It is difficult to imagine a college bound senior making the big decision on where to attend college without the help of college rankings and family influence. Making such an important decision requires heavy research for the college bound student, and it is no surprise that college rankings are one of the first places students look for advice on their future school. Many high school seniors are concerned with the rankings, the “image”, or school pride associated with colleges. As seniors question which school is the best and strive to meet the admissions standards that seem to continually increase, it is important to question whether or not the quality of education is better at colleges with higher rankings and admissions standards. The process behind the rankings should be more exposed and by doing so, it may persuade college bound students to consider other factors that would impact their college experience. This may convince college bound students that rankings and admissions standards are not as important as they are held to be, and it would be beneficial to the students to realize that a quality education can occur at any college and not just the prestigious ones.
Considering the importance of the ranking system and the role it plays in a student’s perception of a quality education, it is important to define what the ranking system is. The United States College ranking system, according to US News and World Report, is a systematic way of ranking the country’s best colleges, in numerical order, to provide a way for students to consider what the top colleges and universities are. Seniors find these rankings important because they feel the need to base part or even most of their decision off of these statistics. These r...
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Every year there are thousands of students planning and tracking their goals. Seniors in high school are faced with the tough challenge, while the Juniors are left to worry another year. Finally, the point comes a student’s life where they must make one of the most important decisions in their educational lifetime. That choice is, which college to attend, and it is a very scrutinous process. Two of such colleges are the University of Iowa and St. Ambrose University, and although similarities like majors and minors are evident, there are many other differences including student life.
The author, Julia Brookshire Everett commenced the article, “Public Community Colleges: Creating Access and Opportunities for First Generation College Students”, by first characterizing first- generation college students and also expounding on the difficulties first-generation students encountered when acquiring post-secondary degrees. According to Everett (2015), the term ‘first- generation college student’ was first coined in the 1960s in order to regulate student eligibility for federally financed programs to aid students from low-income households.
Jaschik, Scott. "Study Documents Impact of 'quality of Life ' Rankings of Colleges." Inside Higher Ed. Inside Higher Ed, 16 Jan. 2014. Web. 12 Oct. 2016. .
The California Community Colleges (CCC) system is composed of 108 colleges organized into 72 districts that serve more than 1.4 million students statewide. Under the direction of the CCC board of governors, the Chancellor’s Office provides statewide guidance and leadership to the community colleges. In addition, the voters in each district elect a board of trustees charged with developing local policies that govern the day-to-day operations at the district’s colleges, including overseeing the compensation of teaching faculty and other employees. For the fall 1999 semester, the districts reported to the Chancellor’s Office a total population of 41,754 teaching faculty, of which 28,180 (67 percent) were classified as part-time and 13,574 (33
A challenge that all seniors face at the end of their high school career is the decision that will shape the rest of their future. Will it be Harvard, Ivy Tech, or a job at the nearest fast food joint? Of course, there is nothing wrong with not going to college, but for the people of society who plan to marry and have at least three children, it is almost essential. After making this decision, the seniors who choose to attend college must then decide which one. Campus size, housing, nearby activities, and available degrees and study programs are all important traits to consider when searching for the perfect college.
As the high school chapter is coming to a close, many students have to make a decision that will affect the rest of their lives. Hopefully, for many that decision is to enroll in a college and attain a higher education. However, as tuition costs rise, students have to take a second look at their options for a better future. A community college is that second look for many because it is the less expensive option. From 2007-2009, enrollment for community colleges has increased by 24 percent (“College costs and the CPI”). Students aren’t choosing a college for educational purposes because they are overwhelmed by financial issues. They are attending community colleges so they will be able to graduate with a lower debt. Some seniors have wanted to attend a certain university all their life and they work toward that goal through grade school; however, they are hindered by soaring tuition for that college. Students should be able to attend a private university if they mee...
