Thursday, April 3, 2008
Accepted to UC
Yesterday I received an e-mail from the University of Cincinnati to study towards a Ph.D. with full scholarship and a yearly stipend. The hard work paid off.
Friday, March 14, 2008
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
GRE results
It's over!
And it went very very well. I got 800 on the quantitative and 640 on the verbal.
People are usually awed by the 800, as it is the perfect score, but I think that the 640 is much more impressive. 800 in quantitative is the 94th percentile, which is nice, but the 6 percent that receive 800 prove how easy the quantitative section is. However, 640 is the 91st percentile, which includes all the native speakers of English taking the test. For a non-native speaker, who has never lived in a country whose language is English, like me, that's like being in the 99th percentile.
I'm very very pleased.
Now the focus shifts to the following:
1) Helping D move to my place.
2) Getting back in shape.
3) Getting accepted with all the financial aid we need.
4) Meeting all the friends and family whom I have neglected in the past 3 months.
Good luck to us. :-)
And it went very very well. I got 800 on the quantitative and 640 on the verbal.
People are usually awed by the 800, as it is the perfect score, but I think that the 640 is much more impressive. 800 in quantitative is the 94th percentile, which is nice, but the 6 percent that receive 800 prove how easy the quantitative section is. However, 640 is the 91st percentile, which includes all the native speakers of English taking the test. For a non-native speaker, who has never lived in a country whose language is English, like me, that's like being in the 99th percentile.
I'm very very pleased.
Now the focus shifts to the following:
1) Helping D move to my place.
2) Getting back in shape.
3) Getting accepted with all the financial aid we need.
4) Meeting all the friends and family whom I have neglected in the past 3 months.
Good luck to us. :-)
Sunday, March 9, 2008
GRE time
By this time tomorrow I will have finished my GRE test and I will have known the score.
I have never in my life studied so hard for a standardized test. I have taken a preparation course, studied hundreds (literally, hundreds) of words in the vocabulary, and taken numerous tests. In recent tests my quantitative score is wavering between 750-800, mostly near the higher part of the scale, while my verbal score is not so predictable. Usually, the verbal score is around 600, but one of the tests I took yesterday scored 470. That's due to the adaptive nature of the GRE and the weight it gives to the first question(s). I hope that tomorrow I'll be around the 600.
After the test all the energies shall be focused on Dana's move to my place and on our later move to (hopefully) the USA. The flat requires refurbishment, at least replacing the air conditioning and fixing the toilets. Then, we need to see how much, exactly, are we going to receive if we move to Cincinnati. That requires a talk with the prospective professor, K.
I have never in my life studied so hard for a standardized test. I have taken a preparation course, studied hundreds (literally, hundreds) of words in the vocabulary, and taken numerous tests. In recent tests my quantitative score is wavering between 750-800, mostly near the higher part of the scale, while my verbal score is not so predictable. Usually, the verbal score is around 600, but one of the tests I took yesterday scored 470. That's due to the adaptive nature of the GRE and the weight it gives to the first question(s). I hope that tomorrow I'll be around the 600.
After the test all the energies shall be focused on Dana's move to my place and on our later move to (hopefully) the USA. The flat requires refurbishment, at least replacing the air conditioning and fixing the toilets. Then, we need to see how much, exactly, are we going to receive if we move to Cincinnati. That requires a talk with the prospective professor, K.
Friday, February 22, 2008
A writer is hidden in me?
Today I received one compliment, which I have never thought relevant to me. The verbal instructor in my GRE course told another student to take my GRE essays as a model of good writing. I have never in my life been praised for the things I write, especially essays. During high-school my best ever achievement was scoring 85 in one essay, and the teacher asked me if my girl friend at that time helped me. It is a long gone dream to become a writer in a journal (and I don't mean a scientific one) or an author of books. I just never thought I had it in me. Well, do I? Probably not, as GRE essays are far more technical than artistic. Nonetheless, this is a really nice compliment. GRE is salubrious, and if you don't know what that word means, you are not ready for your GRE.
Sunday, February 3, 2008
Mid-Term, Full-Term
D's preparations to the GMAT exam is finally over. Tomorrow she is taking the test and I know she will do great on this test. All the preparation tests she took recently were scored above 600 and most of them above 700, so no doubt she will pass the test with flying colors. Nevertheless, good luck my D!
I took a mid-term exam in my GRE course. I scored 730 in the quantitative and 550 in the verbal. The former is a bit disappointing for me, as I know I can do better, and the latter is quite encouraging. I think I improved my verbal grade in around 50-100 points. I am also close to the 1300 mark, which is a very nice score. Well, 5 more weeks and I'll be over it. My goal is 1300+ and preferably close to the 1400 mark.
Meanwhile, I cross all my fingers to my D! Kick their asses, love. :-)
I took a mid-term exam in my GRE course. I scored 730 in the quantitative and 550 in the verbal. The former is a bit disappointing for me, as I know I can do better, and the latter is quite encouraging. I think I improved my verbal grade in around 50-100 points. I am also close to the 1300 mark, which is a very nice score. Well, 5 more weeks and I'll be over it. My goal is 1300+ and preferably close to the 1400 mark.
Meanwhile, I cross all my fingers to my D! Kick their asses, love. :-)
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Moving in, Moving on to a new level
It is undoubtedly long due, but D and I are moving in together. We are not sure if it is going to be in my place or in a rented place. It will take place sometime during March, after I take the GRE. The catalyst to this decision is D's landlord, who decided to terminate her lease before it's due date in the end of April.
Obviously, some changes will have to be made. The small room will become the cat's room. My library will move to the little balcony I have, which - like the bedroom - will be off-limit to the cats. D's appliances and furniture will be examined, some will be sold, some will move here and some will be shipped abroad, to our new home. Hopefully, we will not have to store it in a warehouse for too long.
A careful planning is required, with deadlines and dependencies. Reorganizing two homes is a project, and like any other project it requires time, effort and has its risks. With careful planning we will be able to overcome all of them.
Moving in together will also take our relationship to a new level. A better one.
Obviously, some changes will have to be made. The small room will become the cat's room. My library will move to the little balcony I have, which - like the bedroom - will be off-limit to the cats. D's appliances and furniture will be examined, some will be sold, some will move here and some will be shipped abroad, to our new home. Hopefully, we will not have to store it in a warehouse for too long.
A careful planning is required, with deadlines and dependencies. Reorganizing two homes is a project, and like any other project it requires time, effort and has its risks. With careful planning we will be able to overcome all of them.
Moving in together will also take our relationship to a new level. A better one.
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