Test Prep Consortium

Mission Statement

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 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

Testing Office

• List of graduate, professional school, and licensing exams that MSU is a national test site for
• How To Prepare For Standardized College and Graduate School Entrance Exams
• Cheating: Information for students and faculty
• For issues related to test anxiety, the Counseling Center offers one-on-one personal counseling

LRC - Learning Resource Center

• Student skills workshops and tutoring
• Critical reading seminars
• Test prep strategies related to verbal and math skills.

Writing Center

• Graduate Student Writing Groups
• Grammar Hotline at 432-3610 or grammar@msu.edu
• One-on-One Consulting

• 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

• English courses for non-native speakers

• Study Strategies
• Consultation on Test Accommodations

• Career Advising
• PhD Student Resources, Programs, & Services

• While these offices are not involved in test preparation, they are vital constituents in consortium issues.