Liz Addison's Two Years Are Better Than Four

In an article written by Rick Perlstein “What’s the Matter with College?” he states that “College as America used to understand it is coming to an end.” According to this view, Perlstein believes that colleges has lost its superiority that it once had in prior years. College was made for students to further their education, but to also gain the college experience that will hopefully

The article “What’s the Matter with College?”, written by Rick Perlstein, presents a negative narrative on how college campuses and students are rapidly changing. Perlstein states that colleges today supply an exceptionally different atmosphere than it once did (2). His main argument throughout the entire piece is that college students are no longer revolting in many different facets of college life. Perlstein states the question of why college students don’t have as much influence on society as they did in the past (2). I cannot agree with many of Perlstein’s arguments he presents in this article.

Throughout the essay she refers to writer by the name of Rick Perlstein. She gives him credit for his opinion. The main idea of his article is that he believes that the college experience as we know it is coming to an end. Although Perlstein believes this to be true, Addison disagrees with his statement. She strongly feels that community college is the answer. This is apparent through her writing, “The philosophy of the community college, and I have been to two of them, is one that unconditionally allows its students to begin. Just begin (Addison).” College is a time of firsts according to Addison. Addison points out that community colleges are affordable, as well as easily accessible. A place to start dreaming.

The article Two Years Are Better than Four was written by Liz Addison which she responded to Rick Perlstein’s opinion piece about “What’s the Matter With College?”. Based on her experience, Author Addison claimed that community colleges unconditionally allow students to begin which give them opportunities for understanding and everything possible. Because of letting any students in, community colleges would give discoveries of their independent thoughts and independent studies first. She was proud of getting her education by entering community colleges in America as mentioning, Thomas Jefferson’s writing, “Everybody should have an education proportional to my education.”. She also criticized about about Mr. Perlstein and his friends said that

In the article “Two Years Are Better Than Four” author Liz Addison writes about how community college is a forgotten option for many students in America, and that it is not well advertised like the universities are. She writes about how community college is a great option for students who need a less expensive option, but still want a chance to further their education. Addison also writes about how they allow everyone to attend so you can “just begin”. Community college is a great option for many students because it allows for an affordable option for students to continue their education.

In her article “College Is a Waste of Time and Money”, Caroline Bird attempts to pursued her readers that colleges are overflowing with students who don’t belong there. Her article first appeared in Psychology Today (May 1975). Since this material is outdated, I find it hard to believe that most of the responses by students and parents quoted in the article still hold true. The author has set out to pursue the readers that college is a bad and unnecessary choice for today’s youth. Yet the author holds a bachelors and a masters degree from two different universities. I would think that if she thought college was really a bad choice and a waste of time and money, she would not have gone back to get her masters degree.

Two Years Are Better than Four: A Summary In her essay “Two Years Are Better than Four,” Liz Addison argues that Rick Pearlstein is incorrect when he says that the college experience is dead, he says that colleges no longer offer the opportunity for self-discovery that they once did. To the contrary, Liz Addison says that the self-discovery that is associated with college can now be found in community colleges rather than big universities, or as she puts them “university of privilege”. In addition, she says that the philosophy behind community college is that it allows students to begin, furthermore community colleges teach students that their dreams are possible. Addison states that community college is an hidden gem of American public service,

Mike Rose uses his relatives’ experiences along with his own to show that college is not for everyone. This point of view is supported by Owen and Sawhill in ‘Should Everyone Go to College?”. “It is a mistake to unilaterally tell young Americans that going to college… is the best decision they can make.”

Attending community college before completing your bachelor’s degree at a four-year institution can save you a sizable chunk of change. Tuition and fees at public community colleges average less than half of those at public four-year colleges and about one-tenth of those at private four-year colleges, according to the American Association of Community Colleges. “I think my student loan was at least half of what I would have paid otherwise,” O’Brien says.

The essay, “Two years are better than Four” was written by Lis Addison which was published in the They Say, I Say book. This essay is about the author, Liz Addison explaining her feelings and experiences of going to a two-year community college. In her essay she talks about a man named Rick Perlstein who believed that college really doesn't matter that much, but going to a four-year college is better than going to a two-year community college due to the college experience being better. Throughout the essay Addison mostly compares and contrasts why going to a two-year community college is better than going to a four-year college. She uses what Mr. Perlstein says about his years at a four-year college to write her essay and explain why a community college is more beneficial to students and their futures. Throughout the essay she lists all the benefits of what a two-year community college can do for some students that a four year university can not.

Attending a community college has several benefits such as the low tuition and book fees, smaller classes, and experienced teachers at an affordable cost. In this two year period students also have the time to mature and get serious about their career before they get into the four year institution

Two Years Are Better than Four is an essay by Liz Addison, published in the New York Times Magazine’s College Essay Contest. It follows the fictional, yet symbolic, character, Rick Perlstein. Through the character, Addison expresses her thoughts on the American Higher Education system. Consequently, she highlights the importance of community colleges in the provision of higher education. Addison discounts the 4-year courses provided by mainstream universities. Throughout her essay, Liz Addison claims that Community Colleges are better institutions of higher learning as compared to Universities. This paper tries to outline them as it provides reasoning, evidence and assumptions presumed, in coming up with the aforementioned arguments.

In the New York Times article “I Owe It All to Community College: Tom Hanks on His Two Years at Chabot College” published January 2015, the author Tom Hanks talks about his experience in Community College. The article being published in the New York Times was directed at an older group of people. Hanks begins the article effectively persuading the reader that Community College changes the lives of the students who attend. Hanks addressed his experience at a two-year junior college in Hayward, California with positive critique. Hanks’ succeeds with his claims of community college being a alternative to students in search of a afforable higher education, through his use of ethos, pathos, and logos.

Andrew Delbanco’s essay “A college Education: What is its purpose?” gives three reasons why college still matters. Delbanco teaches at Columbia University, where he’s the director of American studies and has written several books on the meaning and benefits of college. Delbanco, begins his essay by discussing what college means to each individual student. He states, “For many more students, college means the anxious pursuit of marketable skills in overcrowded, under resourced institutions. For still others, it means traveling by night to a fluorescent office building or to a “virtual classroom” that only exists in cyberspace.” (1) Delbano successfully uses pathos to appeal to his audience’s emotions, his personal experience and anecdotal combine to persuade his readers to consider or realize the importance of receiving a college education, however his essay contains minor flaws that can counteract his claims.

In America today, higher education is definitely an essential requirement for a secure and stable life, but whether a student attends a community college or a four-year university can make a tremendous difference. Liz Addison claims in her essay, Two years are better than four, “The philosophy of the community college… is one that unconditionally allows its students to begin. Just begin” (Addison, 256). But I disagree claiming that even though it may allow the student just to “begin” a two-year community college is only adequate for a student planning to graduate with only two years. Attending a two-year college with the intent of furthering you education will actually cost the student more time in the classroom and less time out in the world, costing them more money. Luckily Liz and I both agree that college is necessary, especially in today’s world, however we come to a fork in the road upon what type of higher education is more profitable to the student.