GRE Math – Fun with Averages!

Published by Calvin on June 2, 2013 in Example Problems, Graduate School and Preparation.

grumpy catStudying for the GRE can be tough. In the mean time, let’s make sure your math score is above average by reviewing averages! Consider the following problem:

The average (arithmetic mean) of six numbers is 14. After one of the numbers is removed, the average (arithmetic mean) of the remaining numbers is 16. What number has been removed?

To solve this problem, all you need to remember is the definition of an average:

average = (sum of terms)/(number of terms)

Multiplying both sides by the number of terms, we get:

average(number of terms) = sum of terms

First, let’s figure out the sum of the terms when the average was 14:

14(6) = 84

Next, let’s do the same for the situation in which the average is 16:

16(5) = 80

The difference between the two sums must be the number that was taken out:

84 – 80 = 4

Thus, the answer is 4. That’s all there is to it! Now, try the following problem and post the answer in the comments below:

The average (arithmetic mean) of four numbers is 23. After one of the numbers is removed, the average (arithmetic mean) of the remaining numbers is 15. What number has been removed?

Good luck, and happy studying!

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GRE Vocab – Croesus, Mogul, and Nabob

Published by Calvin on May 30, 2013 in Uncategorized.

Let’s face it: one reason why you want to go to grad school is so that you can get rich and famous (or at least avoid living on the streets). With this post, you’ll learn a few choice million dollar words that you can use as you move up in the world (and they’ll help you study for the GRE, too).

Perhaps you hope your degree will help you become a nabob, a mogul, or a Croesus. All of these words refer to rich people, but their origins and histories give them slightly different meanings. All three of them have to do with European fascination with the riches of the orient, and the association of great wealth with exotic Asian potentates.

Solon and Croesus, by Gerard van Honthorst (1624).

Solon and Croesus, by Gerard van Honthorst (1624).

The oldest of the three is Croesus (pronounced cree-sus), as in the proverbial saying “rich as Croesus.” Croesus reigned from 560 to 547 B.C. as the last King of Lydia, a region in Asia Minor (or modern day Turkey), and he was known for his immense wealth. This wealth did not buy him wisdom in all things, however; when the celebrated Athenian lawmaker and sage Solon came to visit the Lydian court, Croesus asked Solon if he had ever seen anyone happier than Croesus himself. To this, the wise Solon replied that only those who have died happy can be said to be truly happy, for the fates are fickle and the riches of the living are often transient. Croesus was displeased with this answer, and paid it no heed at the time. It was only later when the flames were licking at his toes as he sat awaiting his death upon a funeral pyre, his kingdom overrun by Cyrus the Great of Persia, that he said to himself, “Maybe that Solon knew what he was about after all.” (Fortunately for Croesus, Apollo intervened and brought a rainstorm to douse the flames, so Croesus was saved. For more on Croesus and other colorful characters from long ago and far away, I highly recommend the Histories of Herodotus.)

The Taj Mahal, symbol of Mughal opulence.

Moving forward in time and further East, we come to the moguls. The word mogul is derived from the Mughal dynasty, which ruled India from Babur’s victory at Panipat in 1526 to the Empire’s decline in the early 1700s. The Mughals ruled at a time of great prosperity in India and they were known for their opulent lifestyles (Shah Jahan famously built the Taj Mahal as a memorial to his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal, after her tragic and untimely death). The word “mogul” was a British corruption of the dynasty’s name, and in English it quickly came to refer to people of immense wealth and power, especially captains of industry. Today, for instance, a media mogul is someone who owns many newspapers, TV networks, etc.

The word nabob also has its roots in the India of the Mughal dynasty. Under the Mughal Imperial system, a nawab was a viceroy or regional governor. After the disastrous 27 year war that ended the Mughal empire in the early 18th century, many nawabs declared independence and became rulers of smaller states. Not long after this balkanization of India, the British East India Company began to increase its activities in the subcontinent, and the British once again employed their inexhaustible talent for mispronouncing the words of their colonized peoples to give us the term nabob. The British even began to apply it to themselves, and a nabob came to be a British man who went to India to make his fortune. Today, while nabob can still refer to a person, especially a European, who has made a large fortune in India or another country of the East, it can also more generally mean any very wealthy, influential, or powerful person.

