Forrest

Hi, There is nothing called 'dummy section ' in the GRE. It was once there, but not anymore. Forget it.:)

Hi, I feel you Verbal score is too low to even be considered. Atleast a 500 is needed for such a top ranking Uni. Atleast it could have been compensated by a better QUANT SCORE, given that you are from an Engineering background. A good GRE& TOEFL score with some research experience will stand a good chance even if the candidate is from a relatively new/small college. All the best..

Hi, Social security number or passport is not required to REGISTER for the tests. It is required only on the day of the examination. It is also not required that you should carry a paper copy of the confirmation email that is sent to you. There are instances where you don't even get a confirmation email. No need to panic. An alternative is to seek a confirmation email if you don't get one. You may also call up your test center and confirm your appointment. They do it.

Hi, I suggest you visit the following websites:http://www.gre.org and http://www.toefl.org. If you give a thorough reading of these official websites, you will get a clear outline of these exams. All doubts regarding the registration, cost, test timing, duration, scores, additional score reports, rescheduling and cancelling can be found there. Regarding which exam is necessary and which isn't, and the score which you are expected to get, you will have to contact the Dept/University where you are planning to apply. Others can't answer this. t is a relative concept. Hope it helps..

Hi, I did not work for me once. I tried downloading after a couple of days, and there wasn't any problem. I don't know how. Guess it's got something to do with the website itself. May be you try some time later, if it is not urgent.

Hi Arun, You said you are in your second year. Are you planning to take the GRE now itself?? Or, during your final year? Things are going to be different from Oct 2006 onwards,as the entire GRE pattern and grading is going to change. MWM, the star member of this forum has given you the requisite range of marks, but I think you won't need them if you are going to take your test in the immediate future.

Hi, Test magic is the best...Any fresh news about the new GRE???:)

Hi, If I were in your place, I would call them only if I had doubts that weren't cleared by the email. Or, if I wanted to know something that wasn't mentioned in the official website of the University. You say that they are responding properly. Then why call them without a good reason? Don't worry about the TOEFL. I got 283, and I prepared only for 6 days. No, I am not saying this to boast. I say this to ease any fears that you might have. At the worst, you still will get 260. Coz..you have been preparing for the GRE all these days, haven't you??It will help.Pay extra attention to the RC part of the TOEFL, because I feel it is the only section where you can get a 30 out of 30 without needing any luck or hard work!! Practice a lot of listening too. All do equally well in the grammar part, normally... All the best.. :D

Hi Lamba, Sorry for the late reply. The plan you had initially suggested seems to be perfect. I reiterate my opinion that your plans are not impossible. I do not know the level of your preparation. You seem to be aiming for good universities. I am sure you have zeroed in onto your specific list of universities. Haste makes waste and hurry makes worry. So, don't prepone your GRE just to meet the deadlines. Take the test if you are really confident. As long as your application package reaches within the last date given in the official website of the univesity, you don't need to worry. If the universities were to follow the concept of 'first come first serve' basis, I think the universities would be losing so many excellent students, just as so many good students would be losing excellent universities. We are not getting some free gift hampers, so as to observe the concept of 'first come first serve' basis!! Perhaps, the work culture in some universities might be that they start scrutinising applications as soon as they start recieving them. But, it is their problem, right? Think it this way. Say a particular department in a university takes only 30 students per intake. And, they might recieve 500 applications within the deadline. Are we to understand that guys from the 31st application onwards will be rejected? Nooo.... Pal, I am just giving you my personal reasoning. I am only trying to help you, and I might not be entirely correct. So, don't curse me if something goes wrong... I encourage you to maintain your poise and surge your way through the obstacles..Remember, You miss 100% of the shots you never take...All the best!

Hi, I am just telling you what I know. But am not so sure.. Avg score: 1200 out of 1600; AWA-3.5 out of 6.0. Reqd score for top schools: 1400+in Quant and Verbal;5.0 and above in AWA. One can still get in with a lesser score, atleast in the 2nd rung schools, if there is some research experience etc.. GPA: It is variant, as thousands of candidates from India come from schools/colleges where there is no such system called GPA. Of course, there are formulas to convert it, but I think things have changed. It cannot be used for candidates from any of the Biomedical sciences. So, what use?? Why I say this is that a top ranking university's application form does not have a column for it. Even in the transcripts, they only only dictate the features that transcript should contain, but not a word about the GPA!! I am sure the Indian Ivy league is performing excellently, though I don't know to put it in numbers. Hope this helps.:)

Hi, Does what you say exist? I am hearing it for the first time. I am afraid such a thing is not available. Let's hope...:)

Hi, Since the ETS in on the verge of shifting to the new pattern, it is rare to find candidates getting a 'hidden' experimental section these days. In fact,the ETS declares that is in an experimental, optional section,which is largely different from your usual test pattern! If u get a quant section, you will have an on page calculator, for instance . You can quit if you want to. The ETS also explains it's motives about the declared exp. section. They also try to dangle some prize money for those who go on to complete the exp. section. You may view this in the context of the recent field tests...coz they ETS is badly in need of feedbacks.. So, you better forget this hype about the so called exp. section..

