, on a more serious note, rejection is tough, but I suppose (insert addage here).
Seriously, though, you could have been the first guy cut or whatever. So, life's little bumps make the flats even nicer, or somesuch.
Here's to keepin' on keepin' on.
Posted by TSN (Member # 31) on :
And blowjobs.
Posted by PsyLiam (Member # 73) on :
How the hell is anyone giving you blowjobs? They'd have to hire some sort of industrial lifting equipment to get your gut out of the way.
Also, Omega has posted a viagra joke. He hasn't lept to Bush's defence in, like, ages. He is now officially a dirty, horny, left-wing fucker. Hooray!
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