Smart person question

I'm thinking of going to Grad School and I'm wondering if I should take the GMAT or the GRE. I've been out of college for about 10 years nowThe school I'm looking at accepts both and most of the research I've done says they're pretty much the same. Since most of the people I know or work with are 3rd Grade drop outs or derelicts I've come here for advice.

Any one taken either? Is there really a difference? Should I just have another beer and flip a coin?

Your pal,
THE CAD

The GRE was a breeze. (This was back in 1999.) Basically it's the SAT or ACT with tougher vocabulary. I didn't think the math was any harder than either of those, but I'm an engineer.

I actually took an electronic test at a testing center. So registration was easy and I could take it any time of year.

I took the GRE many moons ago, Just had to have it on my record prior to grad school. (didn't give it my best shot) but still did okay. If scoring at a certain level is a requirement, I would look at program support. Good Luck.

Beernik said:

The GRE was a breeze. (This was back in 1999.) Basically it's the SAT or ACT with tougher vocabulary. I didn't think the math was any harder than either of those, but I'm an engineer.

I actually took an electronic test at a testing center. So registration was easy and I could take it any time of year.

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This was my experience during a similar time frame and I'm also an engineer. My memory tells me the math was no harder than algebra. I focused on vocab, because I knew I could do well on the other two sections - therefore the English section is what set me apart, in theory, on applications. Seemed to work out.

At the time GMAT was really only for people considering business school. GRE was more widely excepted at the science/engineering programs I was considering.

I am looking at an MBA because going further in my field would be a waste of time and resources. I plan on at least getting some practice books and brushing up on everything prior to the test date.

I remember there were a number of analogies, for me they were tough. I also had to take the Millers Analgies test at one time. Good Luck.

I never took either of those tests since I went the medical route and took the MCAT. However, I have a lot of friends who went on to do grad school, and I don't know a single one that took the GMAT. They all took the GRE. From what I know that is much more widely accepted. For that reason alone, if I were you I'd take the GRE.

There are a lot of logic puzzle questions on the GRE. Such as
1. Fish A can live with Fish B.
2. Fish B can live with Fish C and Fish D but not Fish E.
3. Fish E can live with Fish F and Fish A.

What is the most fish you can have in the tank?

3?

hmmm, I hate logic. It's up there with common sense, sobriety and rational behavior, things I am strongly against.

Whichever one you decide on, do lots of practice tests (until you're sick of them) over a period of months and try to finish with 5+ minutes remaining. I did that for the LSAT and it helped a bunch, especially on the logic games (same stuff as GRE).

Good luck.

max384 said:

3?

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5: There is no prohibition for Fishes A, C, D, E, & F being in the same tank.

The program you are entering might give you the minimum scores they require on the various sections of the test.

Back then, the U of Utah Engineering Department only required the language and math sections of the GRE. They didn't require the quantative reasoning (logic puzzles) section. It seemed odd to me until I discovered that the average engineer scores above the 80th percentile.

thecad said:

I'm thinking of going to Grad School and I'm wondering if I should take the GMAT or the GRE. I've been out of college for about 10 years nowThe school I'm looking at accepts both and most of the research I've done says they're pretty much the same. Since most of the people I know or work with are 3rd Grade drop outs or derelicts I've come here for advice.

Any one taken either? Is there really a difference? Should I just have another beer and flip a coin?

Your pal,
THE CAD

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I don't know about either one, but I chuckled after reading the title of this thread and then read all the grammatical errors. Good luck in your decision.

As a reformed 3rd grade dropout and a derelict, I took the GRE back in the days when dinosaurs roamed the earth, and we used hammers and chisels to chip out the circle on the answer sheet. Apparently the graduate school I attended simply wanted some indication that I did, indeed, have the mental capacity to function in an academic environment. I did quite well on the exam, and I do hold a master's degree. I guess the GRE was right.

glenn514

Beernik said:

5: There is no prohibition for Fishes A, C, D, E, & F being in the same tank.

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That's why I hate logic questions. Because there's also nothing saying that the fishes can exist together aside from what's said. I DEMAND ORDER!!!

Beernik said:

5: There is no prohibition for Fishes A, C, D, E, & F being in the same tank.

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I misunderstood the way the question was worded. When it said that fish A can live with fish B, I thought it meant fish A could only live with fish B, and so on.

Though maybe I'm posting in the wrong thread. I think this is only for smart guys.

