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The Arbiters Of College Success

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Colleges have played an important role in American development and progress since before it even existed as a country. From the early universities of Harvard and Yale to newer institutions like Rice University and UCLA, colleges have been part of American life for generations, and those with degrees carry them as a symbol of pride and success. However, those living in the 21st century are starting to question the role that colleges have established for themselves. Prospective students are beginning to wonder whether colleges are still the arbiters of success they claim to be. In an effort to bring light to the issue, viewing the role of college in the past is essential. America’s first college was Harvard, founded in Cambridge, Massachusetts …show more content…

With the entire contiguous United States settled, colleges had opportunity to spring up anywhere. Important places we know today like Stanford University and U.C. Berkeley began to be rise to prominence. The new industrial era in America led to this upsurge. With more, specialized things necessary to know for certain occupations, the college system took hold on the American youth and gave them a path to pursue their desires. Along with technological advancement, the beginnings of a well-endowed populous gave rise to exceeding philanthropy, and the creation of universities with lots of financial support. With this support, colleges would be able to research new technologies and areas of thought, and provided a whole new generation with a path to success. Private players were also able to enter the market with ease. Many extremely reputable schools like Brown and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology emerged to prominence at the time, and the creation of the Association of American Universities allowed for a connection and flow of information that would bring America to its next technological …show more content…

Although it was a time of great military technological advancement in these places, the lack of men due to the world wars took a toll on the system. However, this lack of men in higher education led to the ability of women to begin enjoying the college experience, and finding success in their lives without the dependency on their “other half.” Post ‘40s America was a breeding ground for information. It has been referred to as the “Golden Age” of the American University. From the Free Speech Movement started at U.C. Berkeley to the creation of the Community College system, California was leading the way into the 20th century’s second half. Federal funding also became more widespread in this period after the passing of the “G.I. Bill.” Federally funded research would lead us again into a new technological boom, and community colleges gave citizens even more access to the routes to success that higher education could give. Since their founding, colleges have played an important role in American history. They have provided everyday Americans with the ability to become great, and paved the way for our nation to do so as well. If higher education is truly unnecessary today, it will be the end of a very long road. The college held it’s honor and respect for 300 years, and a post-college world would be a very different

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The essay of Why Colleges Shower Their Students with A’s by Brent Staples clearly mimics a problem solution essay that is very heavily focused on the problem. Staples takes a very assertive standpoint in insisting that over inflation of grades due to particular pressure on adjunct professors are devaluing degrees from collegiate institutions. Staples is convincing in this assertion as he uses generalized facts, “In some cases, campus wide averages have crept up from a C just 10 years ago, to a B-plus today.” This alarming quotation is used as evidence that supports Staples’ claim of a major problem facing collegiate institutions nationwide. The solution that Staples proposes, is a new grade point average formula.

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The purpose of her essay is to prove to her audience, mainly soon-to-be college students or parents of future students, that college is still a vital part of planning your future. She effectively advertises community college as a cheaper alternative to four-year universities and their skyrocketing tuition prices; and tries to persuade her readers that attending Community College can be just as important as going to a traditional four-year university because they allow you to begin your college education at

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However, if the government cuts financial support for universities in the twenty first century, their research departments may suffer, and they may not provide students with four years degrees. Crow and Dabars write that “Public investment in high education during the twentieth century produced a level of education attainment unmatched anywhere in the world. Accessibility to our nation’s colleges and universities served as a springboard to intergenerational economic mobility and a catalyst to innovation, which in turn brought prosperity to a broad middle class.” Here, the author argues that, in the twentieth century colleges and universities used to get government support, and the support made accessible that higher education for all social classes. Since state funding has gradually declined, it has become more difficult for lower income students to get high education.

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In the article “Two Years are Better than Four,” Liz Addison argues that community college is better than four year universities, such as the one Rick Perlstein attended. Where Perlstein reminisces about his days in college and claims that the greatness of American colleges is gone. Addison makes it apparent to the reader that she not only disagrees with Perlstein, but makes remarks suggesting that she believes that Perlstein’s college days were less for studying and more for partying and enjoying the fact that he went to a fancy private college. Addison continues by detailing some of the opportunities for people that attend community college such as being affordable, a place for the student to begin, and possibly a better match for students’ lives. She claims that this is the way college is intended to be and by no means is college as we knew it coming to an end.

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During the antebellum period of the United States, different policies and political agendas were laid out to create a country that aspired to be better than the one from which it claimed its independence. The discussion of education began then, in hopes to create a more nationalistic society and to instill individual thought so that tyranny would never be able to take control. Education for who though, is where things began to get a little blurry. Most education in this time period began as disorganized and personal. Studying abroad was becoming unpatriotic—why send your children to other countries, when they could stay in the States so that they could learn to love their own country.

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The Cold War, in many ways, instituted the modern university. As the great powers in the world—specifically the U.S. and the USSR—engaged in a “brain race”, there was a major emphasis on innovation for international competition.1 In order to advance in the competition, the U.S. government acknowledged the importance of a well-educated population and attracting talent to the country. This led to the establishment of numerous scholarships and funds to encourage the youth to seek higher education. Furthermore, it also aided in the diversification of American universities.

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“3 Reasons College Still Matters” by Andrew Delbanco 3) “Surely, every American college ought to defend this waning possibility, whatever we call it. And an American college is only true to itself when it opens its doors to all - the rich, the middle, and the poor - who have the capacity to embrace the precious chance to think and reflect before life engulfs them. If we are all serious about democracy, that means everyone.” 4) In this part of the writing Andrew Delbanco tries to persuade his audience by using the pattern of logic that agrees with the overall argument but also considers another striking point of view to strengthen the argument (While these arguments are convincing, they must also consider…).

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Roosevelt, and John F. Kennedy; and, more recently, successful entrepreneurs such as Bill gates and Mark Zuckerberg, whom are now billionaires. Harvard’s attraction of bright students who will later reach tremendous success in their country raised their reputation as reputable college in America. Harvard’s attraction of so many bright academics is a testament to their quality education system and their early upbringing and financial support is a tremendous reason as to why Harvard is looked upon as one of the greatest universities in America and in the world. Harvard’s prestige has linked it with many other high-tier colleges in New England. In 1land 954, the term “Ivy League” was coined “when the NCAA athletic conference for Division I was formed”.

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1531 Words | 7 Pages

Is college still important and relevant? The question is answered and confirmed when Liz Addison, author of “Two Years Are Better than Four”, wrote a counter argument in order to disprove the opposing views of Rick Perlstein, the author of, “What’s the Matter with College”. The topic that is being brought to light is the subject of whether or not college still matters. Perlstein that college is no longer what it used to be. It was after reading Perlstein’s article that Addison masterfully wrote her counter argument which successfully contradicted the opinionated, inaccurate views of Rick Perlstein.

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In “Are Too Many People Going to College?” Charles Murray offers his opinion on the number of students that pursue a B.A. He believes that two year or four year colleges are not needed for a majority of students who could instead pursue other life paths. He discusses the ability for the general knowledge needed to be learned in primary and secondary school, and for a lessened need for a “brick-and-mortar” institution the problems with the current secondary and higher educational issues including the lessened need to acquire a B.A. All members of society need certain skills in order to be productive members of society. They need to know general facts about the country they live in, general history, and general geography.

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When the first colleges came to light, very few were for higher learning. Schools like Harvard which was founded in Boston, Massachusetts in

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Higher education in the United States has a complex history. One trend that has been able to grow and adapt to the changes in higher education has been the idea of residence life. History shows that residential colleges have long been a part of the higher education, with their roots being traced all the way back to Islamic origins but were “made famous by Oxford and Cambridge in the United Kingdom and Harvard and Yale in the United States” (Penven, Stephens, Shushok, & Keith, 2013, p. 116). The U.S. Census Bureau (2000) now estimates that “more than 2 million college students live in on-campus resident halls each year” (as cited in Willoughby, Carroll, Marshall, & Clark, 2009, p. 22). The remainder of this paper will look at how the history of residence halls and residence life and grown and changed throughout the different eras during the course of higher education in the United States.

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545 Words | 3 Pages

Going to college for many students is just a normal part of life. It is what will enable them to get an education that eventually will lead to get a well-paid job and the resources and the status to live a comfortable life. But for college professor, Andrew Delbanco, the American college has a higher purpose. In the article “College at Risk”, Delbanco states that colleges should be promoting critical thinking among students, through knowledge of the past and the interaction with each other; as well as, help them discover their talents and passions and figure out what they want to do in life. This type of education is called liberal arts and for Delbanco, it represents the ideal education.

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Reasons to why attending college in America America, known as home to some of the most famous universities in the world such as Harvard and MIT, is ranked number one destination for studying abroad according to the UK’s Study Bridge International. Not only in the UK, but also in other countries, America is a must-have option in the top 10 places to go to college. It is said that education is the key to success, and people who wisely invest in their education will be paid with a successful future. For decades, education has played a large part in potential wages, with people who graduate with a bachelor’s degree earning more than double that of people who terminate their education with a high school diploma. The amount of earning is no doubt the indication for success, given the access to capital goods and services, thus, a better living standard when earned money is at a satisfaction level.

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For the century, people have considered that education is most profitable speculations in culture and more benefits to gain. The early history of United State many people did not attend college. In the old day, college was not necessary to attend for everyone and get a degree have a stable career. However, because of technological advance, economic growth and ever-growing competition in the job market it becomes compulsory to attend college after high school. After technology advance and economy growth, it required a college degree to become middle class in United State.

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