Opinion Talk

By Van

March 22, 2006 10:22 AM | Link to this

With all the funds available, from HOPE to grants and scholarships, a college education is available for everyone, how else is the school to limit the number of applicants. By making the process as painful as possible, as Darwin might have said, only the strong survive.

In my day, mid 60’s, only the gifted (scholarship) or rich went to college. The rest of us went to the 2 year junior college. In addition, we did not start thinking about college until our Senior year, now the pressure starts very early in the high school experience.

By candide

March 22, 2006 11:48 AM | Link to this

The whole college admissions process has become a scandal. It really doesn’t matter all that much what college one goes to — what matters it whether one learns how to learn or not. I taught for many years at a quite good state college but not the best one in the system. I also know that at elite colleges the students are often short-changed but there at least many make useful contacts which help them in their careers for life.

College has been greatly oversold and that is probably whey the admissions process has become so cutthroat. Parents are also to blame because of the enormous pressure they exert on their children.

Everyone ought to take a rest.

By candide

March 22, 2006 11:51 AM | Link to this

Van: pressure begin pretty far down, even in pre-school. The upwardly mobile parents are already pressuring for their children to get into the best pre-schools. In elementary school generally, especially in private schools, the word SAT is constantly heard and many kids are being shortchanged in the attempt to get them ready for Stanford or Harvard.

By RWH

March 22, 2006 12:46 PM | Link to this

Something we all need to rethink! Reminding our children to do well in grade school and keep on the good grades path; for one day, the opportunity to attend a college of their choice await them! Seniors fighting in a sense to attend college; collegies have thousands of applications to review….seeking the best they can get; not so; applying is the key, acceptable is the second and having the money to go is the downfall because; college have made themselves to high. In the end, students find themselves out in the cold because to many other students have made it impossible for them to attend because of the sure fact, applying in advance and remaining strong for the next 4 years. It is a game of winning; however, many lose. College is not free for everyone; even those with money!