Test Masters offers the most comprehensive and successful GRE course available; every Test Masters GRE course, whether it is online or in-class, comes with a 10 point Score Increase Guarantee.

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Sometimes it is GREek – Obsequious

Published by Calvin on May 26, 2013 in Uncategorized.
Obsequious

Nothing like an obsequious subordinate to get the job done, right?

Obsequious: (adj.) 1. characterized by or showing servile complaisance or deference; fawning: an obsequious bow. 2. servilely compliant or deferential: obsequious servants. 3. obedient; dutiful.

We all know that guy: the guy who always has a compliment ready for the boss on Monday morning; the guy who always seems to weasel his way out of a speeding ticket when he gets pulled over; the teacher’s pet who always ratted you out in elementary school. All these years you’ve wondered what word you could use to perfectly capture his essence (all right, maybe you already have a few choice words for him), but now your search is at an end – this guy is definitely obsequious.

Today, obsequious means servile and sycophantic, but it didn’t always have such a negative connotation. It is derived from the Latin word obsequiosus, which simply means dutiful, obedient, and compliant. When obsequious entered the English language in the 1400s, an admittedly more hierarchical time than our own, it meant the same thing, and perhaps even carried a positive connotation. This did not last long, though; by the 1490s this word had already started doing laps on the euphemism treadmill and had come to have the pejorative connotation it retains to this day.

Example sentence:

Oily Otto’s obsequious odes on obmutescence of objectionable orators openly opposed ornery Odile’s opprobrium over our obnoxious orange orangutan overlords’ onerous orders: obey Orwellian Organizations of Oceanic Otters or offer only orthodox opinions on ostracizing outsider ocelots.

Miss the last “Sometimes it is Greek?” Check it out here! Want more GRE vocabulary? Click here for the free Test Masters GRE vocabulary list with over 2,000 words!

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GRE Text Completion

Published by Bill on May 22, 2013 in Example Problems, Miscellaneous, Preparation and Revised GRE.
GRE vocab

GRE Text Completion is no mystery, you just have to know your GRE vocabulary!

Here is an example of a simple Text Completion question you might see on the GRE.

  1. Despite the best efforts of our nation’s most thorough reporters, the candidates’ economic reform policies remain _____; it is not enough to comment on the country’s financial straits, clearly explain to the public exactly how you intend to fix them.

A. Perspicuous

B. Loquacious

C. Diffusive

D. Opaque

E. Gratulatory

Explanation: The key phrase in this passage is “clearly explain.” The biggest reason someone would be desirous of having something “clearly explained” would be if that subject or topic is unclear. This phrase suggests the candidates have not yet “clearly explained” their positions. The answer choice in this example would then be the word that best suggests the candidates economic policies are not “clearly explained.” Of the available answer choices, only “opaque” refers to something that is not clear. Thus the answer is (d) .

You can never have enough vocabulary words; here are the definitions of all the answer choices:

Something is perspicuous when it is clearly expressed and easy to understand.

People are loquacious if they are very talkative or garrulous.

To be diffusive is to physically disseminate something, as in to pour, scatter, or spread something about, to speak at length, or to make something less brilliant, to soften.

Opaque is the opposite of transparent and translucent. To be opaque is to be murky and unintelligible.

Gratulatory is a great word because it is a less common way of saying congratulatory; the biggest difference between the two words is that gratulatory is more closely associated with the emotions of being thankful or grateful.

There are many difficult questions on the GRE, but vocabulary-type questions should never be one of them. The Text Completion question type is simply a matter of memorizing your GRE vocabulary. If you continue to have difficulty with these question types there are certain strategies you can employ to aid you in answering them on test day. One of the best strategies for GRE Text Completion questions is memorizing common word roots.

Want to know more about other study strategies for GRE Text Completion questions? All you have to do is ask. Want more example problems? Find them here.

Test Masters offers the most comprehensive and successful GRE course available; every Test Masters GRE course, whether it is online or in-class, comes with a 10 point Score Increase Guarantee.

