I once wrote in one of my papers that one of the keys to the American dream is College. College provides many benefits and opportunities for us. Everyone has a different meaning for the American Dream. To me the American Dream is having the opportunity for success and prosperity. If you want success than I believe that you have to go to college in order to accomplish it. I read two essays that were both about college. One of these essay is asking us if college is still worth the price of admission today. The other one give us reason why the author thinks that the American college experience is still alive in community colleges today. The article “Are Colleges Worth the Price of Admission” by Andrew Hacker and Claudia Dreifus tells us how to fix what wrong they think is with colleges. In “Two Years Are Better Than Four” by Liz Addison, the article told us how the …show more content…
American college experience of self-discovery is still going on in community colleges. Both of this essays made many great points. After reading these two essays I find myself leaning toward Addison’s article better than the one written by Hacker and Dreifus. There are many reasons why align myself with Adison essay better then the one written by Hacker and Dreifus, Not only did these two essays have diverging audience, but they also had completely different level of personal experience they put in their paper. Addison’s article captured the right audience in this college book. “When we write it is important that we always think about who we are writing to. The audience is an important part of the writing process. You can write the best paper but if the wrong audience read it then it becomes a terrible paper.” When I read Addison article “Two Years Are Better Than Four” I felt that I was the intended audience, so when I read it I understood and related to what she was trying to say in her article. I understood when she said “The Philosophy of Community College […] is one that unconditionally allows its student to begin. Just Begin” (212,4). I was able to relate and understand where she is coming from, because I go to North Hennepin Community College to help me figure out what i want to do with our life. Community college exists to help student begin and understand where they want to go, and because I go to a community college I could relate to this essay. This is the reason I am the perfect audience for this article. Hacker and Dreifus article “Are Colleges Worth the Price of Admission” had a completely different audience than the one written by Addison. While Addison articles was aimed at college student, the one written by Hacker and Dreifus was aimed at someone who teach at or run a college. Some of the subject they were talking about was not something that I understood or knew anything about. They used many words that I did not even know about. In one of their opinion on how to make college education better they listed many things but there were a couple that I did not understand like “Sabbaticals”, “Adjuncts”, and “Tenure”. This article is a prime example of a paper that did not belong in this book, since this book is for college student the article missed It audiences. When I read Addison article about community college, I was persuaded by it, because she wrote it from a personal experience view point. When an essay that I read is written from a personal experience point of view, I find that I can not only relate to it more but I understand it more. This article was more trustworthy because it came from a point of view of someone who has already gone through this experience. When she wrote that she has been to two community college, I felt that she could be trusted because now she has a claim on the subject. I have always been told that personal experience is not something you can put in an academic paper, but for me to be convince by an argument I need to know the author of the article has some connection to the essay. In my mind Addison having a personal experience gave her essay a stronger force. By contrast Hacker and Dreifus article did not provide any personal experience. They wrote a research paper. Most of their souse for their content is from other peoples though on college. They went around questioning people who run, learn and teach at a college. Then they started to tell us what we can do to fix today college system. I felt no connection to it, even though the article was to help student. Their article included nothing about why they want this to happen only that he want this change to happen. So I do not know if they are trustworthy enough to take their opinion seriously. Even if this paper is a research of a sort, it still mostly their opinion. One of the things they though needed to be fix was how involve student are. They said that “(…) professors must make an effort to reach their student”, how do they know that professors already don’t do that, because since starting college almost all the professors that I have had had talked to me about joining campus life. “Addison tone when she wrote this paper was one filled with passion.” When writing a paper the tone you want your readers to see is very important.
If I wrote a paper that is urgent but my tone come off as not urgent then the readers will not see it has urgent. When it you read Addison article “Two Years Are Better Than Four” you can tell that she cares greatly about this subject. When she was answering to her opponent argument against college she said “For Mr. Perldtein, so rooted in his own nostalgia, is looking for himself-and he would never think to look for himself in the one place left where college experience of self-discovery does still matter to those who get there”. I felt she was aggressive toward this Mr. Perldtein, because he has never set foot in a community college and yet he claims that the college experience of self-discovery is over. “I believe so, I believe the community college system to be one of America’s uniquely great institution. I believe that it should be celebrated as such.” By listening to this phrase you should be able to discern the important of community college to
her. Hacker and Dreifus tone were closer to Addison tone than I thought at first. They had a more urgent beat to their writing. You could tell from their tone that they wanted something to be done about the problem with colleges. Even how the essay is written. How the put the change they want to implement in bold headline. In one of his main point on how to fix college they wanted to make president into public servants. You can tell how angry they were at how much college president get payed. “They should say “thanks, but no” if their trustees offer them salaries of $1 million, or anything near it.” Their tones almost made up for the lack of personal experience. When I was a eleven years old my adoptive parent decided to send me to live with my birth father, not because they thought that I would be happier there, but because they knew that I would get a better education there. My birth country educational system is so corrupted that if you move to a foreign country you would have to start over on your education. Reading these two great essay on our educational system, I believe that they made the right choice, because the United states is full of people who care greatly about our education system.
