I mentioned before that I have been studying for the GRE. I’ve been considering going back to get my Master’s degree for a while and finally realized it’s pretty much now or never. So I thought I’d give it a whirl and see what happens.
Getting back into an intellectual mindset has been difficult. When you’re solving problems and reading academic literature almost every day, it’s second nature to pull concepts out and work it through. But it has been over four years since I’ve been in any kind of school. (I did do a creative writing class earlier this year, but it’s really not the same thing.) As I continue studying, the math has been coming back to me. I can remember working these sorts of problems back in school and I think just a big more practice will put me in good shape.
But the verbal section is brutal! They give you these long, convoluted excerpts of some scientific journal or something similar and then expect you to judge what the writer would think if x, y or z happened. Reading these passages and answering the questions literally make my brain hurt. I can definitely tell that these are the questions I’m going to have to work extra hard on over the next couple of weeks.

I’m signed up to take the test the Monday after Thanksgiving. Yes, I know. Nothing like planning two of the biggest events of my year back-to-back. I will be taking the GRE on Monday and flying to Vegas that Friday and then running in the half-marathon on Sunday. It’s going to be a busy week!
I’m pushing hard for the next 19 days to get myself prepared for both events. I keep telling myself there’s light at the end of the tunnel, but then I realize it’s the holidays, which are always busy and that I have to actually apply to grad school after that. It seems to never end, but I’m trying to get myself more organized and to learn to say “no” when I need to. I’m not saying I’m good at that right now, but I’m working on it.
Going to have to focus on the books until the end of the month. We’ll see what happens after that.
**Don’t forget! Thursday’s the last day to be entered in the drawing for some great local restaurant gift cards. I’ll be posting the winners later this week!! Here’s the link to my fundraising site. Thank you so much to all of you who have already given.