Graduate School Nightmare!!!!

Well, I've put this off long enough-getting my master's that is. Main reason is when I started to look a few years ago I noticed you had to take the GRE (Graduate Record Exam) and wasn't thrilled about that. Honestly, I wasn't too serious about getting my Masters at that time. 4 1/2 years have gone by and now's the time. However, I should've started looking for places sooner instead of NOW. What I've found has turned out to be a nightmare and very very stressful. All of this in the last few days. Something in my head just clicked and said I need to start this now or I'll never do it. I need to move onto the next step in my life-marriage and school. I wanted to get it in EC or ECSE as that is what I teach and will probably continue that way for a while. Original plan was to go to MSSU and enroll in Masters in EC through Missouri NW. All was fine and dandy until they told me I had to take the GRE before my 1st trimester. Okay I thought-no biggie. WAY BIGGIE!!!!! At $140 a test and a horrific test it is-I began to panic. I was told what scores I need to get in order to be accepted into graduate school. On the test is a verbal (analogies, reasoning..etc), quantitative (math) and analytical. Verbal and Math are on an 800 pt. scale. I have to get a combined score of 700. Analytical is on a 0-6 pt. scale (2 essays) and I have to get a 3.5. Folks-this is not just some standardized test this is a huge pain in the butt test that is meaningless had difficult beyond belief. Being as how I was in a hurry I paid my $ and am scheduled to take this stupid thing on July 28. So..... I downloaded the practice test that you get when you register. I missed EVERY single math problem. These are not normal math questions. You are given an equation/problem then 2 columns (A/B) each one with an answer. It's multiple choice-not normal MC. Choose (A) if column A is greater than column B; Choose (B) if column B is greater than column A. Choose (C) if the two are equal; Choose (D) The relationship cannot be determined from the information given. You can only use scratch paper. Example: A circle with a triangle inside the circle which had a radii of 5. There was an equation of how to find what the triangle was. I had to figure it out using the two columns. Confusing??? YESSS!!! It explained all the answers-in ways I had no clue about. BOMB!!!! Then came the analogies-missed those too. Words I've never heard of before or could even pronounce. Needless to say I would take this numerous times-be broke!!! I'm a horrible test-taker as it is. Guess you could say I have test anxiety. Wouldn't matter how much I would study-wouldn't help. My solution find somewhere else to go to school. So begins the frantic two days I've had. 1st stop: MU online. They offered degrees in EC and ECSE all online. Granted it cost $3584 for 12 hrs...,, but that was nothing compared to what I'd spend driving back and forth to Pitt State or SMS (formerly called). That was worth it-thought I had it all figured out and completed the online app. Did some digging and digging--- low and behold have to take the GRE. I would have to get higher scores as well-UM NO!!!! That was out of the equation. 2nd stop: SMS yes I'd have to drive to Springfield. Have to take the GRE for EC. NO THANKS!!! An yet still higher scores. 3rd stop: U of Ark. At 1 pt in time MO where I live as in-state. They had a similar EC program. No GRE test but you have to do all this other crap. Plus the cost was $25+ for tuition. HELL NO!!!! Last night I went to bed panicking and worrying myself sick. Today-did some more searching. Searched all over the area and in neighboring states. Yes I did look at Pitt State but the drive is just toooo far for me and with the cost of gas it's not worth it. I checked to see if anyone offered online EC/ECSE grad programs. I found the U of Phoenix and requested info. They called and talked. $17000 for a 17 month program (all fees included) that was in in curriculum and instruction. Money doesn't grow on trees people!!! I finally decided I'd have to suck it up and take the test over and over. NOT ANYMORE!!!! Thanks to my good friend Julie and to meeting for book club 2 nite my problems have been solved to a degree. Julie took her masters at MSSU through SMS in Elem. Ed. She took my to MSSU and showed me where I needed to go. Luckily the secretary was there. Julie told her what I wanted and get gave me the info of who I need to talk to and the books about it. There is either Masters in Elem or Masters in Reading. Don't really want to to either-but at this pt. anything is better than that test. Julie said her brother (who is super intelligent had to take it a few times). That's not good!!! GUESS WHAT??? I don't have to take the GRE-only if my GPA were below 2.5 in college. It wasn't! YEAH!!! No the decision: which one to take ELEM or Reading. I'm going to call the man tomorrow and set up and appt. I hope it all works out!!! If so I will cancel my test. I will only get 1/2 my $$ back-but that's fine with me as long as I don't have to take it. A big weight has been lifted and I feel stress free. All because of a stupid test!!! Silly??? I know but it'll be okay. I can go for ELEM-easy except of a big research project. Or reading which is more difficult and have a 3-hr comp. writing session. More beneficial is probably the reading. I will decide tomorrow if I talk to the right person. I'll post my finds tomorrow!!!