Graduate test preparation center opens in Eugene
By Daralyn Trappe
Emerakt Asvx.ce Editor
Tho country's oldest and
largest graduate testing prepara
lion c enter now has a bran* h In
Eugene.
Kaplan Educational Center
got Its lingerie start in January
Wttl. hut it wasn't until this
summer that courses for all
kinds of graduate tests were of
ferred
Jon Kussin. ( cimmunilv dlrec
tor for the Eugenic branch, said
there was a strong demand for a
center near the University, and
some students were driving to
Portland's Kaplan Center
The most popular courses in
clude study for the i-aw S< hool
Acceptance Test, the Medical
College Admissions Test, the
Graduate Record Exam, the
Graduate Management Admis
sions Test and the Test of Eng
lish as a Foreign Language
Because those tests urn of
fered about four time# a year.
Kussin said. Kaplan Is constant
lv preparing for a new round of
courses
Each one lasts about 10
weeks and includes one tour
hour course a week, us well as
independent study with Kap
lan's copyrighted tapes and
hooks to reinforce! what is
learned in c lass Some courses
art! also offered in which the
study limn is compacted into
fewer weeks
Kussln, one of two Kugene In
structors. said ( lass si/e is lim
ited to about It) to 20 poop la,
so individual interaction with
the instructor is assured
• • O ...I t t - — i.
*»H.M rVi||/l»lt l» it« -< «l* IS
heating the test ullut king it
and ix-atlng it." Ktissm said.
Tile Kaplan (atUiels approach
this philosophy by housing on
different types of study lor dif
ferent tests Some tests require
analytical thought, others in
volve strategy and others re
quire mainly factual knowl
edge
I’ar1 of mastering these tests ,
is in overcoming "lest anxiety,"
Kussin said, so at least two
praclii e tests are given
"We want to put them In a
comfortable psv< Imiogicai pnsi
tton to take the test." Kussln
said "We also show people
how to manage their time on a
test because a lot of it is pacing,
timing, knowing how much
lime to spend on each thing "
Costs for lite courses vary
considerably, Kussln said l‘i
nnnr ial aid is available, "so
them's a lot ol flexibility," he
said "It depends on your finan
cial situation."
Although test preparation
tiooks alone may he cheaper,
Photo t>y Uk*mmH Sh»ndter
University seniors Anelee Patterson (left) and Katei Lopez and Oregon State University graduate Benny
Hall lake a practice LSAT test at the new Kaplan Educational Center.
Kussln said, the results are usu
ally less drumatli
“People often get discour
aged la-cause there's no human
Interaction," he said "Those
books may bo good for a very
highly-motivated person, hut
most people are busy and
would find reasons not to do
the work."
Kussin said the proof of Kap
lun's success can be found in
the fact that, nationally, one of
every two students in medical
m hool and one of every three
students in law school have
taken a Kaplan course
Rob I'olluy, a University un
dergraduate who is applying to
law school, took the LSAT
course this summer. I’elley said
his score on the actual test im
proved by 16 points over the
score on his first practice lest.
Policy said ho doesn't believe
he would have gotten such a
good score if he had simply re
lied on his own study.
"Not only do you have access
to books, but the tapes allow
you to go at your own speed, so
you can identify your strengths
and weaknesses," I’elloy said
Legislators leave University administrators in limbo
By Demian McLean
Fmwald Reporter
In killing a proposal fnr a s|»'( ial session on Measure
5 last wiruk, Republican legislators may have sent Uni
versity administrator* n tacit signal to look elsewhere
for jobs in 1993.
Administrators say their future has boon in limbo
since July, when 218 University employees received
notices explaining their contracts may not Is- ninewed
in 1993 The proposed job cuts are part of a projected
20-percent budget reduction at the University over the
next three years
Kxactly how many administration |olis defined as
non teaching faculty positions will he cut hinges on
the Legislature's plan to replace the missing funds, said
Dan Wiliams, vice president of administration. Nearly
all 218 |ol>s could lx> lost, he said, or none of them
could !*• cut. depending on how the Legislature at K
Hut perhaps more important than how the Legislature
acts is when it acts. Hy canceling the special session,
the Legislature may hove postponed a budget decision
past the point where it makes any difference to Unlvor
sitv administrators.
Mart: Ctbson, the Senate prosidimt chief of staff, pre
dicted it would tnk.tr legislators until spring to agree on
a budget solution
"I think the i test-case scenario is budget gridlock un
til April or May." tie said “The implications for higher
education are fairly grim."
Doth Swank, a counselor in Career Planning and
Placement who received a notice of possible termina
tion. said she can't wait until spring to look for a new
job
"I've given myself tile deadline of the first of the
year." she said "I don't want to be left in June without
anything "
Roger Morris, associate director of student services,
said tlie attitude in his office is split
"People an' either committed to longevity, to staying
here, or they're not waiting to start the jot) hunt." he
said.
Morris said he believes most administrative faculty
with termination notices will wait until late winter for
the Legislature to make a decision
"Come March or April," ho said, "people will ho
dropping away from the University like files."
University librarian George Shipman said he is bank
ing on his record to keep his University position.
"I have to proceed on an article of faith." he said
'Tvo got 12-plus years here.”
State Kep. Carl Hosticka, D-liugeno, said any delay to
a budget solution will bo the result of partisan politics,
not lack of solutions.
"There's plenty of proposals around," he said. "You
don't have to reinvent the wheel.
"The question is: Do the people in control — Kep.
Campbell and others — want to do it?" Hosticka said.
"Do we have the will power to get this done?"
Williams said the University will watch the budget
proceedings us late us January before announcing any
cuts
"Much beyond that," he said, "we may just go for
ward and make choices, out of consideration for the
people involved."
EQUUS
by Peter Shaffer
University Theatre
November 19, 20, 21 • 8pm
University Theatre Box Office 346-4191
ALL YOU CAN EAT
SPAGHETTI WITH BREAD
(with
nn»» mi
one coupon pex customer • expires I2/KV92
11/2OPFI
Cover Charge Coupon
LOLLIPOPS
(Jiggles Junior)
Totally Nude Dancers
2175 West 11th
Next door to Jiggles
Open at 5:00 p.m. daily
1 per person 18 years and older to get in. Expires 12-31-92
136E 11th • (near Willamette)
342-3358
Must be 21 or Over
Wednesday Nov s$3
A unique blend of ahrnutnc and
*oustK loci
Dose
Terry Lee Male <tr«B suite>
F unnelhead < immah ptuk scbooti
Thursday n«v 19 $4
All had ihe new GODS with
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Motorgoat
t (cafurui| former member* of Harm f arm*
Village Idiot (from
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!!!••• Dub Squad •**!!!
Music Starts at 10pm
Open 4pm-2:30am
Mon-Sat