posted
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.
-------------------- Great is the guilt of an unnecessary war. ~ohn Adams
Once again the Bush Administration is worse than I had imagined, even though I thought I had already taken account of the fact that the Bush administration is invariably worse than I can imagine. ~Brad DeLong
You're just babbling incoherently. ~C. Montgomery Burns
Registered: Mar 1999
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posted
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)
-------------------- When you're in the Sol system, come visit the Starfleet Museum
Registered: Oct 1999
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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....
-------------------- "You are a terrible human, Ritten." Magnus "Urgh, you are a sick sick person..." Austin Powers A leek too, pretty much a negi.....
Registered: Sep 2000
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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.
-------------------- "The best defense is not a good offense. The best defense is a terrifyingly accurate and devastatingly powerful offense, with multiply-overlapping kill zones and time-on-target artillery strikes." -- Laurence, Archangel of the Sword
Registered: Mar 1999
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posted
TO quote John Wayne in The Searchers, "that 'll be the day."
-------------------- Great is the guilt of an unnecessary war. ~ohn Adams
Once again the Bush Administration is worse than I had imagined, even though I thought I had already taken account of the fact that the Bush administration is invariably worse than I can imagine. ~Brad DeLong
You're just babbling incoherently. ~C. Montgomery Burns
Registered: Mar 1999
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posted
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....
-------------------- "You are a terrible human, Ritten." Magnus "Urgh, you are a sick sick person..." Austin Powers A leek too, pretty much a negi.....
Registered: Sep 2000
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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?
-------------------- Great is the guilt of an unnecessary war. ~ohn Adams
Once again the Bush Administration is worse than I had imagined, even though I thought I had already taken account of the fact that the Bush administration is invariably worse than I can imagine. ~Brad DeLong
You're just babbling incoherently. ~C. Montgomery Burns
Registered: Mar 1999
| IP: Logged
Cartman
just made by the Presbyterian Church
Member # 256
posted
Hey, congrats. Now get thee to a pub and celebrate. B)
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted
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.
-------------------- "It speaks to some basic human needs: that there is a tomorrow, it's not all going to be over with a big splash and a bomb, that the human race is improving, that we have things to be proud of as humans." -Gene Roddenberry about Star Trek
Registered: May 1999
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