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| College Admission
Tests |
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PSAT
Preliminary Scholastic Achievement Test. Most students take this test in
the fall of their junior year in high school (usually in October).
However, many students take it "for practice" at some point
during their sophomore year. The PSAT is the same format as the SAT,
only it is a shorter exam. Your score on this exam is important because
it determines your eligibility for a National Merit Scholarship.SAT
Scholastic Achievement Test. Students take this test in the spring of
their junior year in high school, in preparation for going to college.
Most students take this exam in June, however, many students take the
exam again in the fall of their senior year, because they were not
satisfied with the score they received in June. The SAT has 3 sections-- Critical
Reading, Math and Writing, and includes a 25 minute essay. Each
section is scored on a scale of 200 to 800, with 500 being
average. Various one hour Subject Tests can also be
taken.
| So
Many Questions...
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What is the admissions committee looking for, anyway? Is it
true that if your numbers aren't high enough, your
application is automatically dumped in the
"reject" pile? Are schools looking for people with
a two-page resume of extracurricular activities? What do
admissions officers "want to hear" in your essay?
Can test prep really make your scores go up, or is it just a
big money-making scam? Does a fat envelope always mean
acceptance? |
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| Just about everyone who's
applying to college asks these questions. The first step to
answering them is to get a grasp on the admissions
process—when, where, and how to apply, and how to figure
out how you (and your family) are going to pay for it. Your
goal is to end up with a list of colleges where you'd like
to apply, and that seem like they'd be happy to take people
like you. |
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| Don't forget: go visit your
guidance counselor. Guidance counselors get all sorts of
great free stuff from the College Board to help them help
you make good college choices. Don't know where the office
is? Find out, and expand your horizons before you ever set
foot on campus! |
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ACT
ACT Assessment. Students take this test in place of, or in addition to,
the SAT for entrance into college. The exam is offered six times a year,
in February, April, June, September, October, and December. It is more
widely used in the Midwest region of the US. It covers English, reading,
science, and math. Top
GRE
Graduate Record Examination. The GRE is required for admission to
graduate school. This computerized exam is offered year-round, but only
during the first 3 weeks of every calendar month. It tests students on
verbal skills, quantitative skills (math), and analytical reasoning
skills.
| The GRE is now a computer
adaptive test (CAT) |
| In other words, no more pencils, ovals,
or eraser dust. Instead, you will take the exam on a
computer. During the test, you will see one question at a
time, which you must answer in order to move on to the next
question. The first question will be of average difficulty.
The computer will then select subsequent questions based on
whether you got the first one right or wrong. The exam will
continue in this way until you've seen the required mix of
concepts and question types. |
On the GRE, you will
receive a "scaled score" within a range of 200-800
for each of the three sections (verbal, quantitative, and
analytical). You can score no higher than 800 or lower than
200 on any one section. |
GMAT
Graduate Management Admission Test. The GMAT is required for admission
to business school. This computerized test is offered year-round, but
only in the last 3 weeks of every calendar month. It tests students on
verbal skills, quantitative skills (math) and analytical writing skills.
LSAT
Law School Admission Test. The LSAT is required for admission to law
school. Most students take this test in October, however, it is also
offered in June, December, and February. The LSAT is not a
knowledge-based test, but rather a thinking and reasoning-based test. It
tests your skills in logic reasoning, logic games, reading comprehension
and writing. More
| What
Is Law School Really Like?
You've progressed a long
way down the road to law school. You've learned how to gain
admission to a program that fits your needs. You've explored
how to find the money to pay for your legal education. But
you may still have many questions. What's law school really
like? Will my investment be worth it? Of course, your own
answers to these questions lie in the future. In the
meantime, however, you can read all about it and talk to
people who have been there, done that.
Wake-up
Call
The first year of law school is not for fair-weather
enthusiasts. There will be plenty of opportunities for you
to feel overwhelmed and thoroughly drenched in self-doubt.
With an increasingly competitive job market, even 1Ls
(first-year law students) aren't immune to the pressure of
the placement process. And at many schools there is often
the "case method" of teaching that could be
another strain. In case method classes, the professor's role
is to provoke students into a higher level of thinking. You
will certainly be challenged on a number of levels.
Nontraditional
First-Year Curriculum
A few schools offer a different kind of curriculum to
students. For example, Georgetown Law Center offers a
program called Curriculum B, emphasizing the source of
law in history, philosophy, political theory, and
economics. Other schools with curriculums that offer
an "atypical" first-year approach include:
University of Montana, William and Mary, and the
Chicago-Kent College of Law at the Illinois Institute
of Technology (IIT), among others. Each school's
offerings are unique. For example, the University of
Montana and William and Mary organize their first-year
students into law firms where students tackle
lawyering problems in a simulated format. Chicago-Kent
focuses on cultivating legal writing skills, drawing
extensively on the use of computers in this effort.
