Getting Ready for the Big Exam

July 12, 2019
by Anijah

Admissions

Hi Everyone!

There are ONLY two months left in the last summer of my undergraduate career. In the month since I finished the school year, I have accomplished a lot. However, there is still so much more that I need to do.

In this last month, I have traveled to Paris, worked my normal student job, and also worked in the Occupational Therapy (OT) department. The insight and the relationships that I have formed by working in OT have been invaluable. When I began this summer, I was not sure as to how I would pursue my passion for working in this field (should I take a gap year or immediately pursue a graduate degree in OT). I decided to pursue a graduate degree, with the first step being to take the Graduate Records Exam (GRE).

Before I take the GRE I have decided to prep for the exam. After I decided that I did not want to take a gap year between graduation and the start of OT school, I decided that the summer before my senior year I would study for the exam. Here are some tips I have, as I get ready to take the GRE, for other students that are also preparing to take the GRE:

1. The first step is to select your test date on the official GRE testing website: https://www.ets.org. Depending on how much time you want to give yourself to prep for the exam, you can select the test date and test location on this website.
2. Next is the preparation stage. We all have different ways to study, whether that be listening to an instructor in person, watching videos on topics, or using online tools to help you prepare. I am the type of person who learns better with videos that explain a specific type of question or general idea. For that reason, I choose a GRE prep system that gives me that freedom, and there are a variety of different ones to choose from. I recommend testing out different prep tools to determine what works best for your learning style and time frame for preparation.
3. Now that you have found the right prep course, you can create a study plan that you intend on following. You can either create your own or use ones that are already created. The prep system I use, Magoosh, provides a variety of study plans depending on if you would like to study daily or weekly. You also get to choose if you are studying for only one week or 2-3 months. It is beneficial for someone to have a study plan when reviewing for the GRE because it is a lot of information. The structure of a study plan allows a person not to feel overwhelmed and breakdown topics for the person’s understanding.
4. When developing your study plan build in a cushion. The cushion is because as you go through this process life is still happening; things outside of your plan may need to be handled and you may need to review topics longer than originally anticipated to get a clear understanding. Do not beat yourself up if your plan needs to be adjusted. Without a plan, there is nothing to adjust. That is when it becomes a free fall.
5. Now that you have developed and worked your plan, it is test time. Remember that you are prepared and ready. You Got This!

I hope these tips will help anyone who is thinking about taking the GRE. There are a lot of resources and tools for the GRE that may be beneficial for you. Find the right one for you. As always, Fight On!

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