Web Editor’s Note: This story was written for the MCOMM 3309 – News Editing & Reporting Class
The WT Graduate School is offering a four-week GRE (Graduate Record Examination) prep course, designed to help students increase their GRE score.
Starting Oct. 13 and lasting until Nov. 3, students will have the opportunity to have four, three hour face-to-face sessions with two different instructors who have a thorough understanding of the updated GRE. Additionally, every student will receive an official GRE Prep Book and other related resource materials. The cost is $100.
“If your program requires the GRE, I recommend a prep course,” said Dr. Robin Capt, Associate Dean of Graduate Studies and Research, who will be heading the course. “A lot of students need help with the GRE. They don’t prepare prior, so their scores aren’t as high as they want it to be.”“I am definitely going to grad school, but I have not signed up for the class yet,” said senior Jessica Peters, a communication major. “It’s a good idea to prepare for the GRE, but I didn’t think I could afford the class. We are poor college students and we need all the help we can get!”
Retaking the test instead of preparing is a costly option. While some students may feel that they can’t afford $100, it’s far more expensive to take the test multiple times at $160 each.
“The October class will be based on all of the new changes,” said Cheree Burleson, Admissions Coordinator at the Graduate School. “The scoring scale has changed …. You can move freely through the test … and it’s longer.”
The newly revised GRE was started Aug. 1. It lasts four hours as opposed to three, and has a more precise scoring scale. Instead of providing a score in ten point increments on a 200-800 scale, it provides scores in one point increments on a 130-170 scale. There is an additional math and verbal section as well.
Knowledge of the test material will not be the only thing taught during the course, however.
“A big component is just test anxiety,” explained Dr. Capt. “It [the course] will help students [who are] scared of standardized tests.”
If students are interested in other post-graduate courses, such as GMAT prep courses, Dr. Capt recommends emailing the graduate school to express interest. The more interest that is drummed up in these courses, the more likely the graduate school is to offer them in the future, she said.
Anyone interested in signing up for the course can send an email to [email protected] or call 806-651-2730. Payment can be made by going to the Business Office, or by bringing it to the first day of class.