EDIT: Actually the more that I read the question, the more I realize it is a poorly worded question. Basically, the only part of the question that is even pertinent is that B and E cannot be in the same tank. There's no point in mentioning who can live with who if it isn't who can only live with who. I think that question needs some work.

I know, I know, totally off-topic at this point. Sorry.

glenn514 said:

As a reformed 3rd grade dropout and a derelict, I took the GRE back in the days when dinosaurs roamed the earth, and we used hammers and chisels to chip out the circle on the answer sheet. Apparently the graduate school I attended simply wanted some indication that I did, indeed, have the mental capacity to function in an academic environment. I did quite well on the exam, and I do hold a master's degree. I guess the GRE was right.

glenn514

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You must have taken the GRE at the same time as Bob. I am pretty sure he used an abacus for the math.

I've never heard of the GMAT (must be way too smart for me) but everybody I know either took MCAT or GRE. My husband has his master's in Natural Resources and I went in the medical direction, so I assume GMAT is business related?

To the OP:

You say that they accept either test. Do they require you to take one? I know of a ton of schools that don't require it, especially if you've been out of school for a while. Might wanna ascertain before you drop time and money that would be better served brewing.

Right before I took the GRE (2002-2003) they dropped the logic section and added some kind of critical thinking essay question(s). Are they back to doing multi-choice logic or do they still have the essay?


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While the GRE is more widely accepted, the GMAT is usually specific to business graduate programs. There are likely to be very specific requirements for admission to particular programs, so it may depend on where you are applying.

I took the GRE and MCAT a few years ago (my defense is in March!!!) and the tests are pretty worthless. They really just test how good you are at taking tests. If it has been awhile since you have had any formal edukashun, you will need to brush up on algebra and very thoroughly expand your vocabulary.

ColoHox has hit it on the head. GMAT is business graduate focused.

It is very dependent on what your goals are. At the time I took the Exam, the GMAT was the gold standard across the top twenty programs, and if you wanted to go be a corporate strategy consultant (McKinsey, Booz, Bain, BCG) you must attend a top 20 program. My program was 26th, I was a night student, and I live in Cleveland so I couldn't even land interviews. But then again I didn't even know I wanted to be be a strategy consultant till I was in the MBA program.

On the other hand, if you goals do not include relocating for your dream job, Find out what the local programs require, and also find out how successful their career offices are are getting people jobs \ internships \ whatever you are looking for.

If you are looking at going past an MBA, an AACSB accredited school is a must, as is a regionally accredited school.

Ultimately, do not sign up for 30K per year to go to a private school unless you really think it will pay off. Local state schools can be just as effective in getting a job locally. Unless you work in financial services or for a bank and they pay 100% tuition reimbursement, then by all means get the biggest brand name degree possible. So many people I went to school with had it covered 100%, it almost made me want to get a bank job.

Heck, sometime the state schools have a much more powerful alumni network than the private schools that are ranked higher. The Ohio State University for example.

max384 said:

EDIT: Actually the more that I read the question, the more I realize it is a poorly worded question. Basically, the only part of the question that is even pertinent is that B and E cannot be in the same tank. There's no point in mentioning who can live with who if it isn't who can only live with who. I think that question needs some work.

I know, I know, totally off-topic at this point. Sorry.

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Hey, I'm trying to remember this stuff from 1998 or 1999. But I know fish in the fish tank was a question on the test.

I said that I'd go back for my PhD 5 - 10 years after I got my Masters. It's been 11 years and I still haven't decided that I'm ready for that level of self punishment again.

All getting my Masters did for me was making the getting and keeping of jobs easier. It hasn't made a difference in salary or scope of responsibility.

The school I'm looking at requires one of the tests if your undergrad GPA is under 3.0. Mine was a 2.8 and is from 10 years ago. I'm looking at the school mostly because of location, scheduling and my employer gets a 20% discount.

I'm not really concerned with getting a job right away. My current career is a young man's game and I know I can't do it forever due to various reasons. I'm more looking for something to do if I make to pension in 20 years (assuming it's not bankrupt by then)

Before suggesting that I wait until I figure out what direction to go in I do have a time limit. I am elgible for VA benefits, but only have 10 years left until they expire.

I took the "new" gre several months ago and did pretty well. I used a groupon and got a subscript on to benchprep.com I will say that it was worthless for teaching but it was great for talking timed scored tests. I think that was probably the most helpful. Advice would be get a book and take a ton of sample tests. I took it twice and did amazing on the writing once and terrible on the rest and the second time amazing on the rest and terrible on the writing. But you might want to take the gmat considering your end goals. Regardless, GOOD LUCK!