SimNet tutorials no longer free

Baruch College is known for its business related academic programs and a prestigious BBA degree from the Zicklin School of Business. In order to fulfill this BBA degree, one requirement that must be achieved is to complete and pass the SimNet examination.

Without the SimNet passing grade on record, no student will be able to take CIS 2200 or STA 2000, two necessary and critical courses for the BBA degree. However, studying for this exam might not be the same as it used to be.

The College will no longer offer the free tutorials that were given at the BCTC on the sixth floor of the Library building. Instead, the SimNet study guides will be sold at the Baruch Bookstore for the price of $35. Since students will now have to pay for the tutorial, this may affect the results of the SimNet exam greatly. The SimNet examination, which is basically an assessment test that quizzes your knowledge of Microsoft Excel, a computer-evaluated test, conducted by the Office of Testing and Evaluation.

"The test is easy and very simple," stated Tricia Smith, one of the aides at the Office of Testing and Evaluation. "All you have to do is study for it. If you don't want to study, then just take the test and pray you pass." Smith also went on to state that the test is administered all year around, every month and every week. It is a maximum one hour and 15 minutes long and can be approximated to almost everyone taking the exam in the college who wants to pursue a BBA degree.

Until recently, the office stated that if one student fails the exam, that student had only two more chances to pass. If he or she does not meet the requirements for a passing grade, then the student had to pay $200 to take a workshop in the place of the exam. However, the office changed this policy requiring that all students must pass the exam. With this new policy, many students have an infinite amount of chances to pass the exam, with a 30-day wait period after a failing mark.

"Just take the test as fast as you can," says one sophomore student, "try to get it over with before it's too late." It is clear that this student was referring to the elimination of the tutorials. Although you have many chances to take the test, the possibilities of studying for the SimNet are limited. Even with an unlimited amount of chances, students will never know how to study for it unless they buy the actual software.

Taking away the SimNet tutorials would cause many students to try the SimNet without practicing first. This might cause every student to pass the first time rather than going through all the trouble of buying the software and downloading it on their computers. Nonetheless, the tutorials are a necessary tool in passing this all important exam.

Although the cause for why the tutorials are being taken might be unknown, it is noted that they will go away some time in spring 2007 semester, according to the BCTC and office of Testing and Evaluation. Regardless of what happens, the tutorials are the tools for students to pass the exam and qualify for the degree. Without the tutorials, the exam would just be another obstacle in a school where business majors are known to succeed.