These are just a few examples. Many other schools
offer special programs. Contact the schools for
details on their offerings. |
Second-
and Third-Year Curriculum
Your second and third years in law school usually offer
greater flexibility in course choice, often in more
specialized areas of the law, and sometimes with a clinical
component. Different law schools offer different special
programs and specific requirements for graduation, but the
J.D. degree is generalist in nature, and prepares you to
solve current legal problems and anticipate the problems of
the future.
LSAT
Free LSAT Practice Test |
MCAT
Medical College Admissions Test. The MCAT is required for admission to
medical school. The
4 1/2 hour test is offered 22 times a year. It has 4 sections:
physical sciences, verbal reasoning, biological sciences, and a writing
sample. More DAT
Dental Admissions Test. The DAT is required for admission to dental
school. It is a computerized test offered year-round. The DAT tests your
skills in reading comprehension, natural sciences, quantitative
reasoning, and perceptual ability. Test takers of the GRE, LSAT, MCAT and
DAT are usually juniors or seniors in college, though some test takers
have been working for several years, and are looking for a career
change. Conversely, most GMAT test takers have been out of college for
at least 1-2 years since business schools rarely admit students without
work experience. More than half of last year's GMAT test takers were
over 26. Top TOEFL
Test Of English as a Foreign Language. The TOEFL is required to assess
the English proficiency of people who speak English as a non-native
language. It is a required exam for those students wishing to begin
undergraduate or graduate study in the US. The TOEFL is a computer exam
which is given year round. There are 4 sections: listening
comprehension, structure, reading comprehension and writing.
USMLE
United States Medical Licensing Examination. A medical student must pass
the USMLE in order to become a licensed physician in the United States.
In addition, any doctor licensed outside the country must pass this exam
to practice medicine in the US. This test has three levels, called
"Steps". The Step 1 exam is given to second year medical
students. Most people take the USMLE in May-July or November-December. NCLEX
National Council Licensure Examination. A student must pass the NCLEX in
order to become a licensed registered nurse in the US. Most nursing
students take the exam within 3 months after finishing nursing school.
This correlates to a May-July test "season." Top |
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US Test Dates
Registration
deadlines in parentheses (regular, late)
2008
May
May
3
SAT & Subject Tests (4/1, 4/10)
June
June 7
SAT & Subject Tests (5/6, 5/15)
June 14
ACT (5/9, 5/23)
June 16 LSAT (5/13, 5/23)
September
September
13 ACT (8/12, 8/22)
October
October 4
LSAT (9/2, 9/12)
October 4 SAT & Subject Tests
October
25 ACT (9/19, 10/3)
November
November
1 SAT & Subject Tests
DAT, GMAT, GRE, NCLEX, USMLE, and TOEFL are computer-based tests and
are available year-round, by appointment.
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Undergraduate
Application Do's
and Don'ts
Do yourself a favor: Before
you send in your application, proofread! Nothing will make
admissions officers dump your application in the reject pile
faster than a sloppy, illegible or error-ridden application.
| A
Persistent Myth |
| College admission
committees seek to recruit well-rounded students. |
This is NOT necessarily true.
What they're usually looking for is a well-rounded student
body comprised of students with various interests and skills.
This is good news. It means you don't need a ten-page list of
activities stuffed with entries like the Trampoline Club and
the Polka Band (unless, of course, you truly enjoy
participating in the Polka Band).
But don't cut down on your
activities for fear of appearing unfocused. Believe it or not,
admissions committees can differentiate between those who are
trying to load up their activities sheet and those who have a
sincere interest in their extra curriculars. Don't worry about
joining clubs you think colleges want to see on your resume.
Do what you're really interested in.
| Show
the Real You |
| Feel like your GPA and
SAT or ACT score don't tell the whole story? That's what
your essays are for. Be yourself (but
"yourself" with good grammar and perfect
spelling). The cliche "Write about what you
know" has never been more true. For more advice on
essays, consult your teachers or your guidance
counselors. Here are some essay questions that have been
asked in the past: |
--Describe what you would
consider to be the perfect adventure. (Hollins College)
--What do you value most in a
relationship? Describe the person you feel closest to and why
your relationship is so strong. (Austin College)
--If you could declare a new
holiday, what would you celebrate/commemorate? Why? How would
it be observed? (University of Puget Sound)
--You have just completed
your three-hundred-page autobiography. Please submit page 217.
