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Test-prep courses boost scores, admission prospects

It's 8:30 in the morning on a Saturday and the test still has three and a half hours to go. No, it's not the SAT in high school. This is an acceptance test for graduate school.

Whether it's the Graduate Record Examination, Graduate Management Admissions Test, Law School Admissions Test, Medical College Admissions Test or one of numerous others, anyone planning to get a professional degree is required to take some standardized proficiency test.

But don't worry - at least three businesses on campus specialize in helping students "score more" on such tests.

The courses can cost about $800 and take six to nine weeks to complete - but their statistics say it's worth it for many people.

The average score increase on the LSAT after taking a test prep course is seven points, according to Kaplan and Princeton Review.

That may not sound like much, but when you consider that only five points separate those who go to fairly unknown law schools from those who go to one of the top 25 law schools, seven points is a lot.

Stephanie Fong, executive director of The Princeton Review on South University Ave. and a past instructor for the company, said, "If you're serious about entering a graduate program, you put yourself at a serious disadvantage by not taking a test prep course."

Michael Gibson, manager of student services for the Great Lakes region of Kaplan, agreed. "The classes are designed for anybody who is interested in having the most choices available to them for graduate school rather than having a college choose them."

The Princeton Review, Kaplan and Excel all offer in-class instruction and practice tests taken under actual test conditions with answer analyses.

The programs identify strengths and weaknesses on the test so a personalized study plan can be formulated, and customers can get individual help sessions. Although students can purchase test-prep books outside of these services, the companies provide most materials.

"The class gives students more of a feeling of 'us against the test' rather than 'the test against me.' It's more of a community feeling that is extremely beneficial," Fong said.

LSA senior Drew Nitschke disagreed. When asked if the LSAT prep course he took was beneficial, he said, "Absolutely not. It's just a scam for those companies to take your money."

Students who still aren't sure if a test-prep course is for them should try a sample test - many are available on the Internet - or purchase a test-prep book, available at local bookstores. If these materials don't get rid of test anxiety, try a prep course.

Prices:

Scores:

Prep-course Payoffs

10-24-96