[StormingWynn]

Originally Posted by Jaydelart

That would be cool.
You can PM it or post it; whichever way you prefer. I'll give it a read.

Thanks for the advice.

It's a quick little essay, but I think it's relevant to your case.

College’s Downfall: No Longer Serving Its Purpose

As I walk down the floors of Santa Monica College, I stand amazed at how many people I see, but I'm more amazed at how many different people I see. From White to Asian to Black. From Hispanic to Indian. People with wrecks for wheels to kids with Porsche's and Ferrari's. Geeks and nerds to jocks and cheerleaders. And from Catholic's to Muslim's to Buddhist’s. There are over 35,000 students attending that college at least part-time. It's not that you won’t find those types of people in other colleges and universities; it's the fact that I felt as if there was no minority group in that school. I for one believe that in today’s world where human interaction no longer has limits, it is essential for student body populations to be flooded with people of all socioeconomic backgrounds. So the question is whether the knowledge and skills that a college provides beneficial to individual students and the student population as a whole and give them not only educational knowledge, but also cultural knowledge and integration skills.

After having walked the halls of Santa Monica College, I knew that the purpose of a college or university was not only to provide students with a book education, but also with an education on life. As diverse as Los Angeles is, the people who inhabit it are “separated.” People tend to live in communities where they “fit” in and the truth was opposite for SMC. People seemed to interact with people outside their normal groups, as if it a competition to see who could get the most diverse group of friends. Of course there were people who hung out with people who were like them, but I saw more groups of friends who where different from one another. As Derek Bok, author of Our Underachieving Colleges, says, “some intellectuals worry whether a nation divided among so many ethnic and religious groups can hold together as a society and they look to universities to do their part in fostering tolerance and understanding” (74). Their worries are correct. In a nation with so much diversity, it's inevitable to see tension between groups. I guess that's the reason I saw Santa Monica College as a perfect example that tension between groups can be overcome.

With one worry set aside, another comes into play. Santa Monica College is one of the nation's top community colleges and it serves as the jumping point to many of the nation’s top 4-year universities like New York University, University of Southern California, University of California: Los Angeles and Berkeley. They have the highest transfer rates to these universities than any other community college. Why is Santa Monica College so successful at transferring many of its students to top universities? The day I visited the campus I walked around asking people what their major was and what their plans were after they graduated. More often than not, I heard the same response, “undecided” and “I don't know.” I was amazed to see so many students be undeclared in their major and no plan as the career path they wanted to take. I had already planned my entire future back in high school. One question overwhelmed me after hearing so many people repeat the same response. Was I setting myself up for failure by specializing so early? According to Kate Zernike, in her article Making College 'Relevant,' that's exactly right, “Even before they arrive on campus, student – and their parents – are increasingly focused on what comes after college” (par. 4), while this is exactly the opposite of what a student should be doing, “There's evidence, though, that employers also don't want students specializing too soon” (par. 21).

So, what gives? If specializing too soon isn't the answer for a better future, then what is? Why is it that an employer dislikes students who specialize too soon? The answer comes from Howard Gardner, author of the essay Beyond Markets and Individuals: A Focus on Educational Goals, he says that a college’s goal should be to “engage the major disciplinary ways of thinking – scientific, mathematical, historical, humanistic, and artistic” (108). Derek Bok would agree with Howard Gardner as he states that, “ Such a variety of interests brings many blessings. It can help avoid the dangers of excessive specialization by providing wider perspectives to enlighten judgment” ( 76). It is possible for a student who specializes early to become proficient in all those categories, but a student who does not specialize so soon is able to explore all those fields and redefine future goals with a broader sense of education. As Kate Zernike puts it, “The truth is students think too much about majors. But the major isn't nearly as important as the toolbox of skills you come out with and the experiences you have” (par. 29). Her statement is entirely true, communication and literacy skills among students have diminished throughout the generations and now more than ever is a higher demand for college graduates that posses a well rounded character that will benefit the workplace.

It's very evident that colleges no longer produce “quality” students as they did in years past. However, all is not to blame on the colleges. It's also the students fault, as they have failed to get the most out of a college experience. A college experience doesn't only include a major, but a social, cultural and as Bok says it “a breadth of interests.” I believe, as do the authors mentioned in this essay, that specializing too early is not so beneficial to most students. It's better to take it slow and explore as many subjects as possible. The role of college has to change as well. A college shouldn't just make available a multitude of courses to students, but encourage them to take a wide range of those courses. More involvement has to be made between students and their host college if the higher education in our country is to prosper. I'll play my role in becoming a well rounded individual, I have to if I want to become a doctor, but I'll do it because I want to.

I hope this helps.