So, how's the studying going?

[pkkim]

I'm definitely in for the April test...which is less than one week away.

Does anyone have any "last words" of wisdom?

[phinlit]

Good luck. Relax. In the room I took the test, they allowed water bottles and even bags, if stowed under the desk. If I were to do it again, I would bring a water bottle and little snack bar for a short break and just toss 'em out if they aren't allowed. Desk was small with enough room for the answer sheet and a couple of pencil. Where I had practiced, I has lots of room to spread out. Don't know if any of that helps.

[pkkim]

Did anyone else take The Test today?

I finished early and felt OK about it at the time but (of course) hours later (when it won't do any good, of course) I can't get the "problem" questions out of my head.

[bluewhisky]

hi! im new here....i just did my GRE lit subject test yesterday...and to quote somebody else on this forum...i feel like ive been in a car wreck!
thot i'd done 'ok-ish' until i started thinking about the questions and my answers and it suddenly seems like EVERYTHING is wrong! (
i left about 20 questions...is that bad?
im still reeling!

I'm definitely in for the April test...which is less than one week away.

Does anyone have any "last words" of wisdom?

[phinlit]

BlueWhiskey....Now it's just waiting. I remember swinging back and forth between must've done okay because I was relaxed, to must've bombed because I might not have been focused enough. In the end it was okay.

I think the trick now is to find something to take your mind off of the test for a month.

20 questions left at the end in itself isn't bad. Just depends on the rest of the test. On the test in December, I made it to the end but I'm sure I left more than 20 unanswered throughout the test.

Anyway...good luck pkkim, bluewhiskey and everyone that tested this weekend!

Ain't no more problem questions. The test is over. Go see a good movie and escape.

[bluewhisky]

thanks so much phinlit...feel much better!
yup youre right...now i shall spend my time catching up on all the reading for fun i couldnt do for the past few months..starting with Don Quixote.

cheers!

[pkkim]

Thanks, everyone! I feel much better just reading about your experiences.

Over the few days following, I began to recall my performance, which felt OK when I walked out of the test room, as steadily worse and worse. Regrets mounted: I should have studied critical theory more or grammatical analysis or....STOP the insanity!

1) Thanks to you all, I now see this "post test remorse" as normal.

2) I also realize I can actually read something just because I want to for the first time in months.

3) Plus, this test does indeed feel like a car wreck. For future aspiring testers: Do not schedule anything else of importance where you might need your fully functioning brain for the week before or the week after.

[bluewhisky]

hi everyone...seems relatively quiet (on the western front!)

I have just about gottne over doing the subject test...completely agree with pkkim..do not schedule any other important events for at least a week/2 weeks after your exam..its sooo mentally exhausting!

I was wondering...does it make sense to do the test one more time if youre not too happy with your scores...as in does it help to be used to the paper as such?
I'm applying for Fall 2007..so i guess November isnt too late to do it once more!

BUT most importantly..hope everyone waiting for their scores are doing well and happy

[cridamour]

Keep us updated when the scores come in! I know a lot of you are taking the test for undergrad credit, but for those who took it to apply to lit programs next Fall, feel free to contact me for any questions at all about applications. I've gone through the whole thing twice (once successfully ) and have learnt a great deal about applying. There aren't many lit people in this forum (if any, apart from me, actually...), and I know I could've done with some more advice...
I didn't take the Subject Test (turned out to be a waste of time for Comp Lit programs) but I could answer (or at least try to answer) all sorts of questions about LORs, which (and how many) schools to apply to, SOP, funding, other specific requirements, etc. for lit programs in general or for Comp Lit.
Good luck to those gearing up for Fall 2007 applications! There's no time like the present to get started!

[bluewhisky]

hi cridamour!

Thanks for offering help & advice...I have been scouting around trying to find people applying for Graduate programs in Lit...and so far havent had any luck!

Do have a couple of questions I'm hoping you could help with....first of all, HOW MANY univs should one ideally apply to? I'm thinking about 10! Spacing it out...NYU, Stanford, Columbia, Boston, UCLA, Michigan, UPenn, Cornell, Brown, U of Chicago, Berkeley...I am interested in Modernist Lit and they all have excellent english depts.

Is three letters of recommendation enough? 2-3 pages for an SOP?

Oh dear...i hope it doesnt sound like im maching-gunning you with questions...I'm just so happy there's someone around who can help!

My scores should be out anytime in the next couple of weeks..and im nervous all over again I do have to get very good scores for the places im applying to...ulp!

Do reply when you have the time.and once again....thanks ever so much!