GRE FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS


Contents:

1. Is there a deadline to sign up for the PowerScore Weekend GRE course?
2. Will I lose my deposit if I withdraw from the course before it starts or if I decide to take the GRE later?
3. Can I switch PowerScore course locations?
4. Should I buy another study book to use before classes start?
5. Why does PowerScore require all of their instructors to score in the 99th percentile on an actual administered GRE?
6. What is the PowerScore class repeat policy?
7. Do I have to pay a materials fee in addition to the course tuition?
8. Will PowerScore provide me with any help during the graduate school application process?

1. Is there a deadline to sign up for the PowerScore Weekend GRE course? There is no official deadline to sign up for our courses, but classes do close due to size limitations. For classes starting in January, students who send in the $100 deposit by late-December should be able to reserve a space without a problem. If you know you are going to sign up for a class but you have not yet sent in your deposit, you can always give us a call and we will place a courtesy hold on a space for you. The hold will ensure that a space in the class is still available for you when your deposit arrives.

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2. Will I lose my deposit if I withdraw from the course before it starts or if I decide to take the GRE later? No. The payment for our GRE course is fully refundable, minus a small administrative fee of $50, as long as we are notified in writing at least ten (10) business days prior to the first day of the class you are originally enrolled in.

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3. Can I switch PowerScore course locations? Yes. If you need to begin classes at one location and finish at another location, you can transfer between courses. All that we require is adequate notice of your transfer so that we can have class materials for you at the new location.

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4. Should I buy another study book to use before classes start? Although our course provides comprehensive preparation for the GRE, you cannot be harmed by exposure to the math and English problems contained in other books. In class you will learn a number of optimal techniques for attacking the GRE, and that will help correct any bad habits you may have developed by studying other materials.

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5. Why does PowerScore require all of their instructors to score in the 99th percentile on an actual administered GRE? Why should we, or you, settle for less? The GRE is an extremely varied test, requiring knowledge of a broad spectrum of English and mathematical principles. Our instructors, all of whom have scored in the 99th percentile*, have proven that they fully understand the test themselves, and thus are able to focus more on teaching and answering questions since they don’t have to struggle to understand the concepts that appear on the GRE. Instructor candidates with lower scores usually received those scores because they couldn't fully grasp and apply all of the techniques that effectively attack the GRE. If they couldn't properly use and apply the ideas themselves, it's generally going to be more difficult for them to pass along those same ideas to their students. Also, many of our students want to score in the 600s and 700s on the GRE. If their instructor has only been able to manage a 500 or 550 on the test, how much confidence do you think that instructor would inspire in his or her students? When a student comes to one of our instructors and says, "I want to score in the 700s," our instructors can say, "All right, here's what it takes, and here's how I did it."

Our competitors with lower instructor standards often claim that teachers with high scores do not necessarily make the best instructors. We could not agree more, and that is why we do not hire many of the qualified applicants we interview. When selecting instructors, we look for people who can patiently and effectively explain the ideas of our course, people who can interact well with others in a classroom setting, and those who truly enjoy teaching. Finding instructors like this is not easy, and that is why we offer one of the highest starting salaries in the industry. In addition, we put our instructors through a rigorous training program before they ever set foot in a real class. At PowerScore we demand the best and we expect our students to do the same.

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6. What is the PowerScore GRE Course repeat policy? If classes are available, you can repeat the entire PowerScore Weekend GRE Course at no cost. The re-enrollment is free if you re-use your original material or $200 if you require new material. This policy is valid for a period of one (1) year from the date of your original enrollment.

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7. Do I have to pay a materials fee in addition to the course tuition? No. Unlike some other courses, there is no additional materials fee or upfront deposit for any of our courses. The course tuition that you pay includes all materials, and of course the materials are yours to keep once the course has ended.

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8. Will PowerScore provide me with any help during the graduate school application process? As GRE experts we naturally provide help for our students in all areas of the applications process. We continually counsel students on such issues as writing the application essays, getting recommendations, and deciding which graduate schools to apply to and attend. We extend these services to all of our students both past and present, and in fact most students take advantage of our help after their GRE course ends. For students desiring intensive help, we offer a comprehensive GRADmissions Consulting^™.

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*Current GRE scores consist primarily of two parts: a Verbal score and a Quantitative score. These scores are intended for interpretation independent of one another, and thus ETS does not designate a combined total that would represent an overall 99th percentile score. In order to meet our 99th percentile requirement, PowerScore requires that all instructors score in the 99th percentile on at least one of the two sections, with a minimum score of at least 700 on the other section.