(University of Pennsylvania)
| Sell
Yourself |
| The interview, though
often not required, is another chance to show the real
you. Try to schedule your interview for a Monday or a
Friday, and spend the weekend on campus. If you don't
know anyone at that school, call the admissions office.
Most schools sponsor an overnight program for
prospective students. |
As for the interview itself,
the most important thing you can do is RELAX. Remember, you're
there to find out more about the school just as much as to
make an impression. Dress appropriately, go in armed with some
questions that you genuinely want to ask, practice your firm
handshake, and you'll do fine. If you're extraordinarily
nervous about the interviewing process, rehearse with your
guidance counselor or a friend.
| Keeping
up with Yesterday |
| If you're not a
procrastinator, consider applying for EARLY ADMISSIONS.
There are usually two alternatives—Early Action (an
admission decision that binds the school to the
applicant, but not vice versa) and Early Decision (an
admission decision that binds both the school and the
applicant to one another). Be aware of which schools
offer which options and their corresponding early
deadlines. |
Plan to get your regular
applications in early while there are more spots available.
Some schools have rolling admissions; in these cases, spots
are taken as applications arrive and are accepted, so it's
especially important to get your application in as early as
possible.
PSAT
SAT ACT
Free Practice Tests |
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| 10
Things YOU Should Know About the GMAT CAT
1. Some schools take your
highest GMAT score; some average scores. Be prepared whenever
you take the test!
2. Some business schools will
waive application fees for students with high GMAT scores.
3. The average GMAT score at
the top 10 schools, according to the 1997 US News and World
Report business school survey, was over 665.
4. The survey also reveals
that graduates of higher-ranked business schools usually get
the highest starting salaries.
5. The GMAT is now offered
only as a Computer Adaptive Test (CAT).
6. The earlier you apply, the
better your chances of acceptance at many schools.
7. With the CAT, you'll get
your scores the same day that you take the test.
8. On the GMAT CAT, you'll
type two essays — one analyzing an issue and one analyzing
an argument.
9. The GMAT tests both your
knowledge of content (math/grammar) and test-taking skills.
10. You can take the CAT
during regular business hours, up to 6 days a week, 3 weeks
per month. There is a waiting period before you can retake the
test.
GMAT
Free GMAT Practice Test |
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MBA
Basics
The fundamentals of business are taught in
every MBA program. Accounting, economics, finance,
organizational behavior, marketing, statistics, and operations
form the primary business disciplines and skills and are in
the expected repertoire for any MBA. How and when students
cover the basic skills varies, however. In most programs these
subjects will be taught in a group of core courses required of
every student. These core courses consume most or all of the
first year of study in a two-year fulltime program. In some
programs, students who have a prior background in business can
be exempted or waived from some or all of the core courses, on
the basis of either a special examination or an evaluation of
the undergraduate transcript.
Some programs regard a few areas as
background knowledge and expect you to have learned the
material before you start your graduate program. Statistics,
economics, and accounting often fall in this group. When
you're comparing the length of programs and calculating time
to degree, be sure you remember to consider any program
prerequisites. (Calculus and computer skills are also common
prerequisites for MBA programs.)
Other programs take another approach,
offering the core courses within the structure of the program
but requiring this course work only of those students who have
not mastered it previously. If your program has two tiers,
with different entrance points—for students with
undergraduate degrees in business and those with degrees in
non business areas—you may be exempted from some or all of
the first year of the program if you were an undergrad
business major.
GMAT
Free GMAT Practice Test
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| Why
Medical School
The decision to become a
doctor is probably one of the most intimidating choices you
can make.
As a premed student, you will
be working for at least two years without guarantee of a spot
in medical school. It means publicly stating that you want
something that in 1997 only 35 percent of those applying
received — a position in medical school. And then after an
arduous application process, that decision means committing
yourself to a labor-intensive course of study, including four
years of medical school and three to twelve years of residency
and fellowship.
Physician,
Know Thyself
One important element of preparing your application campaign
is articulating why you want to be a doctor. This also
involves demonstrating that you have glimpsed the reality of
what it is to practice real medicine, not the glamorized
versions on ER.
While some students have a
clear epiphany they can movingly relate regarding their career
goal, for many applicants, the decision to enter a medical
field isn't as easily conveyed. Some find themselves
daydreaming in organic chemistry class, still trying to decide
two years into the prerequisites if this is the career for
them.
The point is that you need to
gather as much information as possible, immerse yourself in
it, and then think long and hard about whether a career in
medicine is right for you.
MCAT
Free MCAT Practice Test |
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