Preparing for GRE

@ davidylan. do u kno any university right there in d US where offering oil and gas in masters? please let me kno if  u av any useful info.
thx.

@b2dl,
  The best US universities in the Oil and Gas industry are in Texas.The three top universities in Petroleum  Enginnering in the states are:
   University of Texas at Austin
   University of Texas
   University of Texas(widely know as TAMU).
   Stanford University ranks third with TAMU and is a very great university.
  Texas would be better because it's very rich in oil.You can also try Alberta University,one of the best in Oil and Gas Engineering in Canada.
   Imperial College,London tops in the UK followed by Robert Gorgon,Aberdeen angus in scotland.
With all these I think you should have a clue now.Visit the site of these universities to learn more.Let me know as things go.I'll be pleased to tell you what I know.Wishing you the best.

Implying you are a fall '08 applicant.Well you need to prepare for the GRE very well especially the quantitative section.Aim for the best possible score you can so as to boost your chances for admission and fellowship considerations.Most scores don't care much about the verbal section in asmuch as your score is not considerably low-but the higher the better.As an econ graduate,i think you'll ace the quantitative section with ease.Aim for an 800;you think it's impossible?Nahhh!!!You'll ace it.Just a matter of working through as many practice questions as possible.
  And in the verbal,just do your best.Try to write it now that you just graduated as your student skills will still be sharp-the GRE is valid for a period of 5yrs.
  Start preparing for your GRE verbal on a gradual basis.You can start now if you can.You'll need to really increase you vocabulary as a larger part of the verbal deals with vocabs.Work with your Computer if it's readily available so you get used to it as the Exam's a computer exam.Learn how to sit on your computer up to 4 hrs at a stretch doing practice exercises.As for the quant. section,I think it would depend on your mathematical knowledge.GRE quant's more like elementary math though a little bit tricky.All the same,with practice you'll ace the test.Just do as much practice questions as you can.In a nut-shell,GRE shouldn't nerve-wrack UIt's an exam people have scored very high in,I mean people like you.
  The schools to apply to should depend on your interests.Post your profile up here so I can give my opinions.Are you into macro,micro,game theory,etc?Schools have strengths in different areas.As a hint,these are top(or say a little above average) econ schools in the states:
  Boston College
Georgetown
Rutgers
UNC Chapel Hill
George Washington
Pittsburg
  The strength of your profile should determine where you should apply to.And appplying to a Ph.D will increase your chances of getting financial aid.But if you aint concerned about finaid,then an M.Sc would do.All the same,it all depends on your interests and what you want from a graduate program.
  Wish you the best.Feel free to ask if anything's not clear.We r all here to unravel ambiguities.

  The higher your CGPA and standardized test scores,the higher you stand a chance to get finaid.Since you narrowly missed a 1st,I think it's ok.That'll take you places but your transcripts matters a lot as they'll be more concerned about your grades in your undergraduate major and math(since u majored in econs).The GRE'll do you lots of good if you are opting for finaid.Apply to the Ph.d programs.You stand a better chance to grasp the numerous graduate fellowships offered by some of these universities.
  As an econs major,ur GRE score in the quant'll matter a lot.Do ur best in the verbal too-the verbal I guess wouldn't pose a problem.If you need study materials,I can forward them to you if need be.I have scanned copies of the practice test in "GRE BIGBOOK".Shall scan others when I've gat the time.I really derive joy in seeing people cracking standardized test esp we Africans.
  Post your questions,we'll be glad to send in our opinions.When do you intend to commence your program?Fall '07 or 08?

@osaren
thats so funny
just prepare steadily over the course of two- four months and i'm sure your scores would improve.
i really don't think the gre is an impossible exam, i'm also preparing for it and i know i will hit high scores

Hi guys, nice topic u discussing here! I attempted the GRE sometime in January and committed a blunder in not following instructions through. That blunder ensured i quit the test prematurely and i got a ridiculous 200 in quantitative!!

Two quant sections appeared; one before and one after the verbal, and i was supposed to attempt the two as if i will be scored on both. But in actual fact i will be scored on one of them that i wont know. I quit the test based on my previous understanding that the second quant section was optional which was what it used to be. Alas!!! i got a correct verbal score of 580 and a quant of 200; the least you will score even if you fail all the questions.

