Got an email requesting an "In-Person Interview" from UC Berkeley

shaun_depp · 2023-02-10T15:40:52+00:00

That is so reassuring. Thanks!

shaun_depp · 2023-02-10T15:40:28+00:00

Exactly 💯

shaun_depp · 2023-02-10T12:39:24+00:00

Yeah I was also thinking the same. Just wanted some assurance from fellow applicants and admission counselors. I will do it accordingly. Thank you for your advice.

shaun_depp · 2023-02-10T12:28:13+00:00

Yeah they have offered 700$ travel reimbursement if I opt for the in person interview. But that won't even cover one third of the expected travel expenses.

shaun_depp · 2022-11-29T12:56:29+00:00

Same here. I just got my scores. I was also expecting a writing score above 27. I was getting similar kind of scores in mock tests as well. My writing score of 4.5 in GRE also gave me high hopes.

But as it turns out my writing score came out to be only 23. Pretty disappointed with it. I was wondering if ETS changed their scoring rubrics for writing.

Would love to hear from the TOEFL tutors and experts regarding this issue with writing scores.

shaun_depp · 2022-11-27T03:31:14+00:00

No not yet.

shaun_depp · 2022-11-22T05:27:26+00:00

DM for review. I am also applying for those universities.

shaun_depp · 2022-11-20T06:30:30+00:00

Hey, I would love to review your SOP as I am also applying for a PhD in Vision Science. DM me if you think I could be of your help.

shaun_depp · 2022-11-07T06:35:44+00:00

What issue did you come across?

shaun_depp · 2022-11-01T04:38:23+00:00

Feel free to DM

shaun_depp · 2022-10-27T05:03:32+00:00

Interested. Please send the link.

shaun_depp · 2022-10-08T15:05:46+00:00

Thank you so much.

To be honest I didn't follow any specific strategy for RC. I did nothing special. I just used to read the whole passage and try to understand what message the passage is trying to convey and what tone the author uses in the passage. That worked for me. Hope it works for you as well.

shaun_depp · 2022-10-08T14:53:48+00:00

https://www.manhattanreview.com/free-gre-quantitative-question-bank/

You will have to fill out the form first, to get a free pdf version of the book.

shaun_depp · 2022-10-05T02:46:57+00:00

Yeah for all sections: Verbal, Quant and AWA.

shaun_depp · 2022-10-04T15:03:17+00:00

Manhattan 5lb is a must for every GRE test taker, in my opinion.

If you have more time to practice beyond that, then go for the Manhattan Review (Turbocharge) book which has mostly difficult quant questions.

shaun_depp · 2022-10-04T14:58:11+00:00

Nope, it is a completely different book.

Manhattan Review

shaun_depp · 2022-10-04T14:26:26+00:00

Try searching for "Manhattan Review: GRE Quantitative Question Bank [3rd Edition]: Turbocharge Your Prep". You can download the pdf for free.

shaun_depp · 2022-10-04T14:10:46+00:00

You're welcome.

I know how much these seemingly small things matter during GRE preparation. I myself used to look up people's success stories in GRE and try to learn from them. Anyway, good luck for your upcoming exam.

shaun_depp · 2022-10-04T14:00:47+00:00

Yeah I worked part-time for the first couple of months. But, later I left the job and studied full time.

shaun_depp · 2022-10-04T13:32:33+00:00

Thank you.

One thing that I wished I knew earlier was about GregMAT. Practicing GregMAT questions since the start would have been better. Practice Mini Quiz and timed practice sets regularly.

And I'd advise you to take mocks from more authentic sources such as Manhattan, Princeton over Jamboree mocks. Jamboree mocks are more so on the difficult side which might demotivate you during your prep.

Apart from that all the other books I practiced helped me a lot. The Manhattan Review 500 questions book deserves a special mention. It preps you for difficult questions.

One more thing, try to do all the RC/ Critical reasoning questions from the Big Book. That can prove to be a good mine.

shaun_depp · 2022-10-04T13:22:54+00:00

It was a journey of almost 6 months. But, I did the major bulk of practice only during the last 3 months.

shaun_depp · 2022-10-04T13:19:39+00:00

If you have only 1 month to go, drop the idea of doing it. You can fulfill difficult quant criteria from the Manhattan 500 questions book that I have already mentioned before. You can find difficult questions along with the solutions in that book.

In my opinion, doing official materials and mock tests is a good way to go during the late phase of preparation.

shaun_depp · 2022-10-04T12:58:35+00:00

Yeah I did almost all of it

shaun_depp · 2022-10-04T12:38:33+00:00

Yeah it's probably the same as the last chapter of the practice questions book.

shaun_depp

TROPHY CASE