GRE Test Tips to get consumed in!

1. Answer every question. The GRE is not an exam where you go about skipping questions you're unsure about. No one cares if you don't really understand something and are making random guesses. You are not penalized for guessing on the GRE (unlike the SAT), so it's in your best interest to answer every single question thrown at you, even the ones you don't like.
2. Be sure of your answers especially when taking the Computer-Adaptive GRE. As you can't go back to answer something you selected previously. On the computerized version, you'll simply get a zero if you leave something blank. So make the correct choice the first time around!
3. Use the scratch paper. You will not be allowed to bring any papers to the testing center. However, you will be provided with scratch paper. Use it to solve math problems, outline your essay for the writing portion or write down formulas or vocabulary words you've memorized before the test.
4. Use a process of elimination. If you can rule out even one wrong answer, you'll be in a much better chance for guessing if it comes to that. Instead of looking for the "right" answer, look for the "least wrong" answer. Most of the time, you'll be able to narrow down your choices to two, which obviously gives you much better odds of getting the answers right.
5. Spend more time on the harder questions. Chances are good that you'll be taking the computerized version of the GRE, so the scoring is scaled: harder questions equal more points. Even if you miss quite a few easy questions and get a smaller percentage of the harder ones correct, your score will be much better than if you answered all of the easy ones correctly and only answer a few difficult ones right. So plan your time accordingly. This is one of those GRE test tips to memorize.
6. Pace yourself. You may be a dreamer in real life, but during the GRE is not the right time to wander mentally off into space. You'll only have about one minute per question for the verbal section and approximately two minutes per question in the math section. Two minutes may seem like a long time to answer a math question, and it would be for the easy questions, but once you're doing the higher level questions, you'll realize that the time is whittling away. So don't waste it.
7. Don't second-guess yourself. Statistics prove that your first answer choice is usually correct. Do not go back through the test and change your answers if you're taking the paper test. Your first instinct is typically correct.
8. Mentally manage your stress. Once you're sitting at the desk or in front of the computer screen, your ability to physically do too much to manage your stress about the GRE and its implications for your future dwindles. So, your best bet is to manage your stress mentally by repeating a positive phrase or envisioning the end result of all your hard work.
9. In the reading comprehension section, read the answers first. Instead of plunging ahead into the text, read what you need to be looking out for. You'll save time and score more points by reading the answer choices before you read the text.
10. Outline. It may seem like this tip is outdated, but you can't disregard the GRE writing section. Before you start writing, make sure you take five minutes to outline what you're going to say first. Your organization and thought process will be much higher if you do.

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Arizona State University Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering

Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering The vision of  Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering is “Leading Engineering Discovery and Innovative Education for Global Impact on Quality of Life”. The school drives the mission to produce the new engineers as well as discovered that will assist the quality of research in the US and beyond. The mission of the school is, Deirdre R. Meldrum, Dean says, “Provide an Environment Rich in Transdisciplinary Research, Education, Entrepreneurship, and Leadership Resulting in Successful Engineers and Technologies that Benefit Society.” To know more about why Fulton is different from other engineering schools, refer to: http://engineering.asu.edu/fultondifference

ASU College of Technology and Innovation The College of Technology and Innovation is the core college on ASU's Polytechnic campus, which enrolls more than 9,000 students on a 600-acre campus built in a beautiful desert arboretum in the dynamic, growing Gateway region on the southeast edge of the Greater Phoenix metropolitan area. The Dean and Vice President of the university Keith Hjelmstad expresses the mission of the school as, “Creating the ideal environment for students to prepare for a future built around technology”. To know more about why ASU College of Technology and Innovation is different from others, refer to: http://technology.asu.edu/home

Scope of Biosciences at Keck Graduate Institute (KGI), Claremont

The university of the fortnight is Keck Graduate Institute (KGI), Claremont. KGI being the best institute for Applied Sciences in the US, takes the pride in offering MBS (Master of Bioscience) – a unique program of the institute.

