Down to Waco!

I can't believe how quickly summer has been passing me by. Between my job at the gym, teaching extra private swim lessons, and petsitting, there has been precious little time to study for the GRE or work on my thesis. I am more than a little disappointed in myself, but I am about to take a break for this entire week am on the last day of my four-day review break, so now is not the time to worry about that. I will take the GRE tomorrow and any prayers or good vibes would be much appreciated.

Honestly, I feel a little ridiculous taking this long break for one puny little standardized test. I love standardized tests. I do well on them (knock on wood!), but geez and crackers this one scares me. There is something about the idea that my performance will not be scaled against anyone else's. Instead, my score is determined with each answer I give. The computer will award me points for answering questions correctly and then spit out what it deems a more difficult question. If I get that one right, I get a larger reward and another more difficult question. If I get a question wrong, my score is dinged and I am presented with an easier question.

Other things that really throw me: (1) the test is done on a computer, which means no bubble sheet and no scratching off answers unless I write the letters out on my scratch paper and track potential answers like that, (2) I don't get a calculator and most of the math questions are the kind where all you need to do to get it right is know the trick (although, I suppose this is a little like the SAT just simpler as it requires no calculator), and (3) my score is given to me immediately after I finish (after, of course I turn down the offer to cancel my score twice).

Did I mention that I haven't brushed up on my math skills for five years? I'd love to say that my History and Philosophy of Math class is helpful here. Unfortunately, I don't think that knowledge about Paschal's Wager, infinity, encryption, or Zeno's paradoxes will help me in the slightest.

Did I mention that my work schedule has left me so exhausted that the last thing that I have wanted to do all summer is spend time with Mr. Princeton Review and Mr. Barron?

Thank goodness I took off work for a whole four days prior to the exam to study/cram. Hopefully, I will never have to take this test again. I just need the right score. I don't exactly know what the right score is, but I'm sure it won't matter as my score will be a perfect 1600, right?

Honestly, I won't be too ashamed if I don't do so hot. I can take it four more times if need be. Grad schools apparently don't care how many times you take it. All they need is the right number. Tomorrow is just my first try to get it. :P