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THE BATTALION
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Thursday, March 21, 2002
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Testing, Testing
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graduate school hopefuls turn to prep
curses and self-study
By Beth Brown
THE BATTALION
John Sommers, a junior management and finance major, recent-
decided he wants to go to graduate school. Sommers plans to
cetheGMAT but is not sure when he will prepare for it.
lam worried about having to study for a test while taking a
load of class,” Sommers said. ”1 heard it is
worth taking if you don't have the time to
[epare for it. and that means studying every
>htfora couple of months.”
For students like Sommers, graduating with a
chelor's degree is not enough. Many Aggies
their sights on business, law or medical
hool to get jobs that pay big bucks. But before
iscan happen, there is one obstacle for students
to want to go to graduate school — the
itrance exam.
Tests such as the LSAT. the GMAT and the
CAT determine the fate of many students and
a be intimidating. The key to beating them is
eparation, and students have tried several meth-
toget ready for possibly the hardest test they
[ever take.
Sommers is not sure whether or not he will
a preparation course before the exam. He
he has heard mixed reviews about them
id may just buy a book of practice problems. Whatever he
THE CRAP.!
tO THINK F05
DWN. I VOTf
ION-RE6
/ think (prepa
ration) classes help
because they are a
scheduled time to
study. You have to
go to the classes be
cause you are pay-
and a half hours long,” Perdue said. “We are also assigned
homework and have five full-length exams on Saturdays.”
Perdue said the classes are making a difference in his grade
and he has seen improvement in his scores. In addition. Perdue
uses the course as a motivator.
“I think (preparation) classes help because they are a
scheduled time to study” Perdue said. “You have to go to
the classes because you are paying so much
money for them.”
“1 basically understand all of the information we
are going over, but I am taking the course because
I don’t think I would do the work on my own."
A. David Brown, the vice president of business
development at a start-up company in Houston, recent
ly took the GMAT and scored very well. Brown said
the tests are definitely the type that can be studied for
and taking a course is not always the best option.
“I spent the money and took a course, but
I think what helped me the most was the
ing SO much money practice problems,” Brown said. “I highly^
for them.
Gth what!
ends have
nces andjii)
hat Nob
Ison said,
its are
— Donnie Perdue
junior biology major
recommend buying a book of practice prob
lems from the old written tests; it made all the
difference for me.”
Brown decided to wait a few years before taking
the test so that he could gain work experience on
Wall Street. Brown said many people decide to do
this, and graduate school exams do not have to be
icides. Sommers said he has a great deal of work ahead.
“lam motivated to go to graduate school, but I am not looking
irward to the extra work and stress involved in taking the
MAT,”Sommers said. “Hopefully I will get a good grade on the
ental aeencii « -
anies thatdoi|sttry-1 would hate to have to take it twice.
Donnie Perdue, a junior biology major, hopes to go to medical
for five yen Wand is preparing for the MCAT by taking a preparation course.
“My plan consists of four classes a week, each of which is two
taken right out of school
“Many business schools like to see their applicants have four
or five years of work experience,” Brown said. “Since the scores
are only good for five years anyway, it isn’t necessary to take the
test right after graduating from college.”
Brown said the most important thing is to allow plenty of
time to study and practice.
“I studied for months before my exam,” Brown said. “It’s
a huge time commitment, but it definitely pays off in the end.”
ADRIAN CALCANEO* THE BATTALION
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For more Info, call 845-1515, or go to http://aggiecon.tamu.edu.