GRE Subject Tests

[NAP]

Well, Kaz, that is a surprise. I did not expect you to take the Psychology GRE! I’d really like to see your degree plan and how this and the Math GRE will fit for you. How many credits do you have already? I am looking forward to your updates.

[Kaz]

Well, Kaz, that is a surprise. I did not expect you to take the Psychology GRE! I’d really like to see your degree plan and how this and the Math GRE will fit for you. How many credits do you have already? I am looking forward to your updates.

I have somewhere in the high 90's credits, all brick & mortar, if you accept each transcript individually. My school (Rutgers) shorted me about 12 I think when I transferred from community college, so I only have 86(?) on my Rutgers' transcript. I was originally an I.T. major and those early computer classes are starting to look pretty old though, so I might have to replace some of them.

Continuing at Rutgers has become a bigger and bigger problem because of the usual: costs, far drive, I work full-time, significant other, etc. Considering how many more classes I'd have to take from a 4 year school in order to finish out at Rutgers, plus how few I actually finish on a yearly basis, it stopped making sense to me to continue that route. So Big 3 here I come.

I'm definitely not a "check the box" guy. I'm not already doing what I love and I'm not entrenched in a job where the only obstacle to my advancement is any bachelor's. Plus, if I hit the lottery and could do anything with my time I'd continue taking classes. I'd take them all if I could! So double majoring just comes natural to me. I'd triple-up or do double-major/double-minor if someone would let me.

More to your point, we all know that the cheapest per-test/per-credit plan is Excelsior's GRE option if you can pull it off. I looked at the other Big 2 but I just can't get over taking a single three hour test and loading up on so many credits! I figured, even if I don't get enough to finish a psych major, I will get enough to fulfill the balance of my non-math major requirements. That was the original plan: take just the math classes at Rutgers and then GRE and transfer to Excelsior to graduate.

Now, I don't see myself taking any more math classes for quite a while. Plus, I never took myself seriously with regards to just getting enough out of the GRE in order to fulfill depth or breadth requirements. I'm an "exam guy", not a "homework guy" or "project guy". I'm just itchin' to retake it in April already! I know I can definitely hit that magical 80% and have a second major.

The reason I didn't initially consider the math subject GRE is that I already have a good amount of credits and, frankly, I think it is a harder test! I'd have to get somewhere in the mid 60%'s in order to get anything out of it at all. That was the original outlook. Now, I'm not going to take any classes and just drill and drill and drill for 11 months. Hopefully that will be enough for the 81%st.

As far as degree plan goes, I was more on top of that kind of stuff years ago :p . Not that I'm just wingin' this in the dark or anything, I just know how far along I am and what my next step is. But here is off the top of my head:

• I know I need their "Information Literacy" of whatever it's called. No big deal there.
  
• I know I need probably 20 or so credits just to get up to 120.
  
• I might lose some early, low-level computer classes. The very first ones I took are coming up on 10 years old. But I have three CompTIA certs and can more or less pass some CLEPs, DSSTs and TECEPs cold. Since I'm not trying to finish my original computer degree I'm not overly concerned with how these shake-out.
  
• I never take "fluff courses". I made every elective decision based on leaving the door open for a possible change or adding a minor to my itinerary. So here are my non-computer/non-math courses off the top of my head:
  
  English Comp 1 & 2
  Western Civ 1 & 2
  Micro & Macro Econ
  Intro to Psych (obviously will duplicate)
  Physics 1 + lab
  Intro to Public Speaking
  Intro to Mandarin Chinese (Pass/Fail and so humbling :eek: )
  
  I believe I'm good on most requirements. I might need a little more humanities but I can pass the A&I Lit. CLEP cold which should be enough. Completing both major requirements should handle the rest. Again, I have to make sure of that but I'm close. Now that I actually am going to go to Excelsior I'll be cracking open their catalog and making sure my "i's are dotted" and "t's crossed".
  

[NAP]

Hi Kaz!

It sounds like you know how you want to finish your degree. I didn’t know you were going for a double-major! I do think it is hard (emotionally) to transfer schools, though.

