I was definitely not the driven valedictorian-type in high school. Nor was I the class clown, although our class clown did get admitted to Duke. I was an average student with average grades that got into a non-elite college where I was very happy. The taking away of someone’s chance at a college education or not getting at least a chance…
I was definitely not the driven valedictorian-type in high school. Nor was I the class clown, although our class clown did get admitted to Duke. I was an average student with average grades that got into a non-elite college where I was very happy. The taking away of someone’s chance at a college education or not getting at least a chance at a college education is not the issue. For the most part, anyone who wants a college education today can get one if they want it and pay for it through grants and loans if they don’t have the cash. College today is a big business. No willing customer will be turned away.
The issue is admission to elite schools on less than elite standards. I used to believe the goal of elite schools was to graduate the best and the brightest. To do that they would need to admit the best and the brightest. Logical right? Those who met the high standards got in and those that didn’t moved on to another school. You want the best students in the best schools. I take no offense on behalf of average students everywhere. There are variants getting in, like legacies, donor kids and some fraudsters (hello, Liz Warren), taking seats away from otherwise deserving applicants. But loopholes can be eliminated and/or tightened. Nothing is 100% guaranteed anyway. However, you cannot deny that the smartest students deserve entry to the smartest schools.
I was definitely not the driven valedictorian-type in high school. Nor was I the class clown, although our class clown did get admitted to Duke. I was an average student with average grades that got into a non-elite college where I was very happy. The taking away of someone’s chance at a college education or not getting at least a chance at a college education is not the issue. For the most part, anyone who wants a college education today can get one if they want it and pay for it through grants and loans if they don’t have the cash. College today is a big business. No willing customer will be turned away.
The issue is admission to elite schools on less than elite standards. I used to believe the goal of elite schools was to graduate the best and the brightest. To do that they would need to admit the best and the brightest. Logical right? Those who met the high standards got in and those that didn’t moved on to another school. You want the best students in the best schools. I take no offense on behalf of average students everywhere. There are variants getting in, like legacies, donor kids and some fraudsters (hello, Liz Warren), taking seats away from otherwise deserving applicants. But loopholes can be eliminated and/or tightened. Nothing is 100% guaranteed anyway. However, you cannot deny that the smartest students deserve entry to the smartest schools.
I think the goal of elite schools is to make a lot of money.