Guest guest Posted May 31, 2010 Report Share Posted May 31, 2010 , I took the GRE before I entered my PhD program. The people there asked me if I needed any accommodations, including someone to write for me or longer time. But I didn't need any. I've never asked for any accommodations during my entire schooling. I suppose they will give you the accommodations you need if you call them and explain your situation. It's the law, isn't it? Have you called them yet and asked them how they can help you? God Bless, Meg W. From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of 3 Sent: Monday, May 31, 2010 4:14 PM Subject: GRE Accommodations Hey everyone, long time no post. This coming December, I'm going to be applying to a PhD program. Among other things, that means I get to look forward to taking the GRE. I was wondering if anyone else in the group has previously taken it for grad school. If so, what kind of accommodations were you able to get? A significant portion of the exam involves writing two essays. When able-bodied folks take it, they compose their essays on a computer using a specialized word processor with limited features - most notably being a lack of spell check. Apparently, in a way, the GRE is partially a glorified spelling test. Now, that has me a little concerned. You see, when I typically have written exams (at least at the collegiate level), I go to my school's disabled student services office and use one of their computers with speech recognition software. That's pretty much a standard accommodation. However, I have a feeling that's not something that the GREs do; after all, using speech recognition software is technically like automatically having spellcheck. So, if anyone here has taken the GRE and isn't able to type, what did you do? Did they make you dictate to a scribe to do the typing for you? And did the scribe constantly make you spell out words? It seems like that's the only way they could be " fair " by their standards, but such an arrangement seems like it would place an undue inconvenience on the disabled student being tested. Any input or thoughts would be appreciated! - Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 31, 2010 Report Share Posted May 31, 2010 I have an e-mail into the accommodations department, but I haven't heard back yet. Of course , I'm sure they'll make accommodations for me once they understand my situation; I don't question that. Precisely *what* accommodations they'll make is a bit more ambiguous. It's true that they legally have to accommodate individuals with disabilities, but that doesn't mean they'll do a good job with it. I remember all that commotion a short time back when a blind woman was fighting against the bar exam because they were trying to stick her with the bare minimum of accommodation (an optical magnifier and a scribe, if I recall) instead of the degree of assistive technology she usually used. I'm just trying to get a feel for how the GRE handles themselves. > > , > > > > I took the GRE before I entered my PhD program. The people there asked me > if I needed any accommodations, including someone to write for me or longer > time. But I didn't need any. I've never asked for any accommodations > during my entire schooling. > > > > I suppose they will give you the accommodations you need if you call them > and explain your situation. It's the law, isn't it? > > > > Have you called them yet and asked them how they can help you? > > > > > > God Bless, > > Meg W. > > > > From: [mailto: ] On > Behalf Of 3 > Sent: Monday, May 31, 2010 4:14 PM > > Subject: GRE Accommodations > > > > > > Hey everyone, long time no post. > > This coming December, I'm going to be applying to a PhD program. Among other > things, that means I get to look forward to taking the GRE. I was wondering > if anyone else in the group has previously taken it for grad school. If so, > what kind of accommodations were you able to get? > > A significant portion of the exam involves writing two essays. When > able-bodied folks take it, they compose their essays on a computer using a > specialized word processor with limited features - most notably being a lack > of spell check. Apparently, in a way, the GRE is partially a glorified > spelling test. Now, that has me a little concerned. You see, when I > typically have written exams (at least at the collegiate level), I go to my > school's disabled student services office and use one of their computers > with speech recognition software. That's pretty much a standard > accommodation. However, I have a feeling that's not something that the GREs > do; after all, using speech recognition software is technically like > automatically having spellcheck. > > So, if anyone here has taken the GRE and isn't able to type, what did you > do? Did they make you dictate to a scribe to do the typing for you? And did > the scribe constantly make you spell out words? It seems like that's the > only way they could be " fair " by their standards, but such an arrangement > seems like it would place an undue inconvenience on the disabled student > being tested. > > Any input or thoughts would be appreciated! > - > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 2, 2010 Report Share Posted June 2, 2010 I took the GRE and hated every minute of it! I can type, but if the keyboard isnt exactly at the right level then I dont type as fast, so I was given the extended time if I needed it. I was also given extra breaks if I needed them. They put me in a room by myself and allowed an aid to be with me, but she couldnt bring anything in with her! So she just sat there. They even made me leave my bottle of water and my asthma inhaler outside the doorway bc I didn't get it approved (who would have thought I would have to get an inhaler approved!!!) SO anything and everything you might need in the room with you, ADD it to the paperwork!! The room I was in was cold so I had to take a few extra breaks just to go outside to thaw so I could type! Ohh, they can also provide you with a desk that is height adjustable if you need it! Â It was a waste of time if you ask me! I had a 3.74 GPA prior to grad school so they told me I could bomb the GRE and still get accepted to Grad School! Which is good because I didnt prepare the way I should have so I didnt do near as well as I could have, though I still passed it all! Â Oh and for spelling, if I didn't know how to spell something I made sure I changed my sentence around so I could use a different word that I could spell! haha. Â Wish I could answer your questions of the whole dictation stuff. Â From: 3 <hawk_stryke@...