(GRE Success! ) GRE prep.

Hello,
     
          I have two questions today..hope i will get reply to both of them.so, here they are.

        1. I  have given GRE 2 times  till now before august 2011(i.e in old pattern)..I got 1050(math-700,verbal -350) first time and 1020(math 660,verbal -360)2nd time..i tried to learn by rote all word lists in barron's and i really did so.I have to agree that i didn't practice well for both the tests and was concentrating only on wordlists. I did decent amount of practice 2nd time but i was scared that i would fail during 2nd time.Well,now i have booked my gre for the 3rd time in may.i.e in new pattern.Do i have to again learn by rote  all the word lists for new pattern?because ,its been long since i touched them after my 2nd attempt.And in what areas i should be concentrating more.I don't have any coaching with new pattern and i can't get any coaching as i stay away from home and coaching here is highly expensive. I also want to know which books should i follow and will 45 days of preparation be enough for giving the test.

2. A friend of mine doesn't have a yahoo account and wants me to ask this question for him.
He got into Electrical engineering department of University of florida gainesville,Syracus,USC and State university of newyork ,buffalo . he is confused about which one to join in.He also got 6000$ waiver in Syracuse and 12000$ waiver in UF. He got this admits for fall 2012.Kindly advice which univ which would be a better option and how?

Thank you.