Lang Personal Statement

Critical examination of the four liberal arts breadth areas, in their natural state, demonstrate that each area of study brings value and purpose to life. It is important to focus on developing weaknesses to gain fulfillment while using strengths to help others succeed.

In “Preparing for a Career”, Derek Bok, president of Harvard Law School and author, argues how universities, more specifically liberal arts colleges, should include training for a certain occupation with regular college classes to better prepare a student for the real world after college. Considering that Bok has earned his degrees at some of the most well-known universities like Stanford University and Harvard, he has a better understanding at what students are missing and what they need to be successful. However, on the other hand, not many professors and students see or agree with Bok’s point of view. They do not agree that students need the vocational training during their years in a liberal arts college, even though students need both; an education that helps them become critical thinkers and skilled communicators as well as skilled workers in a certain career. So why not help students with their career along with their regular core courses?

The essay “A New Liberal Arts,” which was written by Sanford Ungar, first appeared in the Chronicle of Higher Education on March 5, 2010. In his essay, Ungar uses many different rhetorical strategies to convince his reader that a degree in the liberal arts is not a lost cause but can actually be very beneficial and lead to success. In Ungar’s opinion, there are many wrong ideas and misunderstandings about the usefulness of a degree in the liberal arts. In the essay there are seven specific misperceptions that he addresses specifically. By listing out these misperceptions, Ungar is addressing them individually in order to give each one proper attention. He offers explanations to why people may think these things and why he believes that they are incorrect. Ungar’s use of style, format, and emotional and logical arguments help him to create a persuasive and influential essay for his audience and convince them to agree with his opinion.

Pursing a career as a medical doctor is an opportunity for me to mentor youth in underserved populations. As a child, I was raised in the low income, urban community of Roxbury, MA. Although not as notorious today, the neighborhood had garnered negative attention for its high crime rates. My mother emigrated from Haiti and raised me as a single parent. Due to our financial circumstance, Roxbury became our permanent residence. I have always felt there was something lacking in Roxbury in comparison to other towns I visited. My teenage years were largely spent in the suburban town of Stoneham where I attended high school. There was a literal difference in air quality and a psychology contrast in future prospects. While native students of

In his essay, The New Liberal Arts, Sanford Ungar addresses common misperceptions related to a liberal arts education. He speaks to their usefulness, the employment opportunities after graduation, their value despite the cost of tuition, and other misconceptions. His overall message is, despite the recent emphasis on science, technology, engineering, and math degrees, as well as technical or vocational training, liberal arts degrees are still important and are a valid option to consider when deciding on your educational future. While his essay could easily apply to anyone with these misperceptions, it appears to be targeted directly towards students in high school or early college who are trying to decided on the direction of their education

We are quiet and focused, erratic and spontaneous, power-hungry and arrogant, self-loathing and snobby. But we, students, are merely people who want to learn. Though Delbanco believes that a Liberal Arts education today might be riddled with inaccessibility and uselessness, I know, as a student engulfed in the liberal arts to the fullest, that such an education will provide students with the ability to “fight out among and within themselves…. And discover that self-interest need not be at odds with concern for one another” (177). Through interdisciplinary study and educational freedom, students can dine quite well on a balanced and colorful buffet plate of

These organizations will enhance my found passion for service and justice and empower me to do more. Beyond the opportunities Berkeley law offers to me, I know that I will add a unique perspective on law and justice to the already diverse and inclusive student body because I have a unique background, and experiences including, my experiences from my immersion trips in various communities in Kenya, Tanzania, and the United

There are few certainties of what one will encounter during life. A common joke names two: death and

Why are many young Americans so uncomfortable with liberal arts? And why are countless high school graduates shying away from this particular form of education? Just like anything else that is popular, once liberal arts has been accurately, or inaccurately, discredited, the aftermath inevitably spreads. As more information is being mistakenly spread, numerous liberal arts colleges are taking the fall. To combat the onslaught of negative publicity, university officers are beginning to speak out to discredit the invalid claims.

Sanford J. Ungar’s article “The New Liberal Arts” identifies multiple misperceptions there are about earning a liberal arts degree, showing the inaccuracy in each.

As the world becomes more specialized it raises the question, should undergraduate institutions change their curriculum requirements to better equip students? The goal of a liberal arts education is to enlighten individuals and prepare them for the complex and diverse world by requiring the study of literature, philosophy, mathematics, and sciences. As professional careers evolve into more specialized fields the argument that a liberal education is no longer needed rises. Some educators feel that future professionals would be better primed for the future by focusing specifically on subjects that deal with their intended field. However, a liberal arts education provides benefits that go beyond the classroom. The experience of studying a

Throughout childhood, most have been told that they need to go to college in order to receive a well-paying job. Therefore, students immediately decide to major in something that will help them either get a job that pays very well and many of their courses are targeted at their major of choice. However, another route that many students don’t consider is a liberal arts education. Many believe that liberal arts is a waste of time and doesn’t truly prepare them for a future career.

“College pressures” written by William Zinsser tells us about how college students today are more worried about how they look on paper instead of how they can help expand their minds and help the world. William Zinsser quotes one of his fellow dean of students saying “ the typical question that I got from students was, 'Why is there so much suffering in the world?' or 'How can I make a contribution?' Today it's, 'Do you think it would look better for getting into law school if I did a double major in history and political science, or just majored in one of them?' Many other deans confirmed this pattern”.

As a young child, I remember being asked the question: “what do you want to be when you grow up?” While I struggled with the answer for many years, in the course of my studies and work experience, I found my passion for higher education. During my undergrad career, I was introduced to the world of higher education, in which I found helping my fellow students a rewarding pursuit. Furthermore, in the course of my political science studies, I found how politics, and governmental institutions, influenced the culture, and educational pursuits of many, which piqued my interest in social justice.

Recently, I read Beyond the University, Why Liberal Education Matters by Wesleyan professor and dean Michael S. Roth for the first time. The text made me realize the value of a liberal arts education, such as small class sizes and direct contact with one's professor. After arduously reading Dr. Roth's text, my understanding of higher education was completely changed. I decided to apply to the best liberal arts colleges and liberal