Hi, I do feel it is possible for you to apply for the Fall 2006 intake. But, it is going to involve some tight rope walking..Some universities require that you mention the GRE & TOEFL scores in your application form itself. If that is the case, you will have to phone and ask the AWA scores at the earliest, and you would be getting the remaining scores instantly. Not all universities may ask for a paper copy of your scoresheets with your application package. I suggest you keep a 'final' list of universities that you want to apply to on the day of the exam. As you ought to submit them on the day of your test, if you really want them to receive your scores at the right time..You may also not have much time to prepare your sop, lor etc.. Presuming that you be sure of even the smallest detail, I would say everything is going to work out fine. Canada's proximity to the US should not be causing you any delays, that other international applicants experience sometimes. All the best... P.S: I request akram to clarify, coz I started getting doubts after reading his post...

Hi, Congrats on your wonderful score in Quant. Thanks for your tips to improve Verbal.. All the best..:)

Hi, I am under the impresiion that it comes into force globally on the same day, as the ETS does not make any mention of things otherwise. I have scheduled my test early next year as I believe the new pattern is tougher, as I always hated the RC(new pattern has more RC's), and am apprehensive about the so called real life maths, as stated by the ETS... They say geometry is going to be reduced. It means something else will increase. And not to mention, the abundance of study material for the current pattern, why waste it?? All the best..

Hi, The ETS has surely done something stupid and atrocious!!:mad: I second suja's remarks. All the best..

Hi, The transcripts are normally given if you might provide all your documents pertaining to your graduation. I don't think it is necessary for you to get the seal of the university where you plan to apply. You better check it out. I have not heard of anything like that. Many universities have appropriate formats for the 'Letter of Recommendation' etc. They also provide information on what should be present in a transcript. As for the website of Madras University, I would say that they don't even update it properly. Most of the links contain old info only. I suggest you ask your friend or relative to make enquiries. Or may be, you could personally get it done, if at all you happen to come here for any other purpose. Perhaps, you could tilt the transcript & LOR in your favour..These are my personal views only. I stand for correction. All the best..

Hi mwm, Congrats on your wonderful score. You did deserve more. Your contributions to the Quant section are truly invaluable. All the best for your admissions...

Hi, Just make sure your passport reaches you in time...

Hi, No US university accepts medicos for Master's(non clinical) programs without GRE or TOEFL. Myself and greaper are medicos here. I would urge you to encourage your friend to study. You can tell your friend that the hard work required for GRE is absolutely nothing when compared to even his first year MBBS degree exams..When he has been able to pass them, I am sure he can defintely invest atleast a quater of that effort and time for this.:)

Hi, Do you think there are really so many third years here? Not often do we find them at TM. I haven't. Also, we cannot forget that members are from different countries.

Hi, You can find the details at www.gre.org .

Hi quiwenfarmer, You may wish to read Kevin's post with regard to a thread which was exclusively meant for so many who were taking the test in September itself. Besides, so many members here are from dozens of countries where paper tests are not conducted. :)

Hi, My belief is that the new pattern is going to be tougher. The ETS, in it's official website, has clearly stated that it plans to include more RC questions. RCs are mainly responsible for bringing down the score of many with even a perfect vocabulary. It is considered to be generally tough by one and all. The ETS also states that it will provide an on-page calculator. The usage of the calculator will only be time consuming, for small calculations. One tends to use it even for minor calculations, if given at the corner of the page. Candidates who've had the research section will know what I mean. Moreover, the very motive behind providing the calculator is that the ETS plans to introduce problems which definitely cannot be solved without a calculator. Above all, the study material in the market itself will need some time to tune itself to the new pattern. It will be the biggest problem for test takers who are in a compulsion to take it in Oct-Nov itself. However, one can hope for a new scoring pattern, or proper moderation so that test takers of the old pattern do not stand to lose or gain. Let us wait and watch...:hmm:

Hi, Congrats coolgal on your decent score...All the best for your admissions!!:)