Admissions Tests
Many graduate and professional schools will require applicants to have
completed some sort of standardized test. As you research your graduate
schools, be sure to pay close attention to which test (if any) is
required.
Which test do I need to take?
The following list gives
information for some of the most commonly requested tests, but it is
not exhaustive. Some schools will have unique requirements, so make
sure that you ask their admissions representatives which test(s) you
should take.
Many Graduate Programs:
Selected Professional Programs:
- Business School: GMAT
- Dental School: DAT
- Law School: LSAT
- Medical School: MCAT
- Optometry School: OAT
How do I register for the test?
To register for the exam, visit
the exam's website; some have a registration form that you can
download. Additionally, registration materials for most exams are
available in the Career and Community Learning Center, 135 Johnston Hall.
How do I prepare?
Preparing takes time, so make sure that you
plan well in advance of your exam. While you may be able to retake the
exam later on, it's always best to plan ahead so that you do as well as
possible the first time you take the test. Some of the possible methods
of preparation include: - Reviewing the actual exam. As you begin your exam
preparation, review an old copy of the test to familiarize yourself
with the skills required to be successful and the types of questions
that are asked. You should be able to find old copies of the exam in
the registration manual, on the test's website, or in study aids for
the different tests sold at a bookstore. Students taking the GRE, the
LSAT, or the GMAT will find sample exams in CCLC provided by the
Princeton Review (see this company's description in the 'courses'
section, below). Students can take these sample exams and send the
results to the Minneapolis office of the Princeton Review to be scored.
There is no charge for this service.
- Books: There are plenty of options. Any good
bookstore will have shelves of preparation materials; CCLC also has
several available for in-office use.
- U of M Programs: The Compleat Scholar program in the
College of Continuing Education offers courses to help students prepare
for the GRE, the GMAT, or the LSAT. For more information, visit their website.
- Courses offered by organizations outside the U of M: Companies like the Princeton Review or Kaplan
offer review exams for the most common tests. These courses can be
expensive; some students like them while others feel that they can
adequately prepare using other options. Before spending money on any
preparation course, be sure to work closely with the company so that
you know what you'll be getting.
When do I take the test?
This answer varies depending on what
test you are taking, so you'll want to spend some time researching the
test dates and requirements for the schools you are applying for to
determine what timeline will work best for you. Generally, if students
want to attend graduate school immediately after finishing their
bachelor's degree, they will take the test either in the spring of
their junior year or the fall of their senior year. Your timing will
depend on the material that is covered on the test, the possibility of
retaking the exam later, and your own preparation schedule. Again, make
sure to review information for your specific profession.
Learn how scores will be used.
When you apply to various
schools, you should have an understanding of how test scores are used.
There is no formula used by all schools, but generally test scores are
only one part of the picture—grades, recommendations, your personal
statement, an interview, or other factors are also important. You
should also consider how schools will count multiple test results. If
you retake a test, the school might take your best score, it might
average all your test scores, it might use only the most recent score,
or it might have some other way of using the results. Obviously, if you
are considering a specific school and considering retaking a test, you
should know how the school will use your scores. Next / Previous / Home
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