Preparing for Grad School Exams

More exams, the fun keeps going!

I know it feels like you just finished studying for the ACT/SAT’s and left for college, but before you know it, graduation will be looming and many students will be preparing for graduate school exams of some sort. Becoming familiar with the vast amount of degrees and programs out there would be the first step. If you are considering graduate school at IU, check to see if they have an open house. Consider visiting other colleges as well. This will give you the opportunity to meet professors and ask questions about the program. Start talking to an advisor early to be sure you have all the correct exams, prerequisites, shadowing, or research hours you will need.

Whether you are preparing for Medical or Law School or a specific graduate program, researching the continuation of your education may feel overwhelming. Finding the right concentration for you is important. Consider all of your options, including the location of schools, degrees offered, length of time to complete the degree, funding/cost, prerequisite classes testing, exams, and other requirements needed for entrance, and so on.

Students at The University Grad School are provided with many resources to succeed. All grad students are highly encouraged to take advantage of the graduate mentoring center. They are located in the Wells Library in room E544R. The graduate mentoring center provides grad students with informal and formal mentorship opportunities through mentors, speakers, workshops, and help from staff. Whether a student is struggling with tests or in general this program truly makes sure every student is on a good path and helps lead them to success. A list of the mentoring program events.

Most graduate schools require exam test scores with the application. IU helps students prepare for the GMAT, GRE, LSAT, exams. Visit the testing center to see the many academic review programs offered; some of which are online. They will also provide information on tests, application questions, personal statement reviews, and mock interviews.

Applications also require an essay or personal statement. To be sure you are sending in your best work, we recommend working with Essential Essays, which assists students with brainstorming, planning, and writing college, law, and grad school essays that will reveal their personality and give their applications a positive edge.

Taking a course is optional and you may not need to spend hundreds of dollars to do so. Taking a practice test a few months before the actual exam to see where to start studying will help gear how much studying you’ll need to do. By this point in college, you should have a good idea as to how you learn best. Perhaps online studying is not the best choice for you; therefore a local class or private tutor may be a better idea.

Some of the popular test prep programs are Kaplan, Magoosh, BenchPrep, Next Step Test Prep, Khan Academy, and Manhattan Test Prep. Some students who are majoring in finance or business will also take the Level 1 CFA exam. The Princeton Review now offers a test-prep course for only $299. Students who enroll will qualify for their money-back guarantee. Many are offered as online classes which allow students to study at their convenience. Some also offer private tutoring in person or online, as well as regular local classes. Many accounting major students take the CPA exam while in school. Some of the more popular CPA review courses include Surgent, Becker, and Wiley. To prepare for the MCAT while in Bloomington, check out the local Kaplan or Varsity Tutors.

Here a few additional pointers:

• GRE- Get the ‘GRE Word of the Day’ app to help vocabulary. Sign up for the Question of the Day from Kaplan. It’s free!
• MCAT- Next Step Test Prep offers live webinars to answer questions that may come up as you study.
• LSAT- Testmasters’ LSAT prep class is offered right on the IU campus.

Prepare a timeline or checklist for each school you apply to. It may include GPA, test scores, letters of recommendation (LOR), personal essays, resume, interview, etc.. Standardized tests are only one part of the application process. In addition, it may not be too soon to begin to look into scholarships or how you will finance your continuing education. There are also Professional Development Workshops available right on campus.

Finally, it has become common for some students to take a year off before starting grad school. College is stressful and there is a lot of pressure to start Grad school immediately. Perhaps the year can be spent gaining experience that will add to your application or have more time to prepare. Remember, this shouldn’t be a race; it should be a marathon. Some students long to take a gap year while many others are eager to get started with the rest of their lives.

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