Am sharing this so guys can watch out!

I will be writing another one in March but i want more test tips. Heard of one 'GREmathsbigbook'. Please can anyone help with this? I think Mathways should be able to help. You may attach it to your reply please!!!!!

@ C_Jay,

   Come on, I am also applying for fall 2008 admissions to US universities. Though, I have already written the required exams like the GRE and TOEFL. So what are you up to with the applications? Where did you apply?

Guys I envy una oh. I'm yet to even send my application materials. i just made the decision to hit grad school after wasting the past year doing jack.
@ mesef
i wish u can lay your hands on grebible, that software is great!! it's what many of these asian kids use in getting those top scores. i t's got a humongous test bank of questions that are harder than the real gre questions. Just try scouring the web to see if u can download it somewhere, it's large and i don't have the tech savvy to send it to you.
@eyo
i'm applying to texastech, u houston, and texas a&m for pet engr.
guy, i'm really lagging behind so i'll probably defer to spring if i miss the deadlines.
best wishes man

I'm applying to 8 US schools because I don't want to be here after Fall '08. Top amongst them is U-Texas @ Dallas, Howard and Michigan State University (MSU). I've spent quite a fortune on these applications and I hope it pays off in the end. My GRE score is not that fantastic probably because of inadequate prep time (I even had to report to the office first before leaving for Oba Akran on test day). Maybe that is why I'm applying to so many schools - to broaden my chances.

I also plan to write the GRE again before the end of the year maybe while on leave (if none of  my applications is successsful) or when in grad school already because I'm ultimately headed for Stanford or MIT and only a great GRe score would gimme either of those.

Does anyone have info on how to transfer from a mid-rate school to a top school perhaps after getting an awesome score?

@ Dividends

It's very possible but your application will be done alongside fresh grad applicants at the period(s) the program admits fresh graduates.

For example, if the program admits in Fall only, a successful fall 2008 grad student of a mid-rate school will only be able to apply in fall 2009! If the program admits in both fall and spring, a successful fall 2008 grad student of a mid-rate school can apply in spring 2009 and fall 2009. After one semester transfer is the most common and easiest. The other alternative (i.e after one year) is very difficult but possible especially for research MS programs that will run into PhD.



 

@ C_Jay

   I seem to disagree with your advice with regards the GREBIBLE software. I have the software( which is readily available on the internet) and from personal experience during preparations for the GRE, I would say the software is not up to standard. It has got bugs in it that impedes its proper functioning. Besides, I easily scored an 800 in the verbal test of this software whereas in the real GRE official guide( refering to the GRE BigBook), my scores never went above a 700.

 I would say the software can serve as a relaxing tool while trying to learn the vocabulary. Even then, one has to be very careful as there are inherent errors  attributable to the bugs. The words are interplaced at times.

 In my opinion, the best preparatory guide still remains the PowerPrep test. That is certainly the level of the real exams. Other guides are useful to hone your test taking skills but are either too easy or too difficult. The only guide that seemed closer to the kind of question one can find on the main test is the Kaplan tests on the CD; not the ones in the textbook(these are far below level).

 All the same, you shouldn't forget the Barron's prep. guide. That name, Barron's, is akin to GRE. It has a universal reputation for bringing back to light some of your lost test taking skills. I see it as the best when it comes to the verbal. Of course, it still will not compare to the GRE BigBook verbal. The latter is certainly the bible if you are talking about GRE verbal. The math there is way too simple and not recommended.

 Please, guys, post your views here so that those preparing for these exams would benefit as they slogg hard for their test.

@ Eyohimself

Thanks Eyo, really appreciate your advice. My mail add: bolaonmail@yahoo.com. Will be expecting those materials.

I hope i will be able to do lots of practice. i work a very busy schedule so i can only do few hours during the week though i sometimes have d weekends to crash it all.

@C_JAY

U NO TELL ME SEY U DEY GO GRAD SCHOOL, WELL GOODLUCK OH.

@mathways

TAMU is not the same thing as UT (university of texas), TAMU is Texas A&M University-College Station and it is the best university for petroleum engineering, even better than the great MIT or even Stanford.
TAMU is also a cheap school compared to the university of texas at Austin plus there are a lot of Nigerians there.