Has anybody taken the GRE Chemistry??

[n_runner]

Good luck Jody! Let us know how it all turns out...

[jody28]

Hi there,

I thought I better update, it's only fair I share my failures as well as my triumphs!

So, there I was, 6 weeks to study for the Chemistry GRE, I got a ton of books and the information about the contents. I kind of figured I would not pass the first time with that amount of studying, but I wanted to go see what it's like.

The GRE score is scaled, and I got about 1/3 of the quesitons correct, they subtract 1/4 point for incorrect answers and my scaled score was something like 3rd percentile!! Holy cow, this exam kicked my butt! It made me realize how much detail you need to memorize for this exam. They ask a ton of reaction mechanisms in organic chemistry, just formulas you need to remember, just grueling!

So bottom line, it can be done, I'm sure of it. But I'm 42 credit hours away from a business degree, so I will finish that first. And even if I get enough points on the GRE I still need 40 credit hours to complete that degree. I did not want to put all my eggs in one basket, so I will graduate will a BS in business first, and then embark on my next adventure. It may be a chemistry degree, it may not be.

Like I always said "might as well try, it's not very expensive!"

:-) Thanks for all your feedback, participation and well wishes!
This forum rocks!

Jody

[NAP]

Thank you for the update. I am impressed that you did take it after a short amount of preparation time. (I had been wondering whether you would try it.) I am impressed that you came back and told us about your experience even though you were disappointed with your results. I am also impressed that you got a third of the questions correct. I think that was a good start.

I have considered taking one in the Fall as a practice try for the real thing next Spring. It sounds like you learned a lot from that type of experience.

Thanks again.

[cookderosa]

Hi there,

I thought I better update, it's only fair I share my failures as well as my triumphs!

So, there I was, 6 weeks to study for the Chemistry GRE, I got a ton of books and the information about the contents. I kind of figured I would not pass the first time with that amount of studying, but I wanted to go see what it's like.

The GRE score is scaled, and I got about 1/3 of the quesitons correct, they subtract 1/4 point for incorrect answers and my scaled score was something like 3rd percentile!! Holy cow, this exam kicked my butt! It made me realize how much detail you need to memorize for this exam. They ask a ton of reaction mechanisms in organic chemistry, just formulas you need to remember, just grueling!

So bottom line, it can be done, I'm sure of it. But I'm 42 credit hours away from a business degree, so I will finish that first. And even if I get enough points on the GRE I still need 40 credit hours to complete that degree. I did not want to put all my eggs in one basket, so I will graduate will a BS in business first, and then embark on my next adventure. It may be a chemistry degree, it may not be.

Like I always said "might as well try, it's not very expensive!"

:-) Thanks for all your feedback, participation and well wishes!
This forum rocks!

Jody

>>

I give you props for trying, you are fearless my friend!! I'm in intro chem now, and it's hard- no lie. So, I'm very impressed, I can't imagine all the cramming you did to even get 3% LOL High five!

[jody28]

Thank you Jennifer! Thanks NAP!

It was a worthwhile detour to my degree progress.

NAP, I would recommend taking the exam once to practice, if you can swing it. And if you don't need the GRE score later. I hear that schools look at all GRE scores, not just the latest one. If you might need it for admission into a graduate or PhD program later, then you should only take it once. That is why I think the scores are so extremely competitive when it comes to the scaled score. For me, I'm hoping to get a Bachelors degree and move on to a graduate program eventually. I doubt if I would need the GRE score for anything.

I was amazed by the amount of detail in the questions on this exam.

Good luck, keep us posted! I might do this again next year :-)) Afterall, once I have a BS in Business I only need the Chemistry credits for a BA in Chemistry with an area focus in Business...

Jody

[Lindagerr]

Chemistry is not something I would attempt to teach myself. Considering you did all self teaching and only had a short study time I think you did well. I did very well in General Chemistry and Organic I, but Organic II kicked my butt. Memorizing all of those reactions and the differences in things like alkanes, alkines & alkenes were really hard. I also find chemistry is something you have to practice to remember. I have not worked in the field in almost a year now and I am afraid I have lost a lot.

Best of luck if you try again, keep us up on your progress

[cookderosa]

Thank you Jennifer! Thanks NAP!

It was a worthwhile detour to my degree progress.

NAP, I would recommend taking the exam once to practice, if you can swing it. And if you don't need the GRE score later. I hear that schools look at all GRE scores, not just the latest one. If you might need it for admission into a graduate or PhD program later, then you should only take it once. That is why I think the scores are so extremely competitive when it comes to the scaled score. For me, I'm hoping to get a Bachelors degree and move on to a graduate program eventually. I doubt if I would need the GRE score for anything.

I was amazed by the amount of detail in the questions on this exam.

Good luck, keep us posted! I might do this again next year :-)) Afterall, once I have a BS in Business I only need the Chemistry credits for a BA in Chemistry with an area focus in Business...

Jody

Jody, when you were doing your study, did you find a good website for nomenclature? I'd love to find some kind of online calculator that allows you to input formulas and it spits out names or vise/versa- but I can't seem to- how is that possible?

[NAP]

Jody, when you were doing your study, did you find a good website for nomenclature? I'd love to find some kind of online calculator that allows you to input formulas and it spits out names or vise/versa- but I can't seem to- how is that possible?

Hi Jennifer!

I looked around and found this for polyatomic ions:

Ion Nomenclature Calculator

There are more calculators listed on the right-hand side of the page.

As I was searching, someone mentioned being careful to learn these and not rely too heavily on the calculator, since they will be on exams.

There should also be a nice chart somewhere to make them easier to memorize.

How is your class going? Are you getting close to half-way through?

Hope this helps!

[cookderosa]

Hi Jennifer!

I looked around and found this for polyatomic ions:

Ion Nomenclature Calculator

There are more calculators listed on the right-hand side of the page.

As I was searching, someone mentioned being careful to learn these and not rely too heavily on the calculator, since they will be on exams.

There should also be a nice chart somewhere to make them easier to memorize.

How is your class going? Are you getting close to half-way through?

Hope this helps!

I have that calculator, thanks though.
What is tricky - for me anyway- is not that there are not rules, but knowing which rules apply. For example, you have to know if it's a metal or if it's a common, if you are using the stock system, if it's an anion or cation, Roman numeral or coefficient- and at any point if you misidentify- you waste time using the rules and end up with funky made up names. milelol: I think I have invented chemistry names lol.