College and the academic testing center
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EmailConsider exploring the academic testing centers at colleges and universities to prepare for your future.
Michigan State University Extension and Michigan 4-H seek to help youth learn and prepare for their future in different ways starting with elementary through high school. There are many high school seniors who are making plans for postsecondary education after they graduate. For students getting ready to college, they take certain steps to prepare to meet the requirements to be accepted to the school of their choice. During these times, students can explore colleges online to gather the information they need to put their college plan together. As students are online, they can reach out to the admissions department, college departments related to their potential major, residence halls and maybe different resource centers to assist in learning. Here is a thought – have you considered exploring an academic testing center such as the one at Michigan State University?
When you attend college, you will do the obvious: take tests in your classes. Assess how you are as a student when it comes to your test-taking skills. Whether you are good or not-so-good at taking tests, ask yourself what type of information does the testing center offer to enhance your test-taking skills? Also, when it comes to taking tests, do you have test anxiety? If you do, what are the types of resources or strategies offered to assist you? Is there another department on the campus that can help along with the testing centers for test anxiety?
You may become interested in a career that requires an advanced degree beyond the bachelor’s degree or you may want to pursue graduate studies to help you advance your career. Degrees beyond the bachelor’s degree are called graduate degrees or professional degrees. Graduate degrees are a Master of Arts (MA), Master of Science (MS), Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) or Doctor of Education (EdD). Professional degrees are needed for careers like a doctor (MD or DO), lawyer (JD) or a specific field of business.
To pursue each type of degree, students must take a graduate admissions test. If you become interested in these careers, find out from the testing center, the type of resources are offered to help prepare for admissions exams for graduate or professional school. Where can I take these admissions exams? Here is more information on admissions exams for graduate or professional school:
- Graduate Record Examination (GRE) – a graduate level admissions exam used for many graduate school and business school programs.
- Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) – The MCAT is for students interested in attending medical school to become a doctor and become a Medical Doctor (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO).
- Law School Admission Test (LSAT) – The LSAT is for students interested in attending law school and pursuing a Juris Doctor (JD).
- Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) – The GMAT is taken for students interested in specific fields related to business and they are pursuing a Master of Business Administration (MBA).
It is important to ask questions and learn about resources that are in place to assist you for testing. Check into other situations like taking tests for online classes or if you miss a class during your time in college. According to a study from Washington University in St. Louis, the best way to improve learning may be taking more tests, knowing about the academic college testing center can be of great assistance to students. Gain as much knowledge as you can about resources in college to assist in your success for a bachelor’s degree.
MSU Extension and Michigan 4-H Youth Development helps to prepare young people for successful futures. For more information or resources on career exploration, workforce preparation, financial education, or youth entrepreneurship, email us at 4-HCareerPrep@anr.msu.edu.
