Post-graduation is all about choosing your own adventure.  As with any adventure, there are bound to be some tests along the way. With the right amount of preparation, you can ensure that the test is just a stepping-stone for reaching your educational and career goals. 

There is no standard professional/graduate school test. What test you take depends on the graduate degree you are pursuing. Below is a list of tests and the type of schools/programs to which they are most applicable. Click on the name of the test to visit the test website and get ready to embark on your next great adventure!  

DAT (Dental Admission Test): 

All dental schools require students to take this exam. 

GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test): 

Many business and management schools require this exam for prospective students. 

Prospective student’s interested in pursuing a master’s or doctoral degree will take this exam.  This is the most common graduate admissions exam. Some programs do not require the test or view it as optional, but this is not common.

The LSAT is an integral part of the law school admissions process in the United States.

The MCAT is designed for students interested in the study of medicine. Almost all United States medical schools require this exam.  The MCAT has recently been altered and updated in some significant ways.

The natural sciences section of the new 2015 MCAT will reflect recent changes in medical education. Concepts in biology, chemistry, biochemistry, and physics that medical school faculty rate as most important to entering students’ success will be tested.  

A social and behavioral sciences section will be added.  The section will test important introductory psychology and sociology concepts, as well as introductory biology concepts that relate to mental processes and behavior.  A Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills section will be added for students to analyze, evaluate, and apply information provided by passages from a wide range of social sciences and humanities disciplines.  A preview guide for the 2015 MCAT can be found here.

The PCAT helps pharmacy schools identify qualified applicants. 

Yes, in most cases there is a fee. 

You should definitely prepare for the tests. How much time you spend studying depends on your comfort level with the material on the test.  Most people spend on average 2-4 months preparing for a graduate school admissions test. Also, you should take the time to review important features of the test and ask questions, such as: will the test be multiple choice, is there a writing portion, what is being covered, how much time will I have, is this a paper test or computerized?

INSIDER TIP:  It is not a good idea to take the test without any preparation “just to see how you do.”  

It is also important to keep up with what material is being covered and the format of the exam because changes to the test occur frequently.  For example, the MCAT will be changing in 2015.  If you plan to take the test during or after that year, you will need to study different material than those who took it prior.  

It depends.  Some tests are offered several times throughout the year and others are offered less frequently.  Timing is extremely important because you want to make sure you are allowing enough time to have the results sent to institutions to meet their deadlines.   

Yes (in most cases).  If you want to improve your score, in most cases you can take the test again.  However, some tests will restrict the amount of time in between test taking.  For example, you can only take the GRE once every 21 days and up to five times during a 12 month period. 

Plan early.
Be aware of application deadlines and how long it will take for test results to be sent.

Check if the programs you are considering require the test!
Nobody likes to waste time or money. Some programs may not require a test, so it’s best to double check. For example, some graduate programs will allow students with a high undergraduate GPA to skip the GRE. If the GRE is “optional,” consider whether taking the test could be advantageous—to offset a non-stellar GPA, for example.

The UMBC Training Center offers test prep courses  throughout the school year for a fee. 

Preparation books can be found in any bookstore or online.    

Attend the upcoming program: Grad School 101 Conference: Navigating the Application Process  on November 5, 2014 in the UC Ballroom!!.

What advice have you heard about studying for the grad school tests? Share your suggestions in the Comments section below.