Here is the time-limit on transfer credit for your computer classes:

https://www.excelsior.edu/Excelsior_Coll...FER_CREDIT

I would like to know more about how your math courses fit with the GRE. Are you sure you need the full 85th percentile on the GRE for the 33 credits in the math major? I thought you had the highest level math courses already completed and just needed some in the middle.

If you have any questions about completing your degree plan, please let us know.

Stay in touch!

[Kaz]

Hi Kaz!

I would like to know more about how your math courses fit with the GRE. Are you sure you need the full 85th percentile on the GRE for the 33 credits in the math major? I thought you had the highest level math courses already completed and just needed some in the middle.

If you have any questions about completing your degree plan, please let us know.

Stay in touch!

There really isn't any "middle", per se. I need four more intermediate/upper-level courses in math to finish Excelsior's math major. I can't find a good definition of "intermediate" in Excelsior's catalog. I'll take it as "neither introductory nor upper-level". Either way it's moot because almost all math curricula I've seen put all their junior and senior level courses on roughly the same playing field. Prereq's vary, but a given 300 level course won't necessarily be any harder or easier than a given 400 level course. And usually the only 200 level courses are math major prereq's: calc3, diff eq, and linear algebra.

How does it fit with the GRE? I don't have a 100% answer yet, but I know some things. Anything below calc1 doesn't count towards major, pretty much standard across universities. So, I imagine that pre-calc and down would be free/general electives at least (that's how Rutgers treated my pre-calc), meaning that the math GRE wouldn't duplicate with the CLEPs for College Algebra, Math and Pre-Calculus which is nice. Using the earlier posts in this thread as a rough guide, I imagine that your first 3 credits from the GRE would be considered fulfilling your calc1 requirement, your next 3 would fulfill calc2, and so on.

I would bet that that pattern at least holds for the core requirements. So calc1-3, diff eq and linear algebra is five courses. A scaled score of 580 currently puts you in the 36th percentile. If you get one course per 5 percentage points starting at 35%, then you'd need a scaled score of 660 (57th%) in order to clear the core (650 would be 54th%).

Now, I've completed all the core requirements plus two more 300 level courses. So GRE-wise I wouldn't start earning more credits until I hit the scaled 690-700 range (64th-68%). And we know 85% completes the major.

What I don't know is two-fold:

1. Excelsior wants the six inter/upper courses to be broken down into two from subsection A, two from subB and two from subC but it is unclear as to whether you are supposed to do them "in order", i.e. take a subA, take another subA, take a subB, etc. I don't think you are supposed to, as most programs don't work that way at all. Course progression is self-governing through prereq's, and they don't care if you take linear programming before number theory for instance.
   
   
2. Where my two non-core classes fall. One was entitled "Linear Optimization" and I would say it fits in subsection C, subgroup1. But if someone had a really good arguement I could see it being in subgroup2, and technically it wouldn't be wrong to put it in subsection B. But I think "C1" is best. My other course is quirkier to place, which is funny because it is a crucial prereq in my school for basically every junior and senior level course! It is "Introduction to Mathematical Reasoning" and used set theory and mathematical logic to ease us into writing papers and proofs at the "mathematician's level". I think it can only go in subA, maybe "C1" but unlikely. Definitely not subB or "C2".
   

So here's what I need clarified about the math subject GRE: what GRE scores result in duplication of non-core courses, specifically, which precentiles map to which subsections of the major and in what order. For me personally, I need to know if my "Intro Reasoning" course is considered subsection A and if so does it duplicate when I score in the 61st%? or the 66th%? Even more interesting (I'll do a separate post using this as a segue about a strategy I have for GREs), is my "Optimization" course. That should be C1 IMHO. Does that mean I've cleared C1 no matter what, so I don't duplicate this credit if I only score in the 68th%? Meaning if I fall two courses short after the GRE I'm actually only one course short because the last two are C1 and C2, with "Optimization" having already cleared C1? I foresee being a true bane to whatever advisor I wind up with .


