It is not often that our state government gets some kudos because, frankly, they don’t deserve many. But after the first go around of the Michigan Merit Exam, which also includes the national ACT college entrance test, high school juniors have fewer excuses to pursue higher education than previous classes, who have been stuck taking the MEAP test.
I was the first person in my family to pursue a college education, and because I did not know the right questions to ask or where to go for help, I wrapped up my bachelor’s degree in the same amount of time that more motivated and informed students attain a master’s or doctorate. Not that my bachelor’s of general studies has not been put to good use, but I really believe that if more avenues were available to high school students like me, I would have a more worthwhile and specific degree than something that says I am generally okay at studying things.
Everything that I learned about college in high school seemed to be more of a hindrance than a help in deciding whether or not university life was for me. Teachers and guidance counselors would vaguely discuss the admissions process, encourage us to pursue many extracurricular activities to ensure a chosen school thinks we are worthy, and frequently give the tritest of all statements, that “college is way different than high school.”
Not that I am arguing against the assertion, but how is this helpful in encouraging students to pursue higher education? The fact is, many students are not as free to pursue extracurricular activities or diligent study habits as others. I was not a bad student, but I certainly could have done better academically. I could have participated in more, but I chose to get a job so that I could have a car and spare myself the worst of all teenage indignities, being an upperclassman riding the school bus every day. Many kids fall into this category, and those are the ones who are on the fence about college.
Kids who have great study habits and high achievement ingrained in them, kids who have a sense of civic responsibility and community involvement probably come from families who have at least some post-secondary education in their makeup. These kids are probably going to college no matter what.
There are plenty of smart kids in high school who do not belong to the National Honor Society. I graduated with plenty who, for whatever reason, did not go to college. Maybe they hated school, maybe they were lazy, maybe they did not know what types of programs colleges offer or maybe finances were a problem. Money is also a big reason why many students bypass the ACT, which is the first important step in making the commitment to pursue higher education.
Sometimes, all kids need is a little nudge in the right direction to inspire them. The MEAP certainly did not provide that nudge. I had the misfortune of being in the last junior class to take the test before the state started awarding scholarship money to those who completed it satisfactorily. I am sure the money made some students try a little harder, but if attitudes toward the test were anything like when I took it, a large number of kids were probably more concerned with filling in clever bubble patterns on the answer key than actually excelling on the test. The only students who would even benefit from scholarship money were those already going to college, so kids who weren’t still did not have much incentive to excel on the test.
The MME has put something on the line for all students by including the ACT. Those who already know they are going to college now get to take the ACT for free. Others who may be undecided not only get to take the test for free, but may be surprised at how well they score on it. Any student who passes the MME satisfactorily is still eligible for scholarship money.
If our troubled state economy has taught us anything, it is that post-secondary education is vital in today’s world. The Michigan government deserves credit for implementing a test that not only replaces a stodgy, limited-worth one, but also is sure to guarantee that many more students will at least consider college than would have in the past.

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