Smileysquared

That's great! Actually we have the same plan but I am planning to do my exams under the SOA but we have the same first two exams. I wanted to start last year but had to put them off for health reasons. I am going to start my masters this fall also. Unlike you I don't have a background in FM so I have to work hard at it. I haven't started studying yet but will in May and then I will decide the date. I have decided to do my Masters in Finance and Economics. I thought that it would be the best combination for me personally because I want to do econ and also be an actuary. You can also look into a PhD Financial Economics also.

Moneyandcredit, have you started any of the actuary exams? Which society are you planning to do your exams with?

Data interpretation questions are also difficult for me also not because I don't understand them but it usually takes more time for me to get to the answer than ETS requires. You are right about it being ambiguous and the first thing one starts to do when their answer is not among the answer choices is panic. I can totally relate. Don't worry about it, just keep on practicing, read through the book's explanations and hopefully on the day of the exam you will be fine.

Congratulations Oldman! I am very happy for you. I too re-did the GRE yesterday but I didn't get any time to study at all this time! However, I expect a higher Math score than I had before but highly doubt that I will score as high as I did in the Verbal section this time. The verbal section had some words I never saw before. Anyway, I will get my results in December and I am hoping it is higher than the 1300 I scored previously. Good luck with everything.

If you want to become an actuary you will still need to pursue the professional exams under the SOA or the Institute of Actuaries etc. So if you can't afford the degree you can start these exams on your own just go on the internet and search for professional actuarial groups and decide which society you will want to be a part of and then sign up for exams etc.

Is it that the GRE verbal section is more important to get admitted to the program you want? Anyway I suggest you learn as much vocabulary as you can from Barron's word list. I used Barrons for my exam and got 600 for the verbal section. Just get some practice while you are learning those lists.

@student4life. I got 1300-700(Q), 600(V) and 5(AWA). We had alot of problems with our test center-it was a total mess not to mention that ETS left us in an open classroom in the middle of the Carnival season. I am not sure which of the two I am focussing more on-I did a major in math (my problem for the quant. section was my timing. I was totally thrown off by the loud distracting music and didn't finish the first paper. As for verbal just couldn't understand what I was reading for the comprehensions during the parade. I will start soon though. @Jeeves. I can't study certain subjects with music either and with others it depends on the type of music I am listening to. For example when I am reading a research paper I can't have any music in the background. It's just me but music helps many relax in their spare time.

I also work full time. I am planning to re-do the GRE in October but haven't started studying. I usually work for more than 8 hours per day but I also am learning to play the guitar professionally. It helps calm my mind alot. One can try some sort of activity like this-it really helps. I know it may seem like doing alot-having to study, work, send out applications and find the time to play an instrument but it helps balance your life and keeps one sane in the process :) I know what you guys are going through-I was there earlier this year.

I was planning to but couldn't get any sort of funding. Good luck to you-it was my first choice.

I don't know the link offhand but it's on the rapidshare website-do a google search to find rapidshare. There are a few links there but one of them is a pdf link. Click on that link. It will download very easily.

I just got one-thanks anyway!

Dear Friends, I am planning to re-write the GRE later this year but I cannot locate a copy of Nova's GRE prep course (the textbook) in my country. I know that there are copies of it on the internet but the one site that I have found-rapid share I cannot download anything from it. Can anyone send me a copy of this ebook please. I am particularly interested in the Math section of the book. Thanks, SS

Texas Instruments calculators are great. I have a scientific one, a financial calculator and a graphic calculator and they all work well. I will not recommend that you buy the graphic calculator because it can be programmed and as a result universities may prevent you from using them. In addition they are a bit expensive. A standard TI scientific calculator should be fine. I bought a Casio a few years ago but it did not last very long.

Try doing something to distract yourself from the stress. I know you must be thinking 'is she crazy I hardly have time for myself' but if you can find a way to calm your mind you will get more work done (both for GRE and in work). If you do decide to do the GRE exam in August I am sure you will do fine.......my prayers are with you and Oldman-I know how difficult it can be to have to study and work more than the required amount of hours. Good luck to both of you!

Personally I think that you should take the GRE. I also work full time and when I was doing the GRE I was working 40+ hours, I was ill and I was also sending out applications and studying for another exam. On the day of the exam we were left in an open classroom in the middle of our country's Carnival procession. In the end I got a 1300 and I didn't get alot of time to study. I am thankful I did it at that time because now I know that I have to do it again in October (the exam is only offered twice in our country for the year) and I think that I will be alot better prepared after seeing what the real exam was like. In addition ETS does not give you a full refund if you postpone your exam and you can always cancel your scores if you don't like the final result.You may be surprised how well you may end up performing under the pressure that you are facing.