> Subject: GRE Accommodations Date: Monday, May 31, 2010, 2:14 PM Â Hey everyone, long time no post. This coming December, I'm going to be applying to a PhD program. Among other things, that means I get to look forward to taking the GRE. I was wondering if anyone else in the group has previously taken it for grad school. If so, what kind of accommodations were you able to get? A significant portion of the exam involves writing two essays. When able-bodied folks take it, they compose their essays on a computer using a specialized word processor with limited features - most notably being a lack of spell check. Apparently, in a way, the GRE is partially a glorified spelling test. Now, that has me a little concerned. You see, when I typically have written exams (at least at the collegiate level), I go to my school's disabled student services office and use one of their computers with speech recognition software. That's pretty much a standard accommodation. However, I have a feeling that's not something that the GREs do; after all, using speech recognition software is technically like automatically having spellcheck. So, if anyone here has taken the GRE and isn't able to type, what did you do? Did they make you dictate to a scribe to do the typing for you? And did the scribe constantly make you spell out words? It seems like that's the only way they could be " fair " by their standards, but such an arrangement seems like it would place an undue inconvenience on the disabled student being tested. Any input or thoughts would be appreciated! - Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 3, 2010 Report Share Posted June 3, 2010 Thanks for the info! Yeah, I'm pretty much in the same boat as you were in terms of how much my score is actually going to matter. My cumulative GPA is ~3.8, and I've been told that my acceptance is pretty much guaranteed regardless of how I do on the GRE -- it's just a university requirement that you *take* it before applying. As for spelling, I'm not worried about actually being able to; one of my many undergrad foci is technical writing, so it'd be pretty sad if I couldn't spell! I just have a feeling the fact that people can't use spell check is going to automatically rule out use of speech recognition software. > > > From: 3 <hawk_stryke@...> > Subject: GRE Accommodations > > Date: Monday, May 31, 2010, 2:14 PM > > > Â > > > > Hey everyone, long time no post. > > This coming December, I'm going to be applying to a PhD program. Among other things, that means I get to look forward to taking the GRE. I was wondering if anyone else in the group has previously taken it for grad school. If so, what kind of accommodations were you able to get? > > A significant portion of the exam involves writing two essays. When able-bodied folks take it, they compose their essays on a computer using a specialized word processor with limited features - most notably being a lack of spell check. Apparently, in a way, the GRE is partially a glorified spelling test. Now, that has me a little concerned. You see, when I typically have written exams (at least at the collegiate level), I go to my school's disabled student services office and use one of their computers with speech recognition software. That's pretty much a standard accommodation. However, I have a feeling that's not something that the GREs do; after all, using speech recognition software is technically like automatically having spellcheck. > > So, if anyone here has taken the GRE and isn't able to type, what did you do? Did they make you dictate to a scribe to do the typing for you? And did the scribe constantly make you spell out words? It seems like that's the only way they could be " fair " by their standards, but such an arrangement seems like it would place an undue inconvenience on the disabled student being tested. > > Any input or thoughts would be appreciated! > - > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 3, 2010 Report Share Posted June 3, 2010 Can they provide someone that can write what you say like a proctor? I was going to take the GMAT to get into a MBA program and that was an option but you have to get your physician to write a detailed report on why you need accommodations. I didn't take it because I decided my health wasn't good enough nor my pocket book to attain a higher degree. M. Rudolph Louisville, Kentucky 40214 E-mail: turbokev@... Web sites: <http://www.turbokev.com> http://www.turbokev.com <http://www.facebook.com/turbokev> http://www.facebook.com/turbokev <http://www.myspace.com/kyprincecharming> http://www.myspace.com/kyprincecharming <http://www.twitter.com/turbokev> http://www.twitter.com/turbokev Instant Messengers: AIM: kyprincecharming ICQ: 28414413 Windows Live: <mailto:turbokmr@...> turbokmr@... : turbokev Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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