 

 

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GRE Example Problem – Order of Operations

Published by Bill on May 18, 2013 in Miscellaneous, Preparation and Revised GRE.
GRE Math isn't so scary; just try this GRE example problem.

GRE Math isn’t so scary; just try this GRE example problem.

Learn more about what you need to know to do well on GRE Math by taking some time to complete this GRE Math example problem.

If L = (a – b) – c and R = a – (b – c), then L – R = ?

This example problem is an exercise in basic mathematical principles, particularly the Order of Operations and your understanding of the Commutative, Associative, and Distributive Laws of mathematics. Let’s do a brief review:

The Commutative Law essentially states that, when you add or multiply, you can swap the order of numbers and get the same answer. So, for example:

Addition:             X + Y = Y + X

Multiplication:  A x B = B x A

The Associative Law states pretty much the same as the Commutative Law with the additional declaration that when you are multiplying and adding groups of numbers, the grouping of those numbers is irrelevant. So, for example:

Addition:             (X + Y) + Z = (Z + Y) + X

Multiplication:  (A x B) x C = (C x B) x A

The Distributive Law says you get the same answer when you multiply a number by a group of numbers added together or multiply each number separately and then add them together. So, for example:

A x (B + C) = AB + AC

This might be easier to understand with actual numbers:

3 x (4 +5) = 3(4) + 3(5)

3 x 9 = 12 + 15

27 = 27

The Order of Operations determines the order in which certain mathematical operations act. The actual order of operations is Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication and Division, and Addition and Subtraction. A particularly useful mnemonic device to remembering this (rather than memorizing the acronym PEMDAS) is “Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally.”

Okay, now duly armed, let’s return to the question above:

L – R = [(a – b) – c] – [a – (b – c)]

Notice that each equation has been bracketed off from the other. This is not because you cannot add or subtract these equations; it is only to signify and help you recognize that you are, in fact, beginning with and looking at the two different variables, L and R. Mainly, in this problem, brackets will help you keep track of which numbers are positive and negative.

In order to solve this problem, the first thing you should do is distribute the negative in front of the equation R represents, a – (b – c). The reason for this is that this equation includes two subtractions; so, when you subtract R from L, you will inevitably subtract a negative. Subtracting a negative turns that negative into a positive number. Observe:

L – R = [(a – b) – c] – [a – (b – c)]

L – R = [(a – b) – c] – [a – b + c]

L – R = [(a – b) – c] – a + b – c

After having successfully distributed the negative, the Commutative and Associative Laws, and the Order of Operations, tells us that we are free to solve this problem with no more hang ups:

L – R = a – b – c – a + b – c

You can reorganize for coherency:

L – R = a – a + b – b – c – c

L – R = 0 + 0 – c – c

L – R = -c – c

L – R = -2c

Thus, the answer is -2c.

Find more GRE example problems here. Have a question about GRE Math or graduate school admissions? Ask the experts at Test Masters!

 

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Program Profile – Philosophy PhD

Published by Bill on May 9, 2013 in Graduate School.
Cogito Ergo Sum - I Think Therefore I Am.

Cogito Ergo Sum – I Think Therefore I Am.

A PhD philosophy professor of mine began every semester with the following story-

“A friend of mine is a ditch-digger; he digs ditches for a living. One day he got bored of digging ditches, so he went to school and got a Bachelor’s in philosophy; then he went right back to digging ditches. He got bored again, so he went back to school and got a Master’s in philosophy. Then he went right back to digging ditches. Finally, he went and got a Ph.D. in philosophy. He then went right back to digging ditches. I asked him, ‘Why would you spend so much time and effort getting a Doctorate in Philosophy if you were just going to dig ditches for a living?’ He responded, ‘So I’d have something to think about while I was digging ditches.’”

The moral of this story is if you want to make a lot of money don’t major in philosophy.

