Try the practice CDs that come with the GRE books... I used them when I crammed for the GRE they actually helped A LOT since it's computer-based. And the good part about that is the questions get progressively harder if you're getting them correct. Once you miss one they drop back a level or two of difficulty. So you can kind of tell how you're doing before it spits out your scores at the end. I was totally freaked out about math too, cuz I only took one math class in undergrad. But somehow I managed to get a decent enough score to get into school. So there is a light at the end of the tunnel... other people who suck at math (or REALLY suck in my case) made it into grad school and you can too!!! :)

Have faith smartie...you'll do fine...

Good Luck...and tubey looks awesome...model it so we can see how it looks..I really like the design!

Ah, I understand completely. I'm in the same boat. You need to have a little Jimmy Buffet playing in the background while you are studying...He has a tune called "Math Sucks." I'm lucky if I can count all my dogs...hmmm, I only have one!

I am in graduate school also, working toward and Master's Degree and licensure in moderate to intensive Special Education. At age 41 with three kids, a husband, a Westie with ADHD, and a knitting fetish, it is not an easy act to balance. BUT, it is all worth it. Life is short - take it by the balls and full steam ahead! Best of luck!!

I'm really glad you've been working on Tubey because I feel like i"m the only person in the world doing it and yours looks excellent. This is my first sweater and I'm kind of intimidated...

Good luck on the GREs!!!

Good luck with the studying and the test!

Good luck on the GRE's! They suck, but in the end, it's all worth it.

Just rock the math section like you rock the mic. Minimum score? NO! MAXIMUM SCORE!!!

You are going to do SOOOOOOO well on this test, I can feel it. You are a good test taker.

And if you don't, I will still love you... and you can take it as many times as you want.

Just think! This time tomorrow, it will be over! Yay!

In other news, I want my sweater. NOW.

Deep breaths. You can do it. The more you work yourself up and worry, the more stressful you are making the experience, and the LESS you will remember.

Have confidence. It's a test to see how good you are at test taking. It does not define you as a human being. If you suck, you can re-take it...but I bet you are going to kick it's ass once you get in there and the brain juices start flowin'.

Good luck! I remember taking the GREs and how stressed I was - remember to take a break before the test though :)

I'm being rather bold here. I have a question/request to ask you about a mutual friend. Could you email me? Thanks.

When you wrote "WOO-HOO! STUDY PARTY! Me, Jacob, Bella, and a big glass of wine.", my stupid brain saw that as "Me, Jello Biafra, and a big glass of wine.", which would probably be a lot more hilarious.

You will do just fine. I thought I'd completely failed the GRE but I actually did really really well.
I made the alpace-wet dog connection a few weeks ago. It's enough to make me not want to even knit with it.

I'm confident that you are going to do JUST. FINE. (although, I DO promise to love you no how you do). I've never taken the GREs (DJS don't have to be real bright), but most of those tests are jsut tests to see how well you are at taking those tests. So I would think PRACTICE TESTS, PRACTICE TESTS, PRACTICE TESTS! If you need extra moral support, you know my number :) call any time, day or night and GOOD LUCK!

Good luck on the test! I'm sure you'll do fine. (And thanks for the nice compliment. Now if only I can get off my ass and start running, I'd be set!)

Having taken the GRE just over a year ago, I have to say practice is the best medicine - for all the sections. Writing is my forte too, but they restrictions they give you make it harder, hence I say practice the writing too. Don't worry - I'm sure you'll do great! I'm also sure the program will care a lot more about the other things you have to offer besides test scores. ;)

Good luck!

Carrie -

The *best, most useful* thing I did before taking the GRE's (25 years after I'd last seen the inside of a classroom!) was to take the entire practice exams on the CD that the testing service sends you. Apart from providing particular information about content, this prepares you so that the appearance and format of the questions is familiar when you sit down to take the real test.

The CD also provides sample response essays for the "analytical" part and explains in detail the differences between lower- and higher-scoring samples.

Good luck! I am sure that a blogger with your wit and style will do just fine. (And anyone who can keep count of a complex knitting problem can do the math!)