Information on MBS Program: KGI's two-year MBS degree program educates technically savvy professionals for the bioscience industry. The MBS degree is increasingly spreading its riches in the student community. KGI, though not a university, but a specialized institute for Applied Sciences has put in lot of good research into the field. The program is successful in catalyzing the concepts of basic life sciences into useful products and services that are in turn used in sorting out the real life issues.

Adding to the voluminous scope of the degree in students' career, in the second year of the course, the students will be involved in Team Masters Projects, wherein, they will be given the opportunity of working with the sponsoring companies to solve the real problems. “This industrial tie-up is a good dais to the students to get into the corporate world and to come out in flying colours”, says Durga a student of GREedge who got an admission for MBS at KGI.

Financial Aid To the support the aspirations of the students, KGI offers scholarships up to USD 30,000 -50,000 for the two-year course. In addition to this, KGI also considers offering loans to the students based on the need and which the students can repay within 10 years after the completion of their graduation.

Student support The institute also receives the students to KGI through a host family. They pick the students from the airport and provide accommodation and guidance to the students for 10 days and would also assist the students to secure themselves in an apartment.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology - Funding & scholarship options

Massachusetts Institute of Technology is one of the foremost institutions in US that is taking ahead the higher education blended with the technology with a motto advance knowledge and educate students in science, technology, and other areas of scholarship that will best serve the nation and the world in the 21st century.

Financial aid at Massachusetts: MIT is no less than any other university in providing the students with the scholarships and loans to make their dreams come true. MIT has many schemes of funding. It has loans, scholarships and grants. In MIT, there are two kinds of loans: loans based on financial need and that are not. Generally, loans that are based on financial need have lower interest rates and need not be payed back till the completion of the course. Loans based on need are available to any under graduate, graduate and professional student of the institute. Generally, this loan is either issued by the federal government or by MIT.

Loans that are not based on the need are available to both the students as well as to their parents. Generally, here, the interest rates are bit higher than the previous scheme. In this scheme, if the students take the loan they need not repay till they leave the school, but if the parents take the loan, the loan is supposed to be repaid before the student
leaves the school. Furthermore, there are a variety of repayment options like; Standard repayment, Extended repayment, Graduated repayment, Income-contingent repayment, Income-based repayment. For more information, refer to: http://web.mit.edu/sfs/loans/get_a_loan.htm

Scholarships and grants are those funding options that student will avail that are purely merit-based. Occasionally, MIT does consider granting the scholarships on need-based issues. For more information on scholarships, refer to: http://web.mit.edu/sfs/scholarships/index.html MIT also has a facility for on and off campus jobs for students.
To know more, refer to: http://web.mit.edu/sfs/jobs/index.html

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The biggest obstacle for students planning to go to the US: Fear of expense.

Anyone who wishes to pursue higher education in the US can do so without apprehension. Scholarships, fellowships, students’ loans from universities and governments are available for those who care to look.

Today, find details on funding options provided by Stanford University (in the following days find more information on funding options provided by Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Harvard University, Columbia University, Stanford University.

For students around the world, US is a land of education with world-class facilities. The quality of education, the facilities, the career opportunities are making every graduate to make their moves towards this land of education. Studying in US is the wish of many hearts, but is the gift for only some Grey cells. The reasons for this are many. The most important issue that hampers the students to go for the US is the expenses. There is not a flea's breath of doubt to say that the study in US would cost the students an earth!
Finances are a concern for most graduate students and their families. The outnumbering fears of expenses would make some even nip the budding wishes. But for now, anyone who wishes to pursue his/her higher education in the US can do so without any apprehension. The announcement of scholarships, fellowships, students’ loans etc., from the universities and the respective governments sounded the death knell to all the dubious thoughts of students and their families about the education in US. Now, it is no more the goblet of an elite; it is the earthen pot of every commoner.

Each and every university is striving hard to attract as many international students as possible by announcing various funding options. There is no denying that graduate education at some of the top 10 universities in the US like Harvard University, Stanford University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Columbia University is difficult. Nevertheless, these universities have come up with different funding options that are flexible to the student community.

Stanford University will be one among the priority list of the students to select the universities. Established by Leland and Jane Stanford in 1891 to “promote the public welfare by exercising an influence on behalf of humanity and civilization”, Stanford continues to remain dedicated to finding solutions of the day and to preparing the students for leadership in today’s complex world. Every year, Stanford contributes to creating history with over 8,000 students pursuing degrees in more than 65 departments and programs.

