Going to Grad School: A Dream Decision (Part Two)

I had to take a test.

Writing this memory in the middle of a pandemic makes me remember fondly how easy "hard" things were to get accomplished not that long ago.

As part of the application materials to get accepted into Graduate School, I was required to take the Graduate Record Examination or GRE. I mentioned in my last post that it had been decades since my last standardized test, and I was quite nervous about it. Nonetheless, online I went to select a testing center and an available date. The closest available option was about 120 miles away and three weeks or so away. I put in my information, entered my credit card number, and my adventure was set.

Now, how to prepare?? A quick Google search revealed any number of study guides and aids, but I opted for the free download from the GRE site itself and worked carefully through the examples. Very quickly, I proved to myself that I had forgotten quite a bit of information from my last academic adventure. Forge ahead I did though.

When the day arrived, we all set off for the big city, as the family planned to drop me off and then go shopping while I suffered. We reached the campus where the testing center was located and eventually located the correct building. I am sure a door to the center probably existed closer to a more convenient parking lot, but we did not do that. Many left and right turns down quiet corridors later, I arrived.

I was greeted by the proctor who collected my information and then led me to a camera filled testing spot and explained the rules of what I could and could not do during the course of the examination. I could bring nothing in with me, and any suspicious activity would result in disqualification. No pressure. He explained that he would be outside the "room" watching on the monitors, and I could ask for a bathroom break if necessary. (anxiety bladder anyone?)

When you take the GRE, you sign off agreeing to not discuss the contents of the test, so I will not do that here. But, I will tell you the hours in the exam are pretty much a blur anyway. I could not tell you what the content of any question was to save my life. The writing part was first, and the topic was provided, and I had 30 minutes to write. Anything and everything I knew about the topic. Once the writing part was completed, the familiar question-and-answer type questions pummeled my existence for the remainder of the testing time.

Eventually I got to the point where I thought, "you know, I am 44 years old, and I don't really give a darn what I get on the test anymore." I am generally a perfectionist (INTJ-T, Type-A), but I said enough. Every question had AN answer, so I submitted. Weeks later, I received my official scores reflected in the picture below. 

 After being out of school "forever", I still beat at least half of all the test takers. My writing, in particular, was a shock at 82nd percentile. It appeared that I had cleared the first hurdle in my adventure.

Up next... applying to Graduate School (you want what?)