Todd: So, Nydja, you actually just got into graduate school. So you know all about the application process.

Nydja: Yes, that's correct. I just got into grad school. I study International Relations. The process for this school wasn't too tedious. It didn't require a GRE or any long essays or too many references. The other schools that I was considering required the tests. High test scores. An application to be submitted three, four months in advance, so the process can be pretty tedious.

Todd: Now, each time that you applied, did you have to pay an application fee?

Nydja: Yes, some colleges I was looking at upwards of a hundred and fifty dollars. This one was less expensive. It's a smaller school.

Todd: Wow! A hundred and fifty dollars!

Nydja: Yes.

Todd: So that limits how many schools you can apply to?

Nydja: Yeah, depending on your funds, so I actually like this program and despite having researched everything else, I chose to stick with this one. I only applied for one and they let me in.

Todd: Oh, so you just went solo?

Nydja: Yeah, I did. I did. I looked at this college, their plan for international travel and I fell in love so nowhere else had this program.

Todd: Yeah, what's the school?

Nydja: Webster University. The International Relations program.

Todd: And where is it?

Nydja: It's in Bangkok.

Todd: So, you said that for your program, you didn't have to take a test, like the GRE ?

Nydja: No, I did not have to take the GRE. No, I haven't taken it yet.

Todd: Why?

Nydja: Cause, I'm sure it has a math component that I don't want to have to worry about.

Todd: You're not a math person?

Nydja: No, I'm not.

Todd: So the GRE is what, just math and language?

Nydja: You know I'm not really sure. I know it's kind of like the SAT. They want to look at how ... what is your potential when you get to grad school, so I think it does have maybe a composition section, you know, critical thinking, math analysis questions with numbers.

重点词汇：

Learn Vocabulary from the Lesson

application process

You know all about the application process.

The application process are steps you need to take when you apply for a job or university. The application process may include submitting an application form, sending official documents or having an interview. Here are a few examples:

The application process for that school is very hard.

You must complete the application process to get a job here.

tedious

The process can be pretty tedious.

When something is tedious, that means it requires many steps and/or lots of detail. Something that is very tedious usually takes a lot of time and attention to detail. Notice the following:

Grading papers can be very tedious for teachers.

The log in process for that website is very tedious.

fall in love

I fell in love with the program.

Usually, people fall in love with other people. To fall in love with someone means to see someone as a person you love romantically (for example, you do not fall in love with family). However, the term 'to fall in love' can refer to things as well. You can fall in love with a book, school, or class. Here are a few examples:

I fell in love with that new cafe. It is so cozy.

I am falling in love with this book. I can't stop reading it.

math person

You are not a math person?

A math person refers to someone who is naturally good at math or enjoys it very much. People are sometimes classified as either being a math person or a language person. Notice the following:

I am not a math person. I can barely add.

Math people tend to do well in science.

critical thinking

There is a critical thinking section.

Critical thinking is a test to measure people's answers to complex questions that often have many parts. Tests for admission to university programs, such as the GRE and SAT, often have critical thinking questions. Here are some samples:

It is very hard to teach critical thinking.

The test had three critical thinking questions.