Do a test drive exactly a week before your test

    Getting to the test center on time is vital. In fact you should try and get to the test center 15-30 minutes before time. Taking a test drive to your test center exactly a week before might be a good idea. This will give you a rough idea of the traffic conditions at the time and day of your GRE.

Wear Comfortable Clothes

     Wear comfortable clothes to your GRE test center. It might be a good idea to carry a sweater or a jacket, in case you start feeling cold. Also make a check list well in advance of what all you need on the D-day and keep everything ready the night before. One of the things you need is a chronometer. (In case you don't know what that means, start preparing for the GRE vocabulary ;-)

Use the scratch paper the test center provides

   You are not allowed to bring any sheets of paper to the GRE test center but are provided scratch paper by the center. You should make effective use of this to make quick notes for yourself or for solving math questions.

And lastly DON'T PANIC

    No matter what happens, DON'T PANIC. Keep your cool all the time, even when you don't know the answer. Once you panic, you might even answer the easiest questions wrongly. If you feel yourself getting tense, take a short break, ask for a glass of water, close your eyes, take deep breaths and calm yourself down.

GRE - 14 Steps To America

 Here are 14 must-do steps if you wish to clear your GRE and TOEFL and study in U.S (The Land Of Opportunities). If you are an aspirant then read on...

1. Passport :

      A valid passport serves as a primary means of identification to gain admission to your test centre and to your dream country. If you don't have a passport then apply for one as soon as possible, as you cannot appear for the GRE or TOEFL without it, but remember you can register for exams without a passport.

2. GRE Registration :

       Register for the GRE at least three months in advance to be assured of obtaining your preferred testing date.

3. TOEFL Registration :

      International students who haven't studied in a country where English is the primary language, have to appear for the Test Of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) in addition to the GRE.

4. Preparation :

          Preparation for the GRE should begin at least an year before you plan to appear for the exam. Check out what study material is available to help you prepare for the GRE.

5. GRE :

       You are expected to arrive at your test centre at least 30 minutes before the scheduled start of your exam. You are expected to bring the following items with you to the test centre : * Acceptable Identification (Passport + Driving License/College Id Card)
* Names of 4 Colleges to which you want ETS to send your scores At the end of your test, you can specify up to 4 colleges to which ETS will send your scores for free. Therefore, before appearing for the exam, prepare a list of your first choice colleges, by anticipating the range of your likely GRE score. ETS charges $15 for every additional college you send your scores to.

6. Choosing Colleges :

    When preparing a list of colleges to apply to, take into consideration the following factors :
* Your Academic grades Your GRE score Reputation of College College's minimum requirements College fees Availability of Financial aid
* Location of college Choose about 3 to 4 'dream' colleges, 3 to 4 'average' colleges and another 3 to 4 'safe' colleges. Go through the college websites for information regarding each univ - Colleges

7. Pre-Application :

     Pre-application involves emailing the colleges of your choice, requesting them to send you the prospectus or application forms by mail. Mention the following in your pre-application letters :
* Your name & address Degree sought Undergraduate Academic grades GRE & TOEFL scores
* Any additional qualifications that you may have
Many colleges often inform you there and then about your chances of gaining admission into their college. By doing this you can often save the cost of the application fee by knowing before hand which colleges are likely to accept you or not.

8. Transcripts :

       Request your University to provide you with transcripts of marks obtained for all four years of your undergrad study completed. Make sure that all the copies of your transcripts are attested and certified as true copies of the original. If you are in the final year of the undergraduate studies then send transcripts upto 6th or 7th semester.

9. Financial Documentation :

        Along with your application, it is required that you attach a letter from your bank indicating sufficient funds to finance your education in the US. It is recommended that your bank certificate show proof of funds amounting to approximately $25,000. - Sample Bank Certificate

10. Recommendation Letters :

      Try to get about 3 recommendation letters from professors at your undergraduate university who are familiar with your course work. Learn how to write a good recommendation letter by following the tips given here - Recommendation Letters

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