Nypd Exam

[Fred]

I took the NYPD exam at University of Albany Saturday. The City of New York needs to take a hard look at the way they give these exams. I took a quick look at the NYPD web site before leaving for the exam and I read that the NYPD is not running this exam. Well they should be!!!!! I get seated next to a good guy with all of these computer degrees who tells me he really wasnt happy with that industry and this is what he really wants. He served in the army and graduated with a computer science degree all before he turned 24. Great guy to have on the department right?

Well while I am talking to him I am wondering what these proctors are doing sitting down when the exam is ready to begin. I hear a voice from the next lecture hall over say almost time to open your memory books. I turn and look at the guy next to me and we are amazed to see that the proctors have not even given us a memory book yet. The lady finally gets to our row in the back of the lecture center right at the second we are to begin studying the picture. Great way to set the tester at ease so he can knock down a good score.

Well after 5 minuets or so we hear close your memory books and open the test books and begin the test. The proctors are sitting around and my entire section doesnt have a test book yet. How can I begin the test when I dont know what the questions are? They give us a picture to study and then expect us to answer questions on the information we just looked at but they dont give us the questions. The rest of the lecture hall is working on the questions from the memory book which are still fresh in their minds while my sections waits. My proctor seemed confused and the supervisor seemed annoyed that he had to get out of his chair to help pass out the books so we can try to answer the questions. Everyone in hall has a answer book but my section 50-60 people who are not happy. I finally get a memory book and start the test well after I was supposed to. Do I get extra points for retaining the picture information longer than the rest of the lecture hall. 50-60 to 60 people in my lecture hall alone have a real gripe and a bad taste in their mouths from this experience.

A guy with military service and a computer science degree decides to join the NYPD and they screw him over (the guy next to me.) I think I would make a good NY cop also with a good work history and a college degree but this weak display of organization scares me. When I took the Trooper exam everything went great. 9:00am open your memory books. 9:05 close your memory books begin the test and good luck. None of this does rows 1-10 have their books yet?!!!!!!
Cops should run this exam not these civil service people who cant pass out books at the right time to ensure that all applicants have the same chance of scoring high.

[topspin]

Fred, I took it, too. It was a comedy of errors in my lecture hall also. Same stuff, delayed getting the memory booklets out. Also, the test booklets. The guy who took my fingerprints totally messed up. They looked virtually invisible when he finished. I suppose they'll just have to trust me, or "dust" for my prints if necessary. I kind of get the feeling they just print to make us think they are checking our identities. Not a wild assertion considering who was handling the process. I kind of just laughed it off. They divided our hall into 3 sections; A, B and C for some reason? No clue why, it only served to confuse us. And, quite honestly, them. Oh well. How did you make out. I'm shocked if I missed more than 2-3 of them. Did you take an answer sheet? I tried to PM you, but it's full. I'll check back later.

[wndrbrd]

I also took the test in nyc a few weeks ago but before that i have worked with the nypd and have had many different experiences with them. if you are not into disorganization and get frustrated easily by it then you may want to reconsider the nypd. everything they do is disorganized especially when the cops are running it. no one knows what is going on till the last minute and it seems as if the whole dept. is in total chaos. if you can put up with it the nypd has a lot to offer a cop (not the pay) but has more special units then you can imagine. also the nypd is nice because upward mobility is easy if you are intellegent and want to do soemthing with yourself other than be a beat cop. well good luck with your decision.

[dano]

You're frustrated now?!?! Wait until you begin the hiring process!!!

wndrbrd is right on the money. The inefficiency is so bad it borders on the absurd! At one point, I finally thought I was on Candid Camera and part of some elaborate prank. I was checking behind curtains to see if Allen Funt was hiding behind them!!! LOL

I'll tell you up front...if you want NYPD, you have to let this stuff slide off your back. Go with the flow and try to keep a good humor about it. After all, you can hardly control it.

Whenever you have a question or are unsure about something POST IT!!! Those of us who have been through it can help you avoid mistakes and delays in an process already rife with problems.

Here is an example. I reopened my file a few weeks ago after nearly being finished in June (just had to do the drug test). Unfortunately, the Scheduling people had no record of me taking the psych (I had taken and passed the written and oral last year) so I had to take it again. Another day at the Academy and one more at Lefrak City. Both my own time and the department's were wasted. Nonetheless, I learned the hard way that you need to take these things with a grin!

I will say I have noticed a greater determination on the APD's part to process candidates lately. Hopefully, this will improve your experience with it. I have reopened with NYPD for the reasons wndrbrd stated. While the process doesn't impress hopeful candidates (especially quality ones) the damand for officers is high and the job diversity and growth potential are unmatched in the region.

Good Luck!!!