the gre measures problem solving ability. especially on the math portion. if you apply to a Phd. program in a biological field, they dont really even look at your reading score. problem solving is a big part of research so thats why they need a gre. in all honesty, the gre is just a benchmark stat. as long as you reach the unis threshold, they put u in the "in" pile and look at the other, more important stuff. major gpa, research experience, recommendations. at least thats how we do it.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Remember the String of Ears
"to the worm in horseradish, the world is horseradish."
the gre measures problem solving ability. especially on the math portion. if you apply to a Phd. program in a biological field, they dont really even look at your reading score. problem solving is a big part of research so thats why they need a gre. in all honesty, the gre is just a benchmark stat. as long as you reach the unis threshold, they put u in the "in" pile and look at the other, more important stuff. major gpa, research experience, recommendations. at least thats how we do it.
The way it's done here, basically, is that my Molecular Biology supervisor really likes me, so he told me to contact his friend in FSU. I did, he told me to do the GRE, tell him which professor/specific field I want to get in, and he'll pull some strings if I get a decent GRE score. I don't even have research experience, at least not the type that they require, I believe. Thing is, the doctor who is my supervisor knows that I work my ass off more than anybody else in my class, and that I'm miles smarter (both book smart and in communicating with people and all that) than any in my class, even if several have higher grades (they study daily and a LOT. I study a day before an exam..2 if it's a final or something). Hell, I went in to give my Parasitology oral exam, missed like 4 questions because I was utterly sleep deprived (an exam which I almost missed because I fell asleep in the conference room), and I still got a pat on the back and a high grade. I'm just awesome like that.
It's harder to get in without research experience, but it isn't impossible, if you're given the right nudge by a doctor you know who works there and happens to know a lot of people in high places.
GRE was the easiest test I ever took. I didn't take it seriously (studied for MAYBE 2 weeks) and got top percentile in math and pretty descent in verbal (I was a neuroscience major so screw english).
That being said, my friend gave me the BEST advice for taking the exam: if you don't know the answer to a question? make an EDUCATED guess asap and move on; don't linger.
Each question you get correct makes the exam get progressively more difficult... so if you get that question wrong, you waste less time and it scales down the difficulty for the following questions. It's win/win to make the best use of your time and get the most points possible.
Man, I remember this thread! It was way back before I knew that I got a 1300 on my GRE when the requirement for the university I applied to is 1100. Man, good times!
I mean, how the hell is an exam that is consisted of high school math (which I haven't seen in the passed 3 or 4 years) and English vocabulary and comprehension (which I don't even have the time to get used to the style it's put up in), supposed to predict how successful I'm going to be in my pursuit of a PhD in a completely and utterly irrelevant field? There's a molecular biology/biochemistry GRE, yet the university I want to apply to wants the regular, math and English one. What the fuck? This is completely dumb.
They need a hoop for you to jump through that has a statistical correlation to real world success...so it serves it's function.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
"to the worm in horseradish, the world is horseradish."
*Being a nice guy may or may not have anything to do with it. May actually reflect my marks in my honours degree.
The way it's done here, basically, is that my Molecular Biology supervisor really likes me, so he told me to contact his friend in FSU. I did, he told me to do the GRE, tell him which professor/specific field I want to get in, and he'll pull some strings if I get a decent GRE score. I don't even have research experience, at least not the type that they require, I believe. Thing is, the doctor who is my supervisor knows that I work my ass off more than anybody else in my class, and that I'm miles smarter (both book smart and in communicating with people and all that) than any in my class, even if several have higher grades (they study daily and a LOT. I study a day before an exam..2 if it's a final or something). Hell, I went in to give my Parasitology oral exam, missed like 4 questions because I was utterly sleep deprived (an exam which I almost missed because I fell asleep in the conference room), and I still got a pat on the back and a high grade. I'm just awesome like that.
Doing a PhD with no research experience... ot oh spaghetioOOooooOO I smell trouble!! Well unless your planning on doing a coursework based PhD.
That being said, my friend gave me the BEST advice for taking the exam: if you don't know the answer to a question? make an EDUCATED guess asap and move on; don't linger.
Each question you get correct makes the exam get progressively more difficult... so if you get that question wrong, you waste less time and it scales down the difficulty for the following questions. It's win/win to make the best use of your time and get the most points possible.
They need a hoop for you to jump through that has a statistical correlation to real world success...so it serves it's function.