I am one of the fortunate seniors that has chosen to go on to graduate school. This adds a lot of work to my already busy schedule; I must fill out some applications, get recommendations, and prepare for and take the Graduate Record Exam. Then there’s the cost. The average school requires a $50 fee for applying; multiply that by five and add the $99 for the GRE general test and $130 for the GRE subject test, and I’m paying more money than a student wants to.
My problem with this process is the GREs. Standardized tests are a good method of evaluating a student’s abilities on a level that is the same for the whole application pool, if not verging on “fair.” The issue is that the test is required and that it is given by only one service, the Educational Testing Service.
I took a GRE booklet out of the Career Development Center last spring sometime. Using my sometimes backward logic, I figured that since a new school year had not started, the computer-based general tests advertised as being available all year round would be attainable with the 2000-2001 form in July 2001. What a mistake that was. Apparently I needed to use the 2001-2002 form or call. I tried calling, but decided that I’d rather mail it in and not spend 45 minutes on hold to talk to a representative. After all, it was July—I had plenty of time.
I heard nothing for the two to three weeks it was supposed to take to process the application. When my bank statement revealed the check was cashed, I called to ask why I had not been contacted by them. This began a series of conversations with the people of the GRE. I was first told that since I had probably used last year’s form it would not be looked at until October. Around mid-October I called again. I was not in the system, so I was asked to fax all my information and a copy of the cancelled payment check to a representative. After I ordered my cancelled check from HSBC, which cost me $5 and took a week, I called again to see if I could just sign up on the phone. I was told again by Angela to fax the information and the cancelled check to her and she would straighten it all out and I would receive the voucher in two to three weeks. She was very helpful and seemed surprised I was not notified there was a problem with my application. I faxed the information and waited. I called again a few days later to make sure they got everything, and was told it was being processed.
I thought everything would work out long before my December 15 graduate school application deadline. After the standard week waiting period, I called again. Tamara told me she would resend my voucher, claiming it had been sent in October. She also told me, essentially, that this was all my fault for not calling them to begin with. Also, I could not sign up on the phone, since I had originally sent in a form by mail, which had been lost. To top it off, ETS does not give refunds and there is no way to file a complaint with the GRE customer representatives.
My advice to you is to take the GREs as soon as you know you’re going to graduate school. Sign up on the phone and pay by credit card if you can. Meanwhile, I’ll be waiting to for my phantom voucher to arrive by mail.
