Discussion Overview
The discussion revolves around the necessity and extent of preparation for the GRE, particularly for engineering students. Participants share their experiences and opinions regarding study strategies for both the general GRE and the subject-specific GRE, focusing on the verbal and math sections.
Discussion Character
- Exploratory
- Debate/contested
- Homework-related
Main Points Raised
- One participant questions the need for extensive GRE preparation, noting that senior year in mechanical/aerospace engineering leaves little time for studying vocabulary.
- Another participant mentions that their preparation for the general GRE consisted of taking only one practice test, contrasting this with significant preparation for the physics GRE.
- It is suggested by one participant that the math section is relatively easy for engineers, with a statistic indicating that around 20% of engineering students score 800 on this section.
- A participant shares their experience of scoring 790 on the math section without any study, implying that a practice test score above 700 indicates sufficient preparedness.
- Conversely, there is an emphasis on the importance of studying for the verbal section, with recommendations for vocabulary study techniques such as reciting unfamiliar words and regular reading.
- A participant provides a link to a resource for GRE vocabulary preparation.
Areas of Agreement / Disagreement
Participants express differing views on the necessity of studying for the GRE, particularly between the math and verbal sections. While some believe minimal preparation is sufficient for the math section, others argue that the verbal section requires more focused study. No consensus is reached on the overall necessity of GRE preparation.
Contextual Notes
Participants' claims about the ease of the math section and the difficulty of the verbal section are based on personal experiences and perceptions, which may not universally apply. The discussion reflects varying levels of confidence and preparation strategies among engineering students.