Students at Brandeis may know or begin to understand what it's like to study for graduate school entrance exams by their senior year. Whether they decide to study through a preparation course like Kaplan or single-handedly tackle the GRE, LSAT, MCAT and the like, the dedication, strength and perseverance to vanquish a graduate admission exam and start a journey in the real world is unmatched by the amount of stress that was induced when we took the SAT that introduced us to the college application. The score you receive is your brand-mark, your label under a percentile. You are officially categorized for viewing by the admissions office of your preferred graduate school. To add to the pressure, school work begins to pile up even more as you progress to the next academic year, and your responsibilities cannot be put on hold. You must pay the bills, go to work, keep in touch with family and friends and so on.

So, how is a twentysomething supposed to cope with the stress of taking a graduate exam?

In hindsight, a competitive drive isn't always bad. It isn't necessarily unhealthy to be motivated enough to accomplish a goal and not let anyone or anything get in the way. However, when the desired objective becomes all-consuming and you're willing to use any means to gain an advantage, danger strikes.

In my preparation course for the LSAT, the final lessons were brainstorms about what to do to conquer stress and remain focused. The proctor mentioned eating healthful foods, such as high omega-fatty foods and almonds, but a fellow student piped in with a different idea: Adderall. Another student started lamenting that taking Adderall without a prescription can lead to addiction and detrimental effects on your health, but the student who voiced the original idea had a definitive gleam in his eyes that clearly said he wasn't too keen on accepting a handful of almonds instead. Furthermore, the glazed looks on the rest of the class showed that stress was detrimental to their focus.

This is a very worrying matter. According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, almost 10 percent of full-time college students use Adderall illegally and consequently are in danger of harmful side effects and emotional damage. Also, they are breeding a wrong sense of perfectionism and using addictive substances to cheat around the system, which transfers over as an epidemic to the next generation. Although gaining the prestige and privilege of going to a top-tier graduate school is beneficial, the advantage of a short-term gain does not override the many health problems caused by amphetamine abuse, such as heart conditions and addiction. Furthermore, the effects continue even after a student stops using the substance because the level of concentration can no longer match the same intensity.

Meanwhile, there are bountiful opportunities open to college graduates who maintain their health, regardless of whether they did well on their exam. The best method to tackle this highly anxious and stressful situation is to use the arsenal of abilities each individual possesses, both learned and adopted. Students aren't just cheating the system but are also cheating themselves of presenting their best efforts when they succumb to additives or substances. The best medicines are confidence, perseverance and sound belief in yourself while you cope with this important step in your life. So please, students: Keep in mind that in the end, the graduate exam is just a test. Good health is more valuable than any stress and agony caused by college student life.