All the best,
Rebecca

Oh you'll do fine on the GRE. When I decided, last minute, to start grad school immediately after undergrad I had like four days to take the GRE before the deadline for applying. FOUR DAYS. I took one practice test and went for it. I passed with flying colors. I even scored higher than my smarty-pants husband (and I like to remind him of that). I think that the lack of time I had to prepare for it made it easier because I didn't have time to get worked up about it! So just relax. You'll do fine.

And don't tease us with a shot of Tubey's bottom! I can't wait to see the WHOLE thing!

Hey. We went through two years of my husband trying to get into phd programs, so I know how you feel. If you're taking the computerized test, it's SO worth the extra money to get your telephone scores sooner. At least for your frazzled nerves. You'll get through this! And the GRE math is, from a certain standpoint, not very hard. If you've got the right things memorized, you'll be fine. What program are you applying to? Best of luck!!

Jenny

I'm the exact opposite, math is my strong suit. I'll send some math vibes your way.

That Professor Schmoo picture is the cutest thing I have ever seen!

i think you're going to surprise yourself and do really well. once you start studying, i think it will all come back to you. but just the thought of dividing with decimals made me shiver.

cannot wait to see tubey! i'm still on sleeve one.

Dude, no b.s.
I fancy myself a mathmagician, and I just helped two friends with much of the math for the GRE a few months ago. If you have probs that are truly stumping you, I'd be happy to help.

Dr. Schmoo knows what to do! That picture made me snort with glee!

You are going to be fine. Cramcramcram. I believe in you. ;-)

I once got a 13% on an Algebra quiz; math was never my thing either. Of course, now I deal with math ever day in the context of budgets and cash flow--yikes. Your faithful readers will be sending good throughts your way on Tuesday!

I put a drop or two of lavender oil in the water with the euclan and it really helps the wet animal smell during blocking. Jane

Hey, I am studying for a math test myself (one so that I can add math to my teaching certificate). If you need any additional resources let me know. Good luck.

Ooh, one more thing. I think I have a less scruffy, male version of your dog: http://www.flickr.com/photos/48527722@N00/69687799/in/set-1501018/

Just study as much as you can, get those practice tests in and DON'T PANIC. Remember, for every question, you're given the answer. You just have to figure out which one it is!

is there ANYTHING cuter than dogs with glasses? I think not!

That sounds really tough but if anyone can do it, you can. You put your mind to something and you achieve it, just think about the marathon. You're a superstar. AND your tubey looks awesome. You can't go wrong.

Hey Carrie, I feel your pain with the GRE. Maybe all this knitting math will pay off and you'll ace it! Just in case, I guess you should practice a bit. Good luck!

Math??AIEEEEEE!! I can even screw up math with a calculator. For some reason though, on my SATs? I got the higher score on math, despite the fact that I didn't know what I was doing. I hope you get that kind of score on the test too!

Honey, all I can say is, good luck on those dang GREs. I know how hard it is and I believe you can do it!!!

I can't wait to see Tubey, in its modeled by Cathy glory. I wonder how you chose a size for Tubey... with all that ribbing, there's a lot of room in each size.

OF COURSE we'll all still love you even if you get a zero on the math part (is it possible to score zero? I know nothing about the GRE). You know and I know that you're a smart cookie, whatever your test says.

Eep! Good luck on the GRE, and we your faithful readers will love you no matter what your score.

I've been a lurker so far, but your comments on the GRE are exactly how I feel. I'm abysmal at math and great in verbal... I just hope all my grad school prospectives can overlook my completely bottomed out math score (I'm a Classics major, but it is still embarassing). Good luck! I'm rooting for you. ^_^

Wet alpaca smell like wet dog? Yup. Sure does. Our ten alpacas have been damp for three weeks now and while the smell isn't overpowering, the wet fiber does smell stronger than the manure.

I use a combination of laundry detergent and dish soap when I'm washing the raw alpaca fiber. Go ahead and use a lot of soap, but the soapier you get the fiber, the gentler you need to be to avoid felting it.