P.S.
On page 21 of the Liberal Arts catalog they describe "Level Requirement". In it they specifically say that even if a course is only offered to juniors or seniors, if it is "introductory", then it is considered lower level. They list several examples, which are only helpful because they are very popular courses so their mention specifically addresses a very large audience. But, I can't tell if my "Introdcution to Mathematical Reasoning" will be considered an introductory course. Working against it is the fact that it has intro right in the frickin' name :mad: , lol. Working for it is that it has a calc2 prereq, which is a pretty good one. Hmm...grr... Might not be good enough.

[NAP]

Hi Kaz!

I enjoy reading your posts!

Did they give you any clues about how your math courses will be assessed on your unofficial evaluation?

I hope to apply next year for an associate degree, so one of us will find out soon how they award credits for the Math GRE. When are you planning to apply and when are you planning to take the Math GRE?

[SophanPhin82]

I should've checked this post sooner before I started applying to TESC - how foolish of me!! Anyway, I have 84 college credits from a combination of CC/Uni. courses so if I play my cards right, I could graduate with a BA in Liberal Studies from EC with the completion of only two GRE subject exams. Additionally, the enrollment fee at EC is far cheaper. I guess I'm going to scratch my plans of taking 14 CLEP/DSST exams this winter and just gear up for the GRE's in April! Thanks for the info guys!

[NAP]

I should've checked this post sooner before I started applying to TESC - how foolish of me!! Anyway, I have 84 college credits from a combination of CC/Uni. courses so if I play my cards right, I could graduate with a BA in Liberal Studies from EC with the completion of only two GRE subject exams. Additionally, the enrollment fee at EC is far cheaper. I guess I'm going to scratch my plans of taking 14 CLEP/DSST exams this winter and just gear up for the GRE's in April! Thanks for the info guys!

Hi!

Which GREs are you interested in taking? Please keep us updated on your progress.

[Kaz]

Psych GRE score is in. I got a 690. Very happy! Very surprised! I was thinking more around the 60-65%,but I wound up in the 77th. I actually needed a scaled score of 143 for 81% and I got a 142. Doh!!

Thank you Alissa! Your outline helped a lot.

I only have my pre-GRE unofficial eval from Excelsior. They had me needing 22 Upper Level credits for a BSLS (they don't unofficially evaluate for specific majors apparently). The psych GRE gives me 15 more UL creds, no dupes. So theoretically I'm almost done for "just" a bachelor's in psych, but the math major part was the "real" major I've been pursuing, so miles to go before I sleep!

I don't see getting anymore course-specific info outta' Excelsior until I enroll, which I'm not planning on doing until February. I'll just have to not preoccupy myself with how they interpreted those couple of math classes, especially since if I truly intend to attack the math GRE with everything I's got's, shootin' for a score in the 80+%, the major will be satisfied from the GRE alone anyway.

[NAP]

Congratulations Kaz!! That is so impressive! You have just earned 27 more credits! Be sure to celebrate before you go on to the next step.

(I have a question about the math major; I'll send you a PM.)

[TMW2010]

Here is the time-limit on transfer credit for your computer classes:

https://www.excelsior.edu/Excelsior_Coll...FER_CREDIT

Either they've changed the policy on this, or the admissions counselor who emailed me today on this is confused -

My Email to Excelsior -
I’m planning on submitting my application for Excelsior on January 8th, 2010, and am gathering my transcripts for the process. Will I be required to submit a Time Limit Appeal form for my technology certification and credits to have them accepted towards my degree? My certifications were achieved in 1998-1999, and my technology credits were achieved from a Regionally Accredited school (Strayer University) in 1992-1993.

Excelsior's response to this -
Dear Todd,
If you are pursuing a Liberal Arts degree, you will not need to complete a time limit appeal letter. Simply apply and mail your official and sealed transcripts to:
Excelsior College
Attn: Records Office
7 Columbia Circle
Albany, NY 12203-5159
Thanks!

Ah well... Back to studying the Psych stuff.... April will be here faster than I can comprehend....