Study Prof

This resource from gre.org includes “a description of the Analytical Writing section, strategies for each task, directions, scoring information, scoring guides, score level descriptions, a sample test, and scored essay responses with reader commentary.”  Download this pdf.

Can you imagine how much time you could save if you could spend one hour studying and remember nine times as much as you normally would?  How much trouble could you get into with all that extra time?

Research has shown how to do just that by ditching the old read-the-notes-repeatedly study method.

Here’s how!

Looking into the possibility of getting a degree online?  Check out this site.

West Texas A&M University has put together a brief online GRE Math tutorial with practice tests.  Take a look!

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Initially, you must enter a lot of information (for example; age, address, preferred colleges, GPA, extracurricular activities, etc.) so the site can determine which scholarships are a likely match.  I took about ten minutes to do so and the site returned 55 matching scholarships, essays, and internships. Most were around $1000, but many were much higher!  What a fantastic resource.  Take a look!

Taking a prep course is really an ideal first step for most students.  If you’ve never built a house before, it would NOT be smart to go out and start pouring concrete and putting up boards on your own for a couple of months, and only then go talk to an architect/builder to find out exactly how to do things.  You start by getting with an architect to plan the building and by talking to a builder who knows something about exactly how to procede with each step of the process.  Taking a prep course is like talking to an experienced builder and architect first.  Although their services can come at a premium, they can help you make sure that none of your time and effort is wasted.  In fact, they will more than pay for themselves!

A GRE prep course can raise a student’s combined score an average of 150 points.  Of that, 100 points comes in the quantitative (math) section, and 50 points in the verbal section.  In the class I teach through Texas A&M University (consider that full disclosure) we spend time on the quantitative section; the verbal section; the written analytical section; and on other factors such as test layout, the testing center, and test anxiety.  Each of those sections contributes to that increased score, so let’s look at how prep courses can help with each of those sections, the cost in time and money of those courses, when to take a course, and how to pick a good one. (more…)

Do you have a problem with distracti … hang on … phone call.  I’m back now.  Now where was I?  Oh yeah, is distraction an issue for … oops … text message …

Seriously, is this what your study sessions are like?  One distraction after another can really eat up your time and short-circuit your concentration.  Here’s an easy and effective way to develop a focus like a friggin’ laser beam.

Your brain is like a big, silly puppy.  Puppies know that when you get out the leash the walk around the block is soon to follow.  “A walk! Joy!”

Your brain works off of cues as well. Thinking of traffic makes us tense.  Walking into economics class causes low grade narcolepsy. Ringing bells make us salivate (thank you, Dr. Pavlov). You get the idea.

Use this to your advantage. Have a regular routine you use when you study.  The routine itself doesn’t matter as long as you use it consistently.  Here are some examples…

Example One; Do forty sit-ups, take off your watch, turn off your phone, and sit cross-legged on the floor with your books arranged in front of you.

Example Two; Go to Schlotzky’s deli, get a large diet soda, sit next to the window, get out your books, say a brief prayer, and crack your knuckles.

Again, the routine doesn’t matter as long as you do it every time before you study and ONLY before you study.  Just like that puppy, after a while, every time you go through the routine, your brain will go.  “Must be time to study.”  and it will settle right down to the task at hand.

Bonus Tip: Is your brain just not behaving? You sit down with the best intentions but ten minutes later you realize you’ve been obsessing about your girl/guy troubles again.

Never fear. Psychologists have a very effective cure called thought-stopping. Here’s the basic idea.

1. As soon as you notice the off-task thought–girl/guy troubles, in this case–do something to distract yourself.  You could loudly yell, “STOP,” (which scares the bejeezus out of the other Schlotzky’s patrons, in my experience) or you could try something a little more subtle.  I sometimes put a rubber-band around my wrist and snap it when I notice those unhelpful thoughts slinking through my skull.  The point is to distract yourself momentarily from the unhelpful thought.
2. Now that the thought is stopped, take three deep, slow breaths, trying to keep your mind blank.  Let yourself relax as much as possible.
3. Then reward yourself.  I briefly imagine myself schussing down the slopes at Aspen and take about five seconds to thoroughly enjoy the daydream.
4. Then get back to work.
5. Repeat as necessary.

After twenty-or-so repetitions of this process, your brain eventually figures it out.  The unhelpful thought immediately triggers a relaxed, happy feeling, and a return to your studies.

Too simple?  Studies have found this method can successfully cure phobias, eating disorders, and depression!  Put it to work for you.

Small, easy changes in your daily habits can lead to huge payoffs academically.  Small strokes fell great oaks, as the saying goes.

To expand on the metaphor, trying to cut down a great oak tree in a single day will wear you out!  It takes a tremendous amount of energy, and you’ll be sore and blistered for days.

On the other hand, if you pick up that axe every morning and spend thirty minutes or so chopping at the oak, the task is easy, invigorating, and effective.  Moreover, your body will strengthen with the regular exercise, rather than wearing out.  That means the next oak will fall even faster.

Apply the principle to your studies.  Break every task down into simple parts that you can accomplish on a daily basis. Many of the techniques discussed on this site boil down to this basic principle.

This is one of the main reasons I write so much on how to change your habits.  Consider, a simple habit change such as studying every day on campus between classes instead of waiting until the evening, the weekend, or the week before finals.  Studying between classes every day…

• leads to less (no?) study nights and weekends
• which leads to lots of free time to do the things you want and
• a better social life (or maybe carpal tunnel syndrome from playing too much xBox).

• It also leads to better comprehension in class
• which leads to needing fewer notes and less study
• as well as better grades on tests.

• It also leads to no need for cramming before the test
• which means no all-nighters and sleep deprivation
• which leads to better grades on tests and
• roommates and friends jealous of your seemingly effortless A’s.

• It also leads to putting the information into long term memory rather than short term memory (which is what you get with cramming).
• That means less study next semester in the second part of the course and
• that means more free time and better grades.

Those are all the benefits from one simple habit change! The trick, of course, is to actually make the habit change.  So make sure to learn how to get rid of bad habits and replace them with good habits.  It’s where easier A’s begin!

Start here to begin developing the habits of an excellent student.

ETS (the company that make the GRE and GMAT) has a new tool to help business schools estimate applicants’ GMAT scores based on their GRE scores.  More and more business schools are now accepting the more widespread GRE in place of the business-focused GMAT.  Take a look here to see I side by side comparison of the two tests and to download a free spreadsheet that will allow you to input your GRE scores and predict your GMAT scores.