When debating higher education, it could be considered rare to find someone who feels college, here in the United States, is being perceived and applied in the absolute most beneficial way it can be. Generally, many people feel there is at least one thing, and probably many more, that they would change about the way college is either functioning or being perceived by parents, students, or educators. In a climate where so many people feel change needs to come, many opinions on what needs to change and how and why these changes should take place have the opportunity to surface. The two articles to be mentioned in this, one written by Charles Murray and the other by Gerald Graff, tell seemingly opposite approaches, in the specifics, to bettering
Since America’s college system began, someone has had the responsibility of deciding who gets into a college and who does not. Colleges and universities must draw the line somewhere as to who has the opportunity to become more educated and who gets a full-time job at McDonald’s. This decision-making process has always been a difficult job and has become even more difficult in recent years as competition in higher education gets tougher. College admissions departments have come up with a system which combines indicators such as standardized test scores, high school class rank, grade point average, and essays. Different schools put different amounts of emphasis on these gauges but most use some mixture of them.
Anonymous. "What Makes a College the Best College for You." TIME/The Princeton Review: The Best College for You and How to Get In. Spring 1997: 21-26.
First of all, I heartily believe in a situation where a student is sincerely willing and determined to excel in all aspects of their education, they deserve to have every opportunity that anybody interested in attending college has, no exceptions. In August, President Obama made a proposal to rate colleges based on qualifications. Qu...
Gladwell’s chief judgement is that ranking systems, that are heterogenous and claim to be comprehensive, cannot be employed to accurately or fairly represent all parties. Gladwell’s key reasons for his judgement are that colleges, especially, cannot be ranked according to a specific set of standards because there exists no direct way to measure the quality, success rate, and the level of challenge for students.
The right and privilege to higher education in today’s society teeters like the scales of justice. In reading Andrew Delbanco’s, “College: What It Was, Is, and Should Be, it is apparent that Delbanco believes that the main role of college is to accommodate that needs of all students in providing opportunities to discover individual passions and dreams while furthering and enhancing the economic strength of the nation. Additionally, Delbanco also views college as more than just a time to prepare for a job in the future but a way in which students and young adults can prepare for their future lives so they are meaningful and purposeful. Even more important is the role that college will play in helping and guiding students to learn how to accept alternate point of views and the importance that differing views play in a democratic society. With that said, the issue is not the importance that higher education plays in society, but exactly who should pay the costly price tag of higher education is a raging debate in all social classes, cultures, socioeconomic groups and races.
No matter whether it is a facility being upgraded or a volunteering opportunity being organized, a university primarily strives to stimulate students’ enthusiasm, find their real interests, and establish a careful view of the world. Edmundson claims that universities undergo such changes because “Schools want kids whose parents can pay the full freight” (43). Despite the construction projects and campus upgrades, the quality of educational diversity relies on the students, a group of talents that is carefully selected by the admission office. The admission rate for elite universities has remained low for years. With more competition in the educational market, universities are still strict on their principle of recruiting talents. The better resources provided the more quality that schools expect to see from their students. The quality of teaching and the standard of education do not decline as a result of funding
"Tomorrow is the first day of what I will become." I wrote this in my diary the night before my first day of college. I was anxious as I imagined the stereotypical college room: intellectual students, in-depth discussions about neat stuff, and of course, a casual professor sporting the tweed jacket with leather elbows. I was also ill as I foresaw myself drowning in a murky pool of reading assignments and finals, hearing a deep, depressing voice ask "What can you do with your life?" Since then, I've settled comfortably into the college "scene" and have treated myself to the myth that I'll hear my calling someday, and that my future will introduce itself to me with a hardy handshake. I can't completely rid my conscience from reality, however. My university education and college experience has become a sort of fitful, and sleepless night, in which I have wonderful dreams and ideas, but when I awaken to apply these aspirations, reality sounds as a six thirty alarm and my dreams are forgotten.
[3] Custard, Edward T. The Princeton Review Student Advantage Guide to the Best 301 Colleges. Random House, Inc. New York, 1996