Just hang in there and try not to panic. (I said "try.") You might surprise yourself, and in the meantime, it's "only" a test . . . and look at the fine, studying help you've got! Just remember to breathe.

The best advice I can give is this: eliminate the obviously wrong answers right away so that you only have a couple to choose from and if you can't figure it out, move on quickly to the next one...don't get bogged down and frustrated with a tough question.

Good luck!

First, breathe. :-) Then, let me tell you that I am crappy at math but did much better than I expected on the GRE. And, I studied less than a week, too. The good part about the math counting is that it is the easiest section to study for. There are less formulas to study than there are vocabulary words. I second the recommendation that you do practice questions. They helped me tremendously. I relate to the analytical section not counting...it didn't count for me either and I got a perfect score. Yes, that's ridiculous. I wouldn't have gotten a perfect score if it counted, for sure. Oh, and don't forget to breathe! You are a very smart, capable person...you can do this.

What field are you applying to? As a former Kaplan GRE teacher, I'd recommend doing lots of practice questions. And relaxing the morning of the test and doing anything to feel confident!

Best of luck on the test, and I'm anxious to see the whole sweater!

Um, that sucks... but you can totally do it! I couldn't, but you totally could! Good luck!

Not sure I should tell you this, but back in the day, I took the GRE's three times. Each time my math score got lower and lower and lower.

Generally, though, the GREs are all about money in graduate school, not about admissions. (they decide who gets university money based on test scores.) I've done info sessions for my alma mater as part of the admissions procedure and we always tell the students that the GREs mean absolutely nothing. BUT you still have to take them because they are a requirement of the graduate school as a whole.

Good luck. I am notoriously awful at standardized tests. Give me an essay questions and I'll write freaking rings around anyone. Multiple choice and I'm sitting there scratching my ass like a monkey. At least now a days you get your score right when you finish (I don't think I'm making this up) so you don't have to wait weeks thinking you did awful.

Oh no! Those bastards. I feel for you sweetie, really I do.

I bet that I am worse at math than you! ;) I really don't know whey they require you take that stupid part when the programs don't have anything to do with math! ack!!

Good luck!! You can do it!!

At least you're taking yours, I'm still just thinking about it. Best of luck and happy studying. I'm sure it will be fine.

I haven't taken the GRE but last year had to take another test for a position that was similar to the GRE Quantitative section. In fact, that's what they recommended you use to study. It sucked but I passed, and so will you! Time management was my biggest issue since the time I had was limited.

It gives me hope to see you've finished Tubey. I'm just starting the second half of the sleeve tube, and I fear the stockinette might just be the death of me.

I TOTALLY sympathize!!!! I took the GREs last spring 20 YEARS after I had studied geometry and algebra (no, I am NOT that old, shut up, I was advanced...) and my mom reviewed me for the math section (her being an algebra and geometry teacher). SO...

I totally did fine. My # score was better on the math than the writing (and I am a writing kinda girl like yourself, not that you can tell from the comment) but my percentages were higher on the verbal than the math. AND the most important part I got in to the grad school of my choice and now am slaving away.

DONT PANIC.

The best parts my mom told me were about the triangles--she had mnemonics for the fomulas--try to memorize the formulas for lengths--like if two angles are alike its the square root of 2 and other similar things.

Im not helping.

Ok, DONT PANIC!

You can always take it again!!!!! After studying.

Oooh, Dr. Schmoo is quite fetching. Please give her my regards.
Oh and best of lunch on the GREs. I'm sure you'll do great. :)

Wow, I can't wait to see a full shot of Tubey! :) It's looks beautiful - and your cast off is much better than mine!

I can't tell you how sorry I am about this math revelation!! but you know that I love that tubey! Leila looked at your blog and said, "Hey, what is Carrie's doggie's name?" Now your blog will be known far and wide in the toddler world.

As for studying, just keep keeping on with it. I would offer to help, but I am of no use AT ALL when it comes to math, as you well know.