In the analysis of the events and inspirations in my life that led to my decision on where to attend college, I view the motif of puzzles and games of logic stemming from my infancy into the current day as a major component of the reason I picked Caltech over Penn, the final two colleges in narrowing down my college search. Caltech, a very small school of 235 students per grade represented hardcore academics with an infamously difficult core curriculum, focused mainly in pure and applied math and sciences, went at odds with the University of Pennsylvania’s class size of 2400, representing a school more renowned for its Wharton School of Business than its sciences and for the college and social experiences, as it’s widely known as the Social Ivy. The decision between these two extremes – an Ivy League prestige and a fun four years versus academic rigor and a strenuous undergraduate experience filled with all-nighters – represents a microcosm of my values as the amalgamation of my past experiences, which, due to the motif of puzzles, contributed to my personal convictions for (1) the study of some form of mathematics, possibly consolidated with real-life applications, and (2) my personal philosophy of striving for knowledge and being at the top of my field, no matter the sacrifice. As a toddler, I loved to sit with my grandma and work for hours on jigsaw puzzles of increasing difficulty, as the pictures got bigger and the pieces got smaller. This led to my appreciation of
Though the parents constantly ensure that they do the opposite of the social norm, they’ve made sure to inspire Jeannette with the values of schooling. Alongside Jeannette’s parents value instillments with an added extra persuasion from her sister, Jeannette takes the leap and enters into the world of academia with an Ivy League college acceptance. “I applied to its sister college, Barnard, and was accepted.” (Wall 250). Even with her upbringing Jeannette is still bright enough to make her way into a good college, a college that most would say “trash” like her didn’t deserve to attend.
Whether it be a maze or a twisted metal puzzle, I didn’t care. I just loved puzzles. As I started to grow I discovered more and different types of puzzles. Card magic caught my eye, and instantly I was hooked. I wanted to learn every trick I could. In fact, I learned so many so quickly that I started to forget some. The wonder and amazement it gave people was pretty cool, but above all else was understanding how a trick worked. Figuring out how all the cards and sleights of hand worked together never got old. The next puzzle I discovered was the famous Rubik’s Cube. And let me tell you, I never put that thing down, and with a little help I was able to solve it. I then moved from the classic Rubik’s cube to all the variations of different sizes and shapes. Finding the variation on the solving algorithms was the challenge. Along the same theme, with nothing to do after school one day I decided to go to chess club. This was easily one of the best and worst decisions I’ve made. It was great because I found something new that I absolutely love, but it was bad because I loved it too much and spent more time than I should have learning openings, closings, and special traps. I loved how all the pieces moved differently, how you can use them to your advantage, and the challenge of seeing moves ahead.
Because of the remedial classes, Keene then began to believe that she can attain whatever she needed to become successful through life experiences. Although, this belief did not last long, she returned to community college and attained a higher persistence in completing a two-year degree. As a result of Keene’s persistence and studiousness, she acquired a new perception of academia at Columbia College, “I met two professors, Ted Hamilton and Paula Clarke, who fundamentally challenged my worldview, my expectation of academia, my sense of own academic potential, and my understanding of responsibilities as a citizen.” (Keene 65) It is after taking these courses is when Keene came to the conclusion that colleges need to challenge its students intellect. After achieving this new perspective, Keene was able to transfer to several universities, as well as an ivy league university. Later on her life, Keene experienced the other side of the spectrum. She began teaching at Columbia College,
Puzzles always attracted me the most. And the one that took me by my heart was the Rubik's Cube. I was always fascinated how a cube can force you to use your brain power to the absolute. So one day i decided to go on a journey. An adventure. An adventure to the deepest parts of my brain. It actually startes as a challenge. In my junior year, one of my friend challenged me to solve a 3x3 rubik's cube. As of my nature to take up on challenges and never back down attitude-I accepted. But the trick part was that I wasn't allowed any type of assistance. No solutions, no algorithms, nothing. Pure brain power. So the next day I was on it. One by one, piece by piece, I started to uncover the mysteries of it. I took it to the school, home, park, everywhere I went. Sometimes I even forgot the count of the time. It was like a part of me now. I was obsessed with it.
“I am just going to Joliet Junior College”, said about half of my classmates my senior year of high school. People everywhere make community college out to be something that is looked down upon and for people who were not as bright. In his essay “Blue Collar Brilliance”, Mike rose explains the reputation community colleges have acquired over the last few decades depicts two year schools as a place for people who could not make it into “real colleges”, also known as four year colleges (276). Although four year universities have reputations for quality education and excellent programs, students can get the same quality, if not better education at a two year college at a better convenience.
