GRAD ECHO

How does everyone go about selecting and then ranking programs for applying? I understand there are many credible sites with ranking data but I want to personalize my choice and make sure I am not going after a single metric to compare programs…

I personally emailed each admission office for this information. Usually the information is not there if the program does not offer guaranteed funding (especially for Masters).

I personally stuck to the official guides (current version) and then practiced extensively from the Big Book (also called 5 Lb book). It has past papers of over 21 years. I know it is the old GRE but the difficulty of Verbal is actually the same and there is brilliant practice for the quant section (i think data interpretation Qs are closest to real GRE difficulty, and word/algebra problems are a bit easier). These should help you identify common trends in questions and GRE examinations style.

I personally think this is a way for the admissions committee to get to know your personality and assess program fit. Being yourself and authentic in your interaction is super important. You should know your research, resume and SOP well to be read to address any deep dive questions you are asked.