After four years of taking tests and writing papers, college students have one question left to answer before receiving their diplomas: “What are you doing after graduation?”
Some graduates will enter the workforce immediately, while others plan to continue their education in graduate, law or medical school. Post-collegiate examinations test students’ determination in addition to their knowledge, but they can turn out to be an awful experience for those who are ill-prepared.
“The MCAT is a test that takes a lot of commitment and dedication. You have to push yourself to the extra level very often,” said pre-med psychology junior Shaawn Ali.
Ali has been preparing for the exam for several months and is taking courses with the Princeton Review. The MCAT is the Medical College Admission Test that assesses problem solving, critical thinking and writing skills in addition to an understanding of science concepts and principals.
“I advise people to keep up with the material and not cram it in the last week,” Ali said, “because you shouldn’t study much the week before the MCAT and definitely not the night before the test. You really have to change your lifestyle in preparation for the MCAT. I have and hopefully I won’t regret it after I take the test.”
Ali’s recommendations are just what the doctor ordered for students taking other post-collegiate examinations like the GRE. Mass communication senior Meghan Wasson took the Graduate Record Examination on Dec. 2 and regretted that she started studying so close to her test date.
“It was an awful experience,” Wasson said. “I started studying three weeks before the GRE with a test prep book and flash cards. I should have studied for a few months.” Wasson said the two-and-a-half hour examination experience was exhausting and has made her search for a graduate school more difficult.
“I didn’t do as well as I would have liked to. I feel like my score is holding me back from grad schools and I don’t think that the test is an accurate measure of a student’s intelligence,” Wasson added.
Each examination is designed to assess different skills and knowledge, but all of the tests require ample preparation. “The LSAT is intended to wear you down. The test can take up to five hours to complete and each section is heavily time-constrained,” said history senior Julie Kipp. She used Kaplan self-prep books for nine months prior to taking the LSAT. She said she is now receiving acceptance letters from law schools across the country.
“The best advice I can give is to take as many timed practice exams as possible. Rest well and don’t think about the test the night before. When it is all over, make sure you have a large drink handy,” Kipp said.
Here is an overview of post-collegiate testing:
GRE General Test: This general test measures critical thinking, analytical writing and verbal and quantitative reasoning skills that are not related to a specific field of study. Admissions or fellowship panels use scores to compare prospective applicants for graduate school in addition to considering grades and recommendations.
GRE Subject Test: Each examination is intended for students who have majored in or have extensive background in eight specific disciplines: biochemistry, cell and molecular biology, biology, chemistry, computer science, literature in English, mathematics, physics or psychology. The Subject Tests are given at test centers three times a year in November, December and April.
MCAT: The Medical College Admission Test assesses medical school applicants’ problem solving, critical thinking and writing skills in addition to their understanding of science concepts and principals. Registration is open for the April, May, June and July MCAT test dates.
LSAT: The Law School Admission Test is a half-day standardized test required for admission to all American Bar Association-approved law schools, most Canadian law schools, and many non-ABA-approved law schools. The test is administered four times a year. The registration fee for the LSAT is $123, but some may qualify for an LSAC fee waiver. Late registrants must pay an additional $62.
GMAT: The Graduate Management Admission Test helps business schools assess the qualifications of applicants that would like to obtain an MBA or complete advanced courses in business and management.
For Princeton Review, call 1-800-2REVIEW. The organization offers classroom and online courses, private and small group tutoring and self-prep books, as does Kaplan, a similar organization. For Kaplan, call 1-800-KAPTEST.
Kathy Martinez can be reached at [email protected].
