GRE : Reasons and Repercussions

Thanks to an immensely silent placement scene, the entire campus is buzzing with GRE talk. For the yet to be initiated, here is the draw:

What: GRE : Graduate Record Examination

Why: For students who want to study at American Universities

When: Usually taken by engineering students in their 3rd or 4th years

How: On a computer, an adaptive test, which means the goddam computer is judging you all the time

Where: At specified centres all over India.

The Low Down for BITSGians:

A lot of people wonder why they should/ shouldn't write GRE in the first place. Here is take on the GRE and Admissions scene in general.

There is no denying the fact that the world is passing through some tough times. What does it mean for the GRE aspirant back home in BITS Goa? Here Goes.



1) This being recession times, even the dumbest of Americans realizes one fact. There is no money in jobs. So what does one do? Simple. Go back to college! Earn a degree while sitting out the recession, and end up with a higher paying job 2 years later. That is what pretty much every American is doing now. And getting through for us compared to them is difficult. Here is the bad news: Competition from Uncle Sam, just became the toughest yet.

2) In Andhra Pradesh, the Intermediate Education Examination is known as IPE. Its famous for having been the gateway to generations of BITSians (with 97 - 99%), during those ancient days when 12th percentage was the deciding factor. Well there is one more "IPE". That of China. Like everything else, China also mass produces engineering undergrads, with very high pass percentages. And almost all of them are exported to America: again like everything else. Here is the second bad news: Competition from Uncle Han is at an all time peak.

3) Now we come down from global problems to BITS Pilani Goa Campus. No placements, no internships, no projects, no recommendations. What can a BITSian do? CAT? (The toughest lottery in the world?). Or GRE? (the world's biggest mug test). Here are reasons why GRE should be your choice, or why it shouldn't be:

a)If managing mind boggling accounts, sitting through endless meetings, shouting at people, and living in a cut-throat corporate world is not your style, go for GRE.
b)If numbers and gadgets interest you, if the CDC year was the greatest year of your existence, or you have suddenly discovered your love for core, DESPITE all the efforts by our faculty to disgust you, then you are born for GRE.
c)If all things American/Canadian are the greates things in the world according to you(chicks included), then GRE is the way to fly!
d) If you are lost, without a job, without goals and need to buy more time, and are interested in spending time AND money abroad, GRE is an option.

Do NOT go for the GRE if:

a) Tecchie is not your cup of tea, of you find that BITS Goa has drained away the last bit of calculus you ever want to perform in your life.
b) If you want to go for a managerial career right away, without having to grease your fingers, or burn them welding.
c) If you are as patriotic as to shoot the first NRI on sight, and never dream of leaving our glorious country.

I will get down to the preparation and the preparedness in the next post. Stay tuned.

Cheers.
When God got bored, he created Barron's to bore people.