In December 2014, The Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education published “Rethinking the Admission Process.” This article was written by Frank DiMaria, who takes a look at the research of the former president of the University of Wyoming, Robert Sternberg. DiMaria explains Sternberg’s stance against the current admissions process. Sternberg has research that depicts, “GPA, standardized tests, and essays do not successfully measure the true talent of a college applicant.” He believes that the policies need to change. Sternberg offers an alternative to the current process. Sternberg has been a part of a new admissions policy testing students not just on their memorization and analytical skills, but on their creative, practical, and wisdom-based skills as well. Sternberg’s ideas stem from his experience with disadvantaged youth and their ability to adapt and overcome obstacles. Sternberg claims that students who grow up in the upper middle class tend to have an environment which better values the analytical skills that the current tests measure. He argues that, because of this, colleges may not be getting the most creative and adaptable students. He shows that some of these less privileged students are capable of handling a college workload even though they may not have been able to score as high on the SAT or other tests. DiMaria believes that through Sternberg’s Kaleidoscope policy may be a solution. The Kaleidoscope way of admissions administers tests which ask open ended
College: What is Was, Is and Should Be, by Andrew Delbanco takes both a historical and analytical approach to the evolution of higher education institutions in the United States. While thought provoking, some of his views balance on the verge of extremity. Many colleges provide students with the skills necessary for what is happening in society at that moment. This is exemplified in how the application process has changed from the earliest colleges to today. Also, when colleges were first introduced into society, students were recommended by members of society to attend a school, which is much different than the process today. Another aspect of what Delbanco discusses in his book is the disparity between a small liberal arts college and
She recalls the struggles, the fun, her failures and even her success in the end (Harding, 2011). The personal story shows the real road it takes with decisions we make “when entering college, Harding wrote that she began college because she felt it was expected of her”(Harding, 2011). College students often make choices based on what they perceive as pressure to do so by others like councilors, parents and even society. They enter college thinking this is what my plan should look like and not making choices that are the best for them. Harding said that in the end “ we all become graduates of one of the finest universities in the world- and already, nobody much cared how we got there”(Harding,2011). To me this shows that even if you pass by the skin of your teeth, you can still fail in the end. A diploma is not the end result that maters the most. Students need to choose colleges that appeal to their needs and goals and not just go to get a diploma. If students spend no time studying weather boarded or not liking their studies, then what difference does the diploma make in the end. Students would just have a degree that often goes unused in life but the costs is ever mounting to these students. The financial cost, the cost of failure, loss of energy and time, causes many students to never finish their education or even to avoid going in the
Bryan Stevenson began to second guess himself while he was in law school. In his senior year, he came to the realization that with his major in Philosophy, “no one would pay me to philosophize”, and the only graduate program that didn’t
Galileo Galilei, an Italian polymath, once said, “You cannot teach a man anything; you can only help him find it within himself.” After graduating college, many students feel anxious about the new chapter of their lives they’re about to begin. Students are bound by a curriculum since primary school, guidelines they conform to all their lives in order to walk across a stage with a degree in hand. However, these individuals are seldom able to explore the passions inside of them that shape their aspirations throughout their time in the education system. Instead, they reflect on their college years of staying up all night to write final papers. Finals papers students have revised and edited a multitude of times in order to produce a paper that adheres to a rubric and, once again, conforming to another set of guidelines. In Donovan Livingston’s Harvard Graduate School of Education Commencement Speech, “Lift Off”, Livingston uses rhetorical devices such as alliteration, allusion, and metaphor to reinforce his message that students should not be limited by the confines of the education system, but that the education system should be supporting and guiding students towards reaching their full potential by the time they step out into the real world.
Georgia Tech is one of the most exalted schools in southern Georgia; every gifted student has considered applying at one point or another. The extreme difficulty and strenuous workload of some of the courses, in particular the formidable mathematical courses, puts off many from further consideration or even attempting the grind. However, I consider myself a risk-taker. I don’t want to waste my time taking an effortless, easy journey through college. Georgia Tech, although difficult, will be completely worth the while. This school will encourage me to achieve great things, and these things will take so much time and effort that my competition will never even have dreamed of accomplishing these goals. Victory at Georgia Tech would mean so much
Two years ago, when I was faced with the difficult task of choosing a college, I turned to my family for advice. My three oldest siblings, despite their natural bias as Notre Dame alumni, helped me weigh my options thoughtfully and considerately. Talking to them individually about their alma mater, however, I quickly noticed a common thread between their musings which ultimately convinced me to follow in their footsteps: each passionately emphasized the unique opportunities available to them at Notre Dame, opportunities which elevated the school’s role beyond that of mere instructional facilitation— Notre Dame is dedicated to the comprehensive formation of its students. Now, as student myself at Our Lady’s University, I understand what my siblings
This paper is one of five assignments for the course PAD 530. As a consultant, research on the selected agency the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) shall reveal in a report specific recommendations for improvements. An overview of the selected agency will be given to provide information on the agency’s objectives and goals. Information will be provided on the background of the agency and a descriptive analysis on several functions that highlight the public it serves. An analysis of current events involving the DHHS that might have implications to personnel management is observed in this report. At the end of this report a rationale for the selection of said agency shall be provided.
Certain factors make or break a school for everyone. Each factor is incredibly important to how people function and develop the intense school pride that earnestly makes them proud to call their college home. For me, these factors reach beyond what naturally catches the eye, such as Rice’s beautiful campus or stellar academics. Instead, I’m drawn to Rice’s honor code.
Every year at the same time, thousands of students face the same difficult decision: What college should I attend? Consider two young men both of the highest intellectual capacity and deserving of admission into the nation's most prestigious institution. Steven, high school All American, student body President, and leader of the debate team, hopes to be admitted to the university of his dreams. Christopher, most valuable player in the high school division and aspiring NBA athlete, wants to attend college with students of the same caliber. Steven's parents are both successful neurosurgeons at the local hospital planning to see to it that their son is awarded recognition for his efforts. Christopher's mother, unemployed and unable to care