Preparing for the GRE while managing a busy life is no small task. You may be balancing school, a full-time job, family responsibilities, and other personal commitments. Finding consistent time to study can feel overwhelming, especially when every hour of your day is already filled. Yet even with a packed schedule, it is possible to make meaningful progress if you treat GRE preparation as a true priority rather than something to fit in only when convenient.

It helps to take a step back and look at the larger picture. A strong GRE score can open doors to graduate programs that have the power to shape your academic and professional future. It can improve your chances of admission to top programs, help you qualify for scholarships, and strengthen your overall profile. When you view it this way, GRE preparation becomes an investment in your long-term growth. A few months of focused effort now can create opportunities that last for years.

To make that investment count, approach your GRE prep with structure and discipline. Treat it like an essential part of your routine, not a task you will get to if time allows. The key is consistency. Instead of saying, “I will try to study every day,” commit to a specific schedule and hold yourself to it. Block study sessions on your calendar and treat them as firm appointments.

For most students, a target of 15 hours per week strikes the right balance. That amount of study time allows you to learn and retain information effectively without feeling overloaded. For instance, studying one hour each weekday and five hours on each weekend day will meet that goal. The exact schedule matters less than the regularity. Frequent, focused sessions do far more for your progress than occasional long study marathons.

Keep in mind that your GRE preparation will last only a few months. You have already faced demanding semesters, projects, or work deadlines before, and this challenge is no different. The same persistence and time management skills that got you through those experiences will serve you well here.

When the process feels difficult, remind yourself why you started. A strong GRE score can help you gain admission to programs that will influence your career trajectory and open new possibilities for your future. The effort you put in now is a short-term commitment that can yield lifelong rewards.

In the end, GRE prep is not only about mastering test content. It is also about building habits of consistency, focus, and self-discipline. Approach your studies with the same commitment you would bring to any important goal. Stay steady, stay consistent, and remember that the work you put in each day moves you closer to the future you want.

Reach out to me with any questions about your GRE prep. Happy studying!

Warmest regards,

Scott Woodbury-Stewart
Founder & CEO, Target Test Prep