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary for a professor of philosophy or religious studies is $71,210. While this salary figure is certainly nothing to scoff at or dismiss offhandedly, it is comparatively miniscule when viewed beside the earning power offered by other doctoral programs. Add in the fact that you will have to suffer through years of ignominy as a Teacher’s Assistant and Associate Professor ( all while your epistemological defense of Descartes languishes and your genius goes unrecognized) before you are even qualified to earn the median salary, and it is no wonder my old professor started every semester with the same cautionary anecdote. Additional information regarding the employment of philosophy PhD holders can be found here.

That is not to say that a PhD in philosophy could not provide you with the means for significant earning power; respected academics can supplement their incomes as private advisors, guest speakers, and even as published authors. Admittedly though, work as a private advisor and lecturer are going to be extremely difficult to obtain, and any published works of philosophy are likely to have a readership in the dozens, not thousands.

Before ranking the Top 5 Philosophy PhD Programs, in the interest of clarity, let’s briefly discuss how these programs were ranked. The rankings below were determined (from most important to least important)by the rate of employment for graduates, the institution’s ‘Quality’ rating by the National Research Council, students’ access to additional resources, and the research productivity of university faculty. If you have a different opinion about what factors are most important to you in a graduate program (size? cost? expediency?), I suggest you visit this graduate school ranking website.

Now that you have a better idea of the prospects a PhD in philosophy might qualify you for, let’s take a look at some of the top Philosophy PhD programs:

#1) Carnegie Mellon University

One of the premiere universities in the country, the Carnegie Mellon philosophy PhD program provides full tuition, along with health benefits and an additional stipend for teaching assistance, to all of its students. Among the Philosophy Department’s many areas of emphasis are Logic and Philosophy of Mathematics, Philosophy of Psychology and Philosophy of the Social Science, and the Philosophy of Science and Methodology and Formal Epistemology. Though Carnegie Mellon explicitly states that “no quantitative thresholds” are placed on candidates (meaning there are minimum scores required to be accepted), admission is extremely competitive.

#2) Massachusetts Institute of Technology

MIT’s Department of Linguistics and Philosophy is a PhD program only, meaning they do not offer a Master’s program. Interestingly, MIT does not require applicants to submit a GRE score in order to be considered for admission. For those of you who are well qualified enough and interested in expediency, MIT’s philosophy PhD program is only five years long.

#3) Princeton University

Princeton offers four PhD philosophy degree programs – the Standard Program, Logic and the Philosophy of Science Track, Classical Philosophy, and Political Philosophy. Like other elite universities, Princeton’s Department of Philosophy only admits candidates pursuing a Doctorate in Philosophy. Princeton requires students to submit a GRE score and a written work no longer than ten thousand words in order to be considered for acceptance. Aside from the more obvious benefits of attending a university like Princeton, the post-graduation employment statistics of their students are (not surprisingly) astounding.

#4) University of California – Berkeley

The University of California – Berkeley has a well-deserved reputation as one of the best countries in the nation, and their philosophy department is no exception. With a focus on Ancient Philosophy, Logic, and the History and Philosophy of Science, Berkeley’ philosophy PhD program is one of the most competitive in the country. As with many top tier universities, Berkeley reviews candidates on a case by case basis. Writing samples submitted for the purposes of admission are expected to be between 15-20 pages (double-spaced). Candidates applying for the Ancient Philosophy and History and Philosophy of Science programs will require special consideration.

#5 New York University

Standing tall among these other nationally One of the most intriguing aspects of NYU’s Philosophy Department is that they offer a dual degree Doctor of Philosophy and Juris Doctor. Though reluctant to share many details regarding the PhD application process, NYU says an average GRE score and coming from a lesser known undergraduate school will not exclude a candidate from being accepted, provided other aspects of their application are strong. As a matter of policy, the university is hesitant to discuss how they review candidates, it seems that they place the most emphasis on students’ recommendations (preferably from philosophers or other, related areas of study) and writing samples.

There were not many surprises among the nation’s top PhD philosophy programs, but keep in mind the factors that we used to determine the rankings of these universities may differ from your own personal preferences; we certainly encourage you to research on your own, and ask us if you have questions!

Come back soon for a Top Philosophy PhD Programs – Honorable Mention article! Find more Program Profiles here.