Funding at Stanford In Stanford, financial assistance varies considerably from departments, schools, and programs. Some of the important considerations in awarding of graduate financial support are academic record and the availability of funds. Usually, in Stanford, Master's students do not receive funding. Most fund the tuition expenses through loans or savings. Fellowships and assistantships are rarely given to students enrolled in master's programs.

Professional students (J.D, M.B.A., M.D.) often rely on loans. Financial aid for professional programs is managed through the financial aid offices of the law, business, and medical schools. Upon admission to a doctoral program, students are usually offered a funding package that includes tuition and a stipend for living expenses for four to five years. This package may also include support through assistantships for part of the program.

Types of Funding : Students usually combine a variety of sources of funding over their time in graduate school.
• Research and teaching assistantships (work on campus that is directly related to students' academic progress)
• University or departmental fellowships
• External financial support awarded to students directly by foundations or government agencies (most requiring that students apply directly)
• Jobs on or off campus unrelated to students' academic work
• Loans

For further information on funding refer to:
http://vpge.stanford.edu/funding/
http://vpge.stanford.edu/funding/basics.html
http://vpge.stanford.edu/funding/vpgefellowships.html http://vpge.stanford.edu/funding/project.html
http://vpge.stanford.edu/funding/other.html
http://vpge.stanford.edu/funding/sources.html

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Will the Old GRE scores be valid even after August 2011, after the new pattern takes effect?

Recently I have seen a lot of students (both GREedge.com and non - GREedge.com students) ask questions regarding the validity of the old GRE scores. There are even many rumors amongst the students, that the old GRE (Exam taken before the revised GRE pattern takes effect) scores will not be valid after August 2011 (after the revised GRE pattern comes into effect). I will try clarifying some frequent doubts in this post.

Many students also seem to have a doubt on how long the old GRE scores would be valid for, will it hold well even by 2011 ending. In reply – Yes, they will remain valid for 5 years (from the date of your GRE) as is the case currently. Just to give you some more clarity, imagine if you have written your GRE by August 2010, your GRE score will be valid until August 2015.

Some students also doubt if the schools will start discriminating amongst the old and revised GRE exam students. Will the schools actually accept the old GRE students as well? Yes, you can be rest assured that the old GRE scores will be accepted until they have not expired. ETS has made it clear in their updates that the schools must not discriminate between students basing on GRE pattern. Now, what if there is a case that a student has given his GRE more than once? In this case, the schools will base his admissions on the scores of the revised GRE pattern.

Last but not the least, I hope this clarifies all your doubts and puts to rest all the rumors about the revised GRE pattern. Follow this blog to be updated on the recent changes in GRE pattern from time to time and also get various preparatory materials, techniques, and methods to crack the GRE. Register with GREedge and receive the latest updates on the current trends in GRE.     Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Orkut. 

Source: ETS website.

7 New Year's Resolutions for your GRE

1. Plan your GRE prep Take a diagnostic test to decide which areas you need to focus on. Hammer out a plan with deadlines by which you will create improvements. You can sign up for a diagnostic GRE test
2. Take it one step at a time Small changes to your regular habits can add up to substantial gains. Let's say, you review ten GRE words for each hour you spend online. You will? Here's an easy way to work out your GRE vocabulary as you browse.
3. Talk about the GRE You don't have to bore friends with the intimate details of your GRE preparation. Take your anxieties and questions to a friendly forum
   
4. Find others taking the GRE You can find GRE friends and ask around for GRE resources within your favorite sites. Spend much time on Facebook? Here's a Facebook GRE resource :)
5. Talk to fellow GRE aspirants You will become frustrated faster if you think you're doing this alone. Join communities where you will find fellow aspirants
   
6. Tweet about the GRE Use networking time to brush up on your GRE prep. You can find several GRE resources on Twitter. You can follow GREedge here
   
7. Ask for GRE help Have a question? Want help with a specific topic? Leave a comment or request a blog post below. You'll get it.