College Pressures By William Zinsser

In “College Pressures” by William Zinsser, the author displays different types of pressures that college students experience. He explains four different type of pressures including economic pressure, peer pressure, parental pressure, and self-induced pressure. These type of pressures are described as having negative effects on college students. Students are doing the things that they believe will pave the way to a successful life ahead, but Zinsser explains how there is no right way to get ahead and become successful because everyone is different. In “College Is A Waste Of Time And Money” by Caroline Bird, the author explains how college is unnecessary and a waste of time and money. She argues that there are different ways other than going to college to become successful and prepared for the “real world”. Bird believes that many college students are unhappy and wasting their time. Both essays were written in the 1970’s meaning some of the facts and information are obsolete and invalid. In comparing “College Pressures” and “College Is A Waste Of Time And Money”, we can clearly see that they both focus on the downsides of college, but more specifically both of the essays share a common pattern and audience. The two essays are different in the sense that they each have a different purpose.

Even in high school when we were preparing for college there was the expectation of going to college otherwise you were seen as having no ambition. Now that we are in college, there is the pressure of being successful, graduating with a major or a degree that is in demand and hopefully obtain a stable career. Some could argue to say that peer pressure could in fact help you and push you to be better by following examples of your peers who are getting better grades than you. Self induced pressure in some ways, has benefited my life. As a student, I feel if i didnt have self induced or peer pressure i wouldn’t have the self motivation or incentive to get things done. In my opinion, If i didnt feel like college was important, i wouldn’t be under pressure. While i have been in college i do feel the desire and need to live up to my academic potential. Pressure also contributes to this need. Peer pressure can remind you that others care about their education and their grades, therefore pushing you to care more and giving you that motivation to do as well or even better. However, these pressures can also have a negative effect. These pressures can inflict Self doubt, Over thinking and constant comparing yourselves to others. Zinsser quotes “Ultimately It will be the student’s owns business to break the circles in which they are trapped. They are too young to be prisoners of their parent’s dreams and

In “ College Pressures,” William Zinsser discusses four types of pressures college students go through. Even though he wrote this in 1978, college students today still experience all four of the pressures. The four pressures Zinsser discusses are economic, parental, peer, and self-induced. Today’s college students are becoming more and more disconnected with their passions and are being thrown into the world of practicality. College should be a place of experimentation and discovery, but instead it’s turned into feelings of stress and fear. students are becoming overwhelmed and stressed with the same “economic pressure, parental pressure, peer pressure and self-induced pressure” Zinsser speaks of in his essay. College students today undergo even more then the college students from Zinssers ' time.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, of the students seeking a bachelor's degree at a four-year university, on average, only 59% of them graduate within six years. It is unfortunate to note that even with the extra two years, students still struggle to persist through graduation, due to numerous hindering factors. Hence, the issue of college success now lies within the central realm of scholarly research, with numerous scholars applying previously known psychological theories to education, including Kurt Lewin’s force-field analysis model, Abraham Maslow’s need reduction theory for motivation, and the self-efficacy and attribution theories. Together, these theories have provided a framework to discover

Being admitted into college is a difficult process, one that requires students to be diligent in their studies, engage in a number of extracurricular activities, and overcome the everyday pressures and challenges that high-schoolers face across the country. Admittedly, not everyone in the United States is born with the same opportunities as socioeconomic factors as well as historic injustices have contributed to a society in which some people are far more likely to achieve upward mobility – of which, obtaining a college degree is a necessary part – than others. While there is need to rectify this reality,

“In fall 2016, some 20.5 million students are expected to attend American colleges and universities, constituting an increase of about 5.2 million since fall 2000” (National Center for Education Statistics). That number seems to be rising each and ever year, and it almost seems as students feel like they have to go to college directly after high school. Maybe it is because they feel that they have to fit in, even if college is not for them. Although some students attend college for academics, sports, and other reasons, some students attend college for no apparent reason; with that in mind, students should take into consideration the time and money that is put into going to college.

