Stepping inside, I couldn’t tell whether I was in a doctor’s waiting room or the locker area of a gym. To the right were chairs arranged in a tight circle, magazines scattered about the area; on the opposing wall there stood a row of rusted lockers.

A sign directed me to the front desk where a young man asked for my ID, and upon being certain that I was who I claimed to be, offered me a clipboard. I signed the honor code, promising that I would not use any forbidden study materials or divulge the contents of any question on the test. The specific rules for the GRE and testing in the center were stated on a piece of paper behind the one I’d signed, reminding me that nothing was allowed into the testing room with me, that study materials could not be used at any time after the test began, and that during my 10 minute break (if I wished to take said break) I could not leave the facility.

I returned my clipboard to the desk and was handed my driver’s license, which I was ordered to keep with me at all times. My bag was stowed away in one of the beaten-down lockers and I was led to the back where another man took my photograph, as evidently there needed to be further visual proof that I was the person taking the test, and then was told to sign in. With a stack of scratch paper in hand and a few number two pencils, I was led to a cubicle in one of the many testing rooms. There were audiophones available for anyone who found the sounds of keys clacking and computer fans blowing far too distracting.

With a whispered “good luck,” my new found friend returned to his cubicle to photograph the next unsuspecting test taker and to keep track of the various monitors that made his station look more like security than a place for people to sign-in and sign-out. The screen asked me to verify whether I was in fact the person who I claimed to be, then showed me a blurry photograph – the one that had been taken moments before – which looked more like a mugshot than one suitable for a testing agency.

Following this screen, I was given several tutorials, the first of which I took mainly to allow more time to calm down before the actual testing began. It also provided me with a moment of hilarity as the first tutorial was on how to use a computer mouse. I personally believe it provided me with more confidence, as after demonstrating that I could in fact left-click on a particular portion of the screen the computer offered me lavish praise.

The next tutorial taught me how to cut and paste, which again left me feeling above the bar. The only tutorial that taught me anything I hadn’t already known was the last one, which explained the different buttons that were used on the exam such as the “time” button, which would either hide or unhide the allotted time left; the “next” button that you clicked once you’d answered a question; and the “confirm answer” button if you were confident in your answer.

Finally, I was into the exam. Four hours later, I completed the last question and received my scores.

I share this story because, for anyone going into their senior year of college, graduate school is becoming a consideration. Personally I went through a lot of choices during the past year, debating between law school or another graduate program, before finally settling on psychology as my field of study.

There are many different exams required for graduate school, although the GRE is the most common. There is the online exam, which is the common GRE format, but then there are also subject tests for Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology, Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Literature in English, Mathematics, Physics, and, my personal favorite subject, Psychology. Unlike the basic GRE exam, which is made up of Verbal, Quantitative and Analytic Writing sections, subject test are three hour examinations only on the one particular subject.

In order to prepare for the GRE, there are many classes available to students who might struggle in recalling exactly what they were taught in high school math classes or need other assistance. I know I didn’t recall how to calculate the area of a circle the first time I took a GRE practice test (it’s our friend pi times the radius squared, for those who might be curious), so these prep courses were especially helpful.

The two major test preparation organizations for GRE and other examinations are The Princeton Review and Kaplan. Other such wonderful materials can be found with The GRE For Dummies and other study materials available from Kaplan and the Princeton Review which you can purchase without actually enrolling in any of their classes.

And, of course, when you officially register for the GRE, ETS is always happy to send you preparation materials!

With graduate school application deadlines approaching over the next several months, there is still plenty of time to take the GRE. The online exam is offered nearly every day at times that are convenient for anyone and everyone. If you are looking for a graduate program that requires a subject test, now is the time to find out and register as the latest most institutions allow you to take the test is November.

Now that I have my computer exam out of the way, it is time to start preparing for my subject test. Grad school, here I come.

Girls have always been fascinated by the older guy. It’s as if you feel that because you are supposed to (and generally do) mature both emotionally and physically faster than guys, it entitles you to act superior to guys your age and seek out the more mature older guys.

And this is not a movement solely reserved for college grads. Freshman girls love the juniors and seniors. And some of my older colleagues on this site have discussed being in pursuit of law students and others enrolling in graduate programs. Hell, even most of my high school friends were often obsessed with the guys a couple grades above us.

I have more than a few issues with this age thing. For one, I know plenty of seniors and recent grads who regularly act like middle-schoolers, so this assumption that girls are automatically more mature than their counterparts really just seems like an excuse girls use to empower themselves, and justify their search of the older guy.

Sure, most guys (especially those in college) act like they’re five. But we do so because we can. For one, it’s just our nature to act a little silly, especially when surrounded by other guys. But moreover, you girls already deem us immature, so why not at least enjoy it!

Mainly though, I’m irked by this assumption that age equals experience and bedroom skill. It’s simply not true. I mean, I understand the thought process behind it: an older guy would ostensibly have had more partners, and maybe even a couple of long term relationships, and so therefore he must be better in bed. But that line of thinking is entirely based on our assumptions. And much of that assumption has to do with that other number that everyone obsesses so much about. The “magic” number, if you will.

To assume that just because a guy is 28 that he’s had more experience than a 22 year old is flat out dumb. I know guys who slept with every girl they could get their hands on in college, and just as many guys who are nearing 30 that haven’t reached double digits yet.

So why are girls so quick to believe that the older guy is automatically the better guy? It’s a line of thinking that, in my opinion, causes girls to quickly throw away or ignore something that could have ended up being a great thing.

This should go without saying, but the truth is that as a girl, you’re just as liable to find a 20 year old sex god as you are a great older guy. By the same token, there are just many duds between the sheets that are pushing 30 as there are 22 year olds who aren’t discernible from jackrabbits.

The trick is not finding someone who is necessarily older and wiser, but finding someone, regardless of age, whom you truly connect with sexually. So quit limiting yourselves to guys who are older, or turning guys your age down because you think they might be too “immature.” Because once you move out into the real world, you find that age really is just a number.