The Common App Fallacy Summary

Written for the New York Times, “Why Colleges Shower Their Students With A's” is made not only for those interested in education, which

First they reveal that there is not enough information available for prospective students to research possible colleges to decide if that institution would be beneficial for them (Pg.220, Para.1). They proceed to document several efforts that attempt to solve this problem, such as the College Scorecard and PayScale college rankings (Pg. 220, Para.3). However they claim that these efforts are not enough and more must be done. The authors insist that in addition to providing information, students need assistance with increasing the ROI of their college education. They suggest that colleges should work to ensure that more of their students graduate (Pg.221, Para. 3). Also, students should have help discovering how much financial aid they are eligible for, as they often underestimate the amount they could earn (Pg. 122, Para. 2). Owen and Sawhill reveal that future college students are often confused when it comes to choosing an institution and finding help to graduate and pay tuition. Therefore they use pathos to connect with their reader’s compassion for these students. Suggestions on how to assist these students are offered. Overall the argument is strengthened as the authors unveil certain needs of students through

Charles Murray’s essay proposes that American colleges are being flooded with individuals who are either unprepared for higher education or who are simply forced into attending college and can’t succeed because of the lack of certain innate abilities. Murray’s essay goes on to take issue with the idea that the pursuit of a traditional college education is somehow strategically creating a separation of the American class system. While Murray makes many salient points with regards to America’s obsession with college education as a standard into a class of the intellectual elite, the essay fails to take into consideration the various motivators that can lead to student success, despite

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

Mark Edmundson, the author of “On the Uses of a Liberal Education”, is an English teacher at the University of Virginia who expresses his concerns about the trajectory of the universities and colleges in America. Edmundson depicts how college students today have “little fire, little passion to be found,” towards their classes (4). In an effort to find the source of this lack of passion, Edmundson describes contacting other professors about this issue while refining his own ideas. Ultimately, Edmundson comes to a conclusion. He believes that the consumer mindset of college students has hindered American universities as a whole. My target audience is my professor, Professor Chezik. Looking closely at his wording, formation of sentences, and idea structure, one can see a recurring theme throughout Edmundson’s essay. Edmundson uses fragments, specifically at the beginning of his paragraphs, to start his point, pose counter arguments, and to have a poetic refrain.

In the article Our Crazy College Crossroads, Frank Bruni, addresses the topic of rejection involving students who are applying to colleges by using pathos to connect to his readers on the topic. The author appeals to his readers by uprooting the idea of rejection and worth that are commonly felt by students who are rejected from their top school. He does this through the use of metaphor, rhetorical questions and aggressive statements. Bruni attacks many opposing views such as of Malcolm Gladwell by criticizing the science behind his an argument. Bruni also points out the difference between those who get in to Ivy League colleges and those who don’t. He does this by presenting the means that some individuals lack such as financial support,

On December 2, 2016, in the opinion editorial, “How to Get In,” Susan Estrich, best-selling author and liberal columnist for the Creators, argues that hard work, not college acceptances, determine people’s future successes, challenging the notion that people’s opportunities and potentials are defined by the colleges they enter. Refuting the misconception that “getting into the right college is a meal ticket for life,” Estrich argues that GPA’s and LSAT’s may decide the difference between rejection and acceptance, but ultimately, tenacious hard work throughout life counts “for more than anything else,” before concluding that the “secret to a good application” is honesty and that, although she understands admissions can be partisan and erroneous through personal experience, in the end, she “did just fine”- an echoing sentiment to all prospective college applicants. Estrich

“They sell college like soap, promoting features they think students want: innovative programs, an environment conducive to meaningful personal relationships, and a curriculum so free that it doesn’t sound like college at all” (Bird 36 – 39).

Anson and Scherer (2014) explored the need for an updated version of the policy for open access would help achieve the goals of community college. Goals should such as improved college readiness and completion, increased financial support for promising low-income students, efficient use of public and private resources, and ultimately, greater security and prosperity for Americans. The vast majority of employers are looking for employees that have a skill

In her essay, Two Years Are Better than Four, author Liz Addison states that “It is here that Mr. Perlstein will find his college years of of self-discovery, and it is here he will find that college does still matter.” In other words, Addison believes that it is at community college that one can find himself and seek out his future, that community college is a stepping stone into life, and gives you a boost into the real world. In saying this, she believes that college is still relevant in today’s society, and is needed to succeed in the future. In recent discussions about college, a controversial issue has been whether or not college as America used to perceive it is coming to an end.

The article Real Compassion in College Admissions, is responding to an article made by the Harvard group. The article Turning the Tide, points out flaws in the college admission process and makes active steps to fix them. This article follows the same pattern as the one before, pointing out flaws, but not making plans to revise them.

Mohamed Soliman draft 1 Professor A. J. Larsen English 101, Section UO65 April 6, 2015 Free Community College On January 9, 2015 President Obama said, “I’d like to see the first two years of community college be free for everyone who is willing to work for it, it is something we can accomplish and it’s something that will train our workforce so we can compete with anyone in the word.” To qualify, students must attend community college at least half-time, maintain a 2.5 GPA and make steady progress toward completing their studies (1).The student’s loan has been increasing year after year. According to economist Wenli Li, “student loan debt

Scott Carlson’s “For Making the Most of College, It’s Still Location, Location, Location” was first published in The Chronicle of Higher Education on February 4, 2013. Carlson attempts to utilize his article to illustrate the ongoing (and future) success of traditional universities in contrast to increasingly popular (and modestly priced) virtual campuses. Early on he mentions an article he wrote in 2001 about the desertion of libraries in a world of the latest technology and compares how human interaction and modernization alone could save them both. Carlson clearly states his stance on the subject after asking whether “campuses and traditional teaching (could) disappear because we now have MOOCs (massive open online courses)?” After which he answers his own question in the same paragraph by saying: “No because that defies the human yearning for meaningful places and the real benefits that come with them. We see it in the migration to cities and in walkable neighborhoods. We see it most of all on college campuses.” Even tough Carlson utilizes rhetorical appeals of ethos, pathos, and logos

In the article, “College is a Waste of Time and Money”, Caroline