In the article “America’s Most Overrated Product: The Bachelor’s Degree” by Marty Nemko, the author argues several different views on why higher education may be very overestimated. For starters, the author shares his opinion more than anything else due to him being a career counselor. The purpose of this essay is to explain to the readers that most people start off with the idea of living the American Dream. Which is practically going to college to have a better life and career. But over the time the idea of working very hard for a Bachelor’s degree has become very dimmed. Furthermore, for some people, when they think of the American Dream they think of hope for bettering themselves and also helping their families. Unlike the author, Nemko feels that even the thought of trying to pursue to get a bachelor’s degree is overrated. The audience of this passage would most likely be teenagers going into college and parents. Nemko states that “Colleges are quick to argue that a college education is more
Entry to community college allows just that. Addison explains, “just follow any one of the 1,655 road signs, and pop your head inside—yes, independent film, a first independent thought, a first independent study” (212). Many potential college prospects are turned away because this self-discovery found in community college cannot be found in private college; however, Addison insists that community college is the golden ticket to regain these would-be scholars. To begin, acceptance is necessary for admittance to many colleges—not community college. In the words of Addison, “down at X.Y.C.C. it is still possible to enter the college experience as a rookie” (213). Any student desiring education, preparation, and self-discovery does not need to look any further than community college, which, for some students, is the only shot at the college experience. On top of this, community colleges provide opportunities like no college—public or private—could. Community colleges provide introductory courses that could not be found in regular institutions; this allows students to explore and get their feet under them. To find and pursue an interest proves more difficult at a college because intense classes are provided from the beginning, whether students have declared a major or have yet to decide. In sum, Addison claims that an atmosphere designed
Caroline Bird writes the statement in her 1975 article “The Case Against College (Bird 15-18)” that not every high school graduate is ready to attend college. It is 2010 and this article is still valid today. Some of the college students I have been around were not mature enough for obedience school let alone college. A few of the points she makes in the article are: College has never worked its magic for everyone. Does it make you a better person? Are colleges responsible for your children? Are my children living in a country club? I will use some of my own experiences as an example of college life, as well as examples from my daughter’s college experience, along with my nephews as well. All to find the answer to the big question: Are you ready for a college education?
Because universities are extending the number of applicants they are accepting, a lot of people question whether community colleges still matter. Personally, I share Liz Addison, for¬¬¬mer Southern Maine Community College student and graduate of Royal Veterinary College in London, opinion that appears in her essay “Two Years Are Better than Four” published in 2007. In her essay, even though Addison rebuts Rick Perlstein’s perspective that community colleges no longer matter as they once did, explains the philosophy of community college, and recounts her college experience, she mostly focus on proving her opinion, stated in the last paragraph of the essay, that “college does still matter”(258). In other words, Adison thinks that college still
In “Two Years Are Better than Four”, Liz Addison argues against Rick Perlstein’s article “What’s the Matter With College?”. While Perlstein questions the value of college as it currently is, Addison argues that the “community college system is America’s hidden public service gem”(Addison 257). By way of that, she defends the value of college. Unsurprisingly, as with most situations, the truth is somewhere in between ends of a spectrum created by these two articles. While I agree with Addison’s idea of community college being an accessible starting point for everyone, she fails to appropriately represent the unique culture often found in these types of colleges. Also, I think that she also fails to look at the overall purpose of attending school and then neglects to acknowledge the benefits of a four year university.
In the past several years, there has been a growing trend in the number of college-bound individuals getting two-year degrees from community colleges or earning certification for their desired career field at vocational schools. Such schools certainly seem to have some valuable qualities: all boast of having lower costs than other colleges, of their absence of student loans, of allowing people to make more money quicker, of being narrowly focused so students don’t have to take classes they don’t need. They attempt to point out apparent weaknesses in liberal arts colleges as well, claiming that such an education is unnecessary in today’s world. However, for every reason to go to a community or two-year college, a vocational track, or an apprenticeship, there is another, stronger reason for going to a traditional, four-year college, and the liberal arts degree gained at four year colleges far outstrips the degree gained at a two year school or through a vocational track.
In recent years, many have debated whether or not a college education is a necessary requirement to succeed in the field of a persons’ choice and become an outstanding person in society. On one hand, some say college is very important because one must contribute to society. The essay Three Reasons College Still Matters by Andrew Delbanco shows three main reasons that students should receive their bachelor’s degree. On the other hand, many question the point of wasting millions of dollars on four years or maybe more to fight for highly competitive jobs that one might not get. Louis Menand wrote an article based on education titled Re-Imagining Liberal Education. This article challenges the main thought many americans have after receiving a secondary education. Louis Menand better illustrates the reasons why a student should rethink receiving a post secondary education better than Andrew Delbanco’s three reasons to continue a person’s education.