Test Masters offers the most comprehensive and successful GRE course available; every Test Masters GRE course, whether it is online or in-class, comes with a 10 point Score Increase Guarantee.

 

 

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Ask Test Masters – United Nations Application Pt. 1

Published by Bill on May 3, 2013 in Admissions, Ask Test Masters, Miscellaneous and Uncategorized.
Ask-Test-Masters

Have a question? Ask the experts at Test Masters!

Reader Devan Taylor asks,

“I received my Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science from the University of Houston, and I am interested in working for the United Nations one day. What graduate school programs would give me an edge when I do apply to work for the United Nations? One program I am interested in is the M.A. in Humanities program at the University of Houston-Clear Lake. Are there other programs similar to this in Houston, TX, Austin, TX, or other cities in general?”

Dear Devan,

Great questions all around; let’s start at the beginning – “What graduate school programs would give me an edge when I do apply to work for the United Nations?”

If you are asking “Is there any single graduate program that will give me an edge regardless of what position I apply for?” the answer is foreign languages or linguistics, and to a lesser degree cultural studies. Fluency in two or three (or more) foreign languages will absolutely make a huge difference in the strength of your application, as will a demonstrable ability to pick up languages quickly. Among the many tests United Nations applicants must take is a “Language Examination.” Learn about the different exams you will have to take here.

The general occupational career groups employed by the UN include administration, conference services, human rights, jurists, legal affairs, logistics, political affairs, transport work, program management, and security, among other more specific career niches. Ideally, you want to present yourself as a candidate who could potentially contribute in several of these capacities. Combined with a fluency in one or more foreign languages, degree programs focused on international law, international business (the GRE can be used for graduate admission to business school as well – check out this article, “The New GRE – GMAT Killer?”), and political science would best serve to make you a viable candidate for a position with the UN; other, perhaps less obviously significant, fields of study might involve history, statistics, geography, or even sociology.

It’s a challenging task, but our advice is to identify the position you most desire and then do everything you can to mold yourself into the perfect candidate for that position, all while crafting a resume that presents you as someone who can function capably at multiple levels within the UN bureaucracy.

Something else to keep in mind is that obtaining a position with the United Nations is extremely competitive; you could apply and be turned down multiple times before being hired. One way to gain an advantage in the application process is to have related work experience. Did you know that you can volunteer or intern with the United Nations? If you excel at this sort of entry level work, it could potentially lead to a more permanent position. Another more tertiary option to being hired at the UN is to pursue a similar career path within the US government (the CIA is always hiring); this gives you the option of gaining valuable experience without spending months or summers suffering as an unpaid helper. If you have more questions about the actual process of applying to the United Nations, consult this Frequently Asked Questions guide provided by the UN’s Human Resources department.

This concludes part one of a two-part answer to our most recent “Ask Test Masters” submission. Join us next time as we discuss the specifics regarding admission to the university mentioned above and review other potential colleges and universities that might help you craft an excellent resume to work at the United Nations.

Test Masters offers the most comprehensive and successful GRE course available; every Test Masters GRE course, whether it is online or in-class, comes with a 10 point Score Increase Guarantee.

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GRE Verbal – Fill in the Blank

Published by Bill on April 20, 2013 in Miscellaneous, Preparation and Revised GRE.

Did you know that Test Masters’ GRE course provides students with a(n) ______ method to solving those ______ fill-in-the-blank questions?

(a)   celebratory … facile

(b)   economical … sassy

(c)   melodramatic … scandalous

(d)   derogatory … petulant

(e)   effective … bothersome

If you answered (e), then you either know what you are about or have already taken the Test Masters GRE course. Test Masters is an industry leader in professional exam preparation; every Test Masters GRE course, whether online or in-class, comes with a ten point Score Increase Guarantee.

Check out the video below, which is an excerpt from the Test Masters GRE online course, for a little more instruction on how to go about correctly answering those tricky GRE vocabulary questions.

See more excerpts from Test Masters online course on the Test Masters YouTube channel.

Remember, if you want to do well on GRE Verbal, study your GRE Vocabulary!

 

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