More students turn to grad school, testing in recession

As students apply to graduate, business, medical and law schools to avoid immediate job searches during the economic recession, entrance testing registration has seen some of the most significant increases in recent history, officials said.

‘Typically during recession, grad school programs are going to see applications spike,’ Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions spokesman Russell Schaffer said. ‘The reason is that the economy really affects the way students and young professionals think about their careers.’

Graduate Record Examinations spokesman Mark McNutt said the GRE saw its largest registration increase ever this year.

‘Students in school looking at the job market will say, ‘I’m going to graduate but not get a job,” he said.

Students also have to factor in prep course costs. The Princeton Review offers LSAT classroom courses that range in cost from $475 to $1,920 and private tutoring from $3,600 to $10,800, according to its website.

Princeton Review Boston Branch Marketing Director Nicole Zielinski said the Princeton Review has payment plans and need-based scholarships.

‘We do get more questions about scholarships now,’ she said.

Zielinski said more students are attending free events, but the recession has not affected the number of students taking courses.

‘We’re pretty much the same, but I think it might start to trend down a bit as the year goes down,’ Zielinski said.

Schaffer said Kaplan has also seen an increase in the number of students attending free practice tests, admissions seminars, sample classes and personal statement workshops.

‘We offer financial aid for students with an annual basis over $1 million for scholarships,’ Schaffer said. ‘We also work with a lot of student groups, pre-law, pre-med societies to provide one scholarship per semester.’

However, Witzburg said there are less expensive ways for students to study for admissions exams.

‘We recommend that people plan to apply using whatever strategy that’s been effective in the past for these challenging tests,’ Witzburg said.

College of Engineering senior Jason Tolenpino, who took the GRE last October and plans to go to the University of California, Irvine for graduate school, said the Princeton Review classroom course was helpful.

‘It helps you understand how to take the test and answer the question’ Tolenpino said.

ENG senior Else Frohlich said she is considering graduate school as a backup plan.

‘I’m still looking for a job, but if I don’t find one by September, I’ll probably apply for grad school in spring 2010,’ Frohlich said.

She said she will not be taking a prep course.

‘I know a lot of people who did okay by studying supplemental stuff, and I don’t know if I want to invest in prep courses,’ Frohlich said.

After taking the GRE last summer, ENG senior Andy Lee said he plans to get a master’s degree in electrical engineering at Stanford University in the fall. However, recession has affected both universities and incoming students, Lee said.

‘Of course, I would want them to let more people in, but that’s not the case because universities are businesses,’ Lee said. ‘They’re also hurt by the economy.’