Everything revolves around money and the economy. Hunter Rawling stated, “Most everyone now evaluates college in purely economic terms, thus reducing it to a commodity like a car or a house.” (Rawling, 2015, paragraph 3) I agree with the author with this quote because I personally think that college is reducing the commodity and also bringing it back up. College is not a commodity, economic value is not all there is to college. “If we were to treat college as a commodity, and an expensive one at that, we should at least grasp the essence of its economic nature.” (Rawling, 2015, paragraph 4) I like this quote because, everyone thinks of commodity as something good. But, really in reality it is not. It makes you think twice and not want to discuss things that are important. The most important thing for
We live the truth every day, working to keep the ideal of democratic education alive. The best reason to care for college, who goes,and what happens to them when they get there, is not what it does for society, but what it can do for individuals.like the elder guy said, you thought me how to enjoy life. What he meant is college helped him read, help him crave for works of art, heightened his alertness to color from melody. He was grateful for such an education given to him. As a person regardless of what kind of origin we have, we have the right to pursue happiness. In america today at every kind of institution education is at risk. Student are persuade and program, trained to live from task to task. To many colleges do to little to save them debilitating frenzy that makes liberal education marginal if it is offered at
Bird, Caroline. "College is a Waste of Time and Money." The Norton Reader: An Anthology of Expository Prose. 9th ed. Ed. Linda H. Peterson et. al. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 1996. 481-490.
Throughout the years, America has always debated whether education is needed- if it helps people succeed or not. The argument in the past was always over high school education, which is now mandatory. That decision has helped the US rise economically and industrially. Today, the US is in the middle of the same debate- this time, over college. Some, like David Leonhardt, a columnist for the business section of The New York Times, think a college education creates success in any job. Others, such as Christopher Beha, an author and assistant editor of Harper’s Magazine, believe that some college “education” (like that of for-profit schools) is a waste of time, and can even be harmful to students. Each stance on this argument has truth to it, and there is no simple answer to this rising issue in an ever changing nation full of unique people. Any final decision would affect the United States in all factions- especially economically and socially. However, despite the many arguments against college, there is overwhelming proof that college is good for all students, academically or not.
Since I grew up in a household with two parents who are college graduates, and even two grandparents who had graduated from college, the idea of attending college was never seen as a unique opportunity, but rather as a necessary part of my future. I’m not going to complain about growing up with parents who valued the pursuit of knowledge, but it certainly never exposed me to the mindset that maybe college is not the best option for everyone after high school. Today, there is a huge debate over if the price of college is really worth it in the end, with the high cost of tuition and the number of people who just aren’t prepared for the demands that college has to offer. And on the other side, some say that college is a necessity not just in one’s
With tuition rising every year, students face the challenge paying the debt achieving a college degree comes with. “Student debt surpassed credit-card debt in June 2010 for the first time in history, rising to about $830 billion — or nearly 6 percent of the nation 's annual economic output”(Clemmitt, Marcia). Not everyone has a ton of money just laying around. Being that financial trouble is the biggest problem for students, they begin to question whether college is worth it or not. In recent years, students have taken out loans to help with expenses. Most students choose to attend a community and junior college to help minimize the debt. Even after graduating with a degree, students still face the struggle of finding a job in this economic time. For higher class families this may not be a problem to them. But for the middle class and low income families, they face tougher times being that they don 't have the financial help like higher class families do. For the middle class and low income families, it makes more sense attending a community and junior college rather than a four year university.
College is thought of as what every parent wants for their child, so they can go off andmake something of themselves. For the most part, this is true. Those who attend college arebetter off than those who do not, on average, earning far more than their undereducatedcounterparts. College is a worthwhile investment and should be pursued by all who have thechance because it helps students further their knowledge, it is a place to find who you are, and itgives them a different perspective of the world.College is worth the cost because if college was available for everybody and collegedegrees were handed out as commonly and at the same rate as high school diplomas then collegewould not be that special. Therefore, college would just be an extension of high school. Ifanyone could get their hands on a degree, how would you be able to get the job you want? It isbetter for college to cost money because if a student really wants to attend college and furthertheir education, they should have already been willing to pay or to find a way to pay for collegeto get the upper hand on the general
College is not so much a promise of success as it is a chance at success. Young adults should not feel like college is the best and only option for them. Robert Reich emphasizes this idea in his writing, stating “Last year, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, 46 percent of recent college graduates were in jobs that don’t even require a college degree.” For a lot of people, college can be a really bad investment, and although more and more jobs do require a degree there are many jobs that don’t. Even after getting a degree many people find that they are working in a job that has nothing to do with their field of study. Also, Collge is not something that is for everyone, but working is Len Penzo stated “There are plenty of relatively well-paying jobs available that don’t require a college degree. According to US Labor Department projections, 63% of all new jobs that will be created between now and 2020 won’t require a college degree.” For the last few decades, college degrees have served as a guarantee for easy access to a middle-class life. But the middle class is on the decline. Although the necessity of having a college degree continues to rise in our society, there are also many new and innovative ways for people to find a way to make a living without a college degree. Those who have been putting their trust in the old system are finding themselves with nowhere to climb. Finally, college just simply is not something everyone can handle Penzo also stated that “Not everybody is college material. If they were, 54% of all Americans who enroll in college wouldn’t eventually become dropouts. Look, college is hard enough for those who are motivated; for people attending who don’t really want to be there, it’s almost impossible.” The idea that every young person needs to go college is wrong. College can be a pathway to success, but it can also be a waste of time and