About The Graduate School ALANA Students Current Students Faculty/Staff Index Prospective Students

Mission Statement The MSU Test Prep Consortium is a collaboration of on-campus units offering resources free of charge to MSU students preparing for national standardized exams (such as graduate and professional school entrance exams). The focus of the MSU Test Prep Consortium is: to provide a wide variety of self-help study materials in multiple formats to offer general reading, writing and math skills support to students preparing to take graduate/professional school entrance exams to help students understand the nature and purpose of these exams, and also teach them how to perform a truly helpful "self-diagnosis" prior to any test to teach students how to "reduce or eliminate the unknowns" in any testing situation. and to advertise and maintain a campus wide system of support, service and information in the area of test preparation. The MSU Test Prep Consortium is founded on the belief that the university resources already available to our students are the most beneficial tools a student can use to prepare for national standardized tests. Appropriate preparation can and should extend far beyond the test itself, and continue to prove beneficial throughout continuing education and professional endeavors. University students should not need to pay outside agencies to help them prepare for qualifying exams required for further university study, as this is part of the role of undergraduate education itself. The MSU Test Prep Consortium is not a new service, but rather a partnership utilizing existing resources. Our intent is to share expertise, reduce redundancy, and open communication within the university community. The Consortium includes the campus resources listed below. General Test Prep Tips from all Consortium Members During your undergraduate years, it is easy to become so focused on performing well in your course work that you lose sight of the long range intellectual and academic goal of undergraduate work. The course content you are asked to learn is only part of the story. Equally important are the reading, analysis, reasoning, problem-solving, and writing skills you learn and refine in nearly all your courses, in all fields of study. When students begin to "focus" on the graduate or professional school application process, they sometimes tend to "mystify" such exams as the GRE, GMAT, MCAT, and LSAT. Some commercial test prep centers foster this orientation by claiming to help students "beat the tests." But keep in mind that the knowledge and skills you develop during your undergraduate years are exactly those that will help you do well on these tests. Students who have taken the GRE, GMAT, MCAT, and LSAT all say the same things regarding test preparation. Two things make the biggest difference: a) Familiarization with the test rules, format, and content; and b)the practice of reading widely outside coursework. Where to Go for What The following list describes resources related to test preparation. Most offices offer many additional services, which are detailed in their web sites and/or brochures. Testing Office 207 Student Services 517.355.8385 517.353.7278 (TTY) http://www.couns.msu.edu/testing/ National Test Center for graduate/professional entrance exams CBT [Computer Based Testing] site for GRE, GMAT,TOEFL,PRAXIS, etc. General test prep strategies and information related to all standardized entrance exams. Cheating: Information for students and faculty Additional information related to tests and testing For issues related to test anxiety, the Counseling Center offers one-on-one personal counseling. LRC (Learning Resource Center) 209J Bessey Hall 517.355.2363 http://www.msu.edu/~lrc/ Student skills workshops and tutoring in math, science, humanities and social science. Test prep workshops related to graduate/professional school entrance exams. Test prep strategies /links related to Verbal Skills. Test prep strategies /links related to Math Skills. Writing Center 300 Bessey Hall 517.432.3610 [email protected] http://writing.msu.edu/ Undergraduate and graduate student writing support Faculty resources Grammar/usage hotline (432-3610, [email protected]) One-on-one consulting Workshops, class presentations, on-line resources for writers Satellite Writing Centers ("Writing in Context") Main Library West Circle Drive 517.353.8700 http://www.lib.msu.edu/ Study guides and test prep software for most graduate and professional entrance exams College, grad school and professional school guides and catalogues Graduate school and career information ELC (English Language Center) A714 Wells Hall 517.353.0301 http://polyglot.cal.msu.edu/elc/ English courses for non-native speakers RCPD 120 Bessey Hall 517.353.9642 (Voice) 517.355.1293 (TTY) http://www.msu.edu/unit/rcpd/ Study Strategies Consultation on Test Accommodations The Career Resources Center Student Services Building, Room 6 517.353.6474 (Voice) http://www.csp.msu.edu Multitude of career-related services and information. Resource center stocked with graduate and professional school information. Office of Orientation Placement Testing and Outcomes Assessment Office of the Provost 308 Administration Building and Office of Gifted and Talented Programs 186 Bessey Hall While these offices are not involved in test preparation, they are vital constituents in consortium issues. The Graduate School 118 Linton Hall 517.355.0301 http://grad.msu.edu Graduate program information for Michigan State: applications, assistantships General information about graduate education Academic Advisors Your academic advisor can be a valuabe resource in the entire graduate/professional school application process. S/he can help you confirm the required test(s), suggest a timetable for preparation, and direct you to a variety of other helpful resources.