[nabs-l] Would love some help or advice from any blind graduatestudents

[Katie Wang]

Hi, natalie,
  I'm a second-year graduate student in psychology and also totally
blind. I took the GRE  in 2008 and my experiences were similar to what
Joe talked about. I would be happy to talk to you more about grad
school in general so feel free to contact me off-list with any
specific questions. Good luck!
   Katie

On 9/11/10, Joe Orozco <jsorozco at gmail.com> wrote:
> Natalie,
>
> I took the GRE in 2007 and can give you some advice.  The accommodations
> process was a little taxing but not totally frustrating.  In the way of
> accommodations, I got Braille exam, reader/scribe, Perkins Braille writer
> and the use of my laptop for the writing section.  I wrote the essays onto a
> thumb drive which the Procter then connected to a lab computer and printed.
> I had no real difficulties in obtaining these accommodations, and after my
> accommodations were approved, I was provided a two-volume test prep in
> Braille which I used to get ready.  I read a few discussion forums to learn
> more about the nature of the exam, but if I had to break it down into a few
> simple tips, they would be these:
>
> 1. Start more than 6 months in advance to request your accommodations, just
> to ensure everything is set and ready to go on test day.  I think I had to
> get some things provided by my doctor and so forth.  Allow for response
> time.
>
> 2. Prepare for all the sections equally.  Do not presume that because you're
> better at verbal than math that you should spend more time on math.  I speak
> from experience.
>
> 3. From all the materials you get your hands on, develop a study guide that
> succinctly jogs your memory in the couple weeks before the exam.  The GRE is
> not something you can study for in the sense of memorization, but there are
> strategies you can use to loosen your mind to take on the test.
>
> Good luck on the test,
>
> Joe
>
> "Hard work spotlights the character of people: some turn up their sleeves,
> some turn up their noses, and some don't turn up at all."--Sam Ewing
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org
> [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Nat Barrett
> Sent: Saturday, September 11, 2010 5:50 PM
> To: nabs-l at nfbnet.org
> Subject: [nabs-l] Would love some help or advice from any blind
> graduatestudents
>
>
> Hello Nabs list,
>
> My name is Natalie and I only joined the mailing list a day or
> so ago. I'm really hoping to get some help. Someone recommended
> I try this mailing list, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
>
> First off, I'm a totally blind person, and while I'm not a
> student now, I was a student up until this past May. Since
> graduating I've debated with myself on whether to continue on
> with a masters degree. I really would love to, but I've come
> across a few roadblocks.
>
> My first roadblock is taking the GRE. I really would like to
> talk with anyone offlist if they're blind and have taken the
> GRE. Or done whatever needs to be done to get into the graduate
> program at their respective schools. I really would like to
> know how they studied, what kinds of accomodations they got for
> it and so on.
>
> I have more questions, but I don't want to clutter this e-mail.
> I'm interested in talking to anyone who can help me. Even if
> they're not a graduate student now. Anyone with any kind of
> tips, advice, or suggestions will be appreciated.
>
> Thank you,
> Natalie
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