GREs

Sitting in front of that computer waiting to get to the results screen was the worst part of the entire process. Indeed, I took my GREs yesterday, an integral step in the process to attend grad school for Classics. The format is both uninviting and slightly intimidating.

The testing center was unassuming. You sit down into a cubicle-styled spot, where only a computer monitor, tower, and keyboard await you, with a book of scratch paper. The bare walls and lack of human contact make everything seem a little eerie and cold. Then they start throwing essays at you.

Two essays, followed by a combination of verbal and math sections. Of course, the system adapts to you, so answering well throws harder questions your way. I started off well on my verbal section, and my opinion was reinforced by a few very tough questions thrown my way, which while comforting (because I must have gotten something right), still threw me off guard.

Nerves and pressure are a huge part of the test. The inconspicuous time counter on the screen looms at all times. You can turn it off, but then you constantly wonder how much time you have left, only to turn it on again.

Advice for test-takers? I know it's been said elsewhere, and cliche, but it's true: take them early. Take a practice test. Oh, and the books help (but not McGraw-Hill, their book was far too easy). But don't freak out - if you've been studying Latin and Greek for years, you'll be fine on your verbal. Remember your common roots, make sure you have all those prepositions and prefixes memorized. It's almost as if the verbal section of the GRE was meant for classics majors. As for the math, don't worry about it - most classics programs aren't going to require algebra of you.

Good luck to any future test-takers out there!

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Optimus magister, bonus liber. - unattributed

The best teacher is a good book.