Dominic Barton’s post in The Wall Street Journal opens up with describing how students are entering college and moving into new dorms. He states how there is an alarming rate of students not graduating, despite the increasing rates of students entering college. Presented through real-world evidence, Barton highlights how mindset affects a student’s ability to graduate. The author defines that graduation, retention rates, and high G.P.A.s equals success for a college student. This success is influenced by a mindset. Ultimately, it is not about the student’s socioeconomic status that influences success, it is the mindset the student has. Yet, this is not well addressed in today’s society. Our society is focused on socioeconomic statuses and access to money to pay for …show more content…
Barton first defines what mindset means for a student in college. It is explained as the student’s sense of belonging or resolve. Compared to external factors (e.g., income levels and parent’s social status), the author claims that mindset is the most powerful influence on a student’s success. It is because of this that the increasing rates of nongraduating college students can be lowered. Although some external factor cannot be changed, how the students interact with their environment can shape their mindset for the better. Because the mindset is malleable, via the environment the student is in, success rates of college students can be increased when mindset are nurtured. The author goes on to explain how a sense of belonging, a part of a student’s mindset, is in its formative state during the first semester of freshman year. He states that freshman year is one of the most isolating years in college. Students are a new setting, away from friends and family, and no social group. When the isolated environment becomes more developed,