I arrived at a nondescript office building and proceeded to the suite of Prometric Testing Services. There I showed my ID and received a key to a locker, where I was to put all my belongings, including my watch. The only thing I could keep was my ID and the locker key.
When my name was called I went into a glass office that looked into the testing room. There a nice lady looked at my ID again, asked me for the last 4 digits of my phone number and took my picture. Then things got a little TSA. She asked me to pull out my pockets, stick my finger in the tiny front pocket, and turn around so she could see me put my hands in my back pockets. Next I walked over to an X - I assume this special spot was visible to cameras - and she used a wand on me to scan for metal objects. The whole place was rigged with cameras.
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| Via |
I had to sign in: 12:42 pm. After that I was allowed into the test room, which had about 16 cubicles with computers. She provided me with yellow headphones, like you see on people at the airports directing the planes into the gates. I appreciated those because I did not want to be distracted by the sound of sobs or heads hitting keyboards. She also provided me with pencils and a pink booklet of scratch paper. I had to trade it in for another one during the test. You can't have more than one at a time.
Once the test loaded my picture popped up on the screen for me to confirm that I was taking the test meant for me. I had been resting my chin on my hand while I was at the desk, so my picture had the look of a 1990s Glamour Shot sans the feather boa and bad makeup. I started cracking up when I saw it - a good way to start a 4 hour test I think.
Essays were first, one where I had to argue for or against mandating parental volunteering at schools. Then I had to analyze an argument about whether or not a college should build new dorms. My essays were good. The rest of the test alternated between quantitative and verbal.
I knew I would not get through all the quantitative, so my strategy was to give all questions a "B" or the second answer, just so everything had an answer and I didn't have to scramble at the end to make sure I didn't skip one. (Wrong answers don't count against you on the GRE.)
I did the data analysis and geometry first since I got most of those right during practice, then I worked through the rest. For the probability problems I was like, "How the fuck am I supposed to know?" B. I'm in the 40th percentile in quantitative, but only 2 points below the average score, so I don't feel bad, and it's not like I'm going to graduate school for theoretical physics.
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| Don't worry about me. I'm hunched over from GRE prep! |
The test took me exactly 4 hours, including my 10 minute break. When I came back from the break, I had to do the pocket search and the wand again. I felt like telling the lady she should at least buy me dinner.
I refused to let this test stress me out. I stressed one night while I was studying, but I said no more. If graduate school causes me undue stress, I'm going to lower my class load. I am striving for a low stress lifestyle.
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| This is the best fake smile ever |
Overall it was an ok experience, but I'm glad to have it over. The GRE completes my application, so I'll be waiting to hear if the program wants to interview me.