Starting in high school, students are not given equal opportunities to excel because of family background. Furthermore, the admissions process itself has its flaws—legacies, minorities, and athletes are being chosen over exceptionally gifted valedictorians. Even after college, the problems do not end; possible joblessness and student debt are unavoidable. On top of these major problems, educators and parents continue to convince kids everywhere that college is the only option to become successful, and choosing another path is heavily looked down upon. The newest generation’s life is centered around the climax of college while at the same time, more and more students are unable to attend universities because of cost or rejection, but this is a paradox. The more high schoolers work hard, the more high schoolers will get turned down to their dream schools, and the more the college admissions process effectively become a lottery, leading to “many highly talented, brilliant, creative people thinking they’re not” (Robinson). The widespread college problem has no easy fix, nor does it have a single solution. Rather than working to fix the unfixable, adults must stop putting such emphasis on the college pathway, and instead stress that there are other options. The future of the job world is unknown; there is no way to know if an expensive college education is the right choice. College, with all of its flaws, is just one option in preparing for the future; it is not necessarily the best. Therefore, the single word, “college,” should stop dividing the academic from the non-academic or the successful from the unsuccessful, and instead be considered a single path in an array of worthy

As a result of influences of the societal culture, going outside the norm of what is perceived as success is discouraged. In an attempt to achieve this perception of success, students declines to go outside the norm of what is deemed as success, they limit their options. According to informants in Ho’s article , “If you go to Harvard , Yale, or Princeton, there are only two career fields presented “ (169). These two fields are presented because they are the only fields Wall Street and Ivy League college campuses deem as being successful. Students display the extent our culture shape

These days it's hard to find a good paying career without at least an associate's degree. This leads many people to college. People are different, and although they all came with the same goal they pursue it differently. College students can be organized into these three groups slackers, average students, and the overachievers.

H2: The first question that was examined was the average GPA of students. What was shown was more students that were in activities had a higher GPA than those who were not in activities. 43% of students that were in an activity had a GPA average 3.67-4.0, with the next highest average having a GPA of 3.1-3.66. Those not in activities had 43% of their average GPA as 2.0-2.66 with the second highest average GPA with 3.1-3.66. This question was significant to the research because it shows that those in extracurriculars have a higher GPA, or academic success, than those who are not in them. This question proves the hypothesis.

A student’s life is one of the many subjects that binds each and every individual together regardless of their upbringing. In Alfie Kohn’s essay How Not to Get into College, the side effects and sacrifices that students must make in order to achieve success are clearly stated and outlined. Personally, I believe that every point that Kohn approaches in his work is the truth and expresses the views and personal struggle of every student. In respect to my personal experience through high school, the overwhelming pressure from parents, societal pressure to become something of use and personal pressure to make sure the expectations are met are the problems I have faced in getting ready for the future.

Being a very similar student to that of which William Zinsser illustrates in his essay “College Pressures” it is fairly easy for me to identify with the pupil that falls into the pressure cycle he construes; and like Zinsser so plainly states, it is the student's’ own mind that places them there. Oftentimes, I tend to view my success as a relative concept. My thought process is this: It is only when I measure up to the achievements of others that am I able to consider myself “accomplished”. Evidently this philosophy is flawed. When elaborating on this very subject Zinsser shares an experience one dean related to him. The administrative executive explained that the student, “Linda” (as he called her), came to him with a complaint concerning

College Pressure “College Pressures” written by William Zinsser, describes the everyday pressures of a college student. He comments, that students no longer want to change the world but, want to get ahead in it. As a college student I couldn’t agree more with this statement, I find myself trying to be the best of the best, regardless if I’m interested in what I’m doing. The pressures of being a college student are hard to see past, when your whole life revolves around what you do while you are in school.

Why go to college? That’s a usual question asked by anyone. In Robert S. Feldman’s article “Why go to College”, Feldman uses a survey taken by college students nationwide to find the reason why they attend college. In the article, Feldman titles his essay with a question because he wants to make the reader reflect upon themselves, as well to focus on the question. I believe the author does this to try and get the reader involved with the reading. Feldman’s topic in his article is why a person wants to go to college. His thesis the specific reason why college freshmen choose to attend college and what they want to get out of it. Feldman’s main points in the article that supports the thesis include receiving training for a specific career, land

Do you ever find yourself struggling in life? In life we have to grow, being present and also have a purpose for everything we do in our everyday lives. In life everyone has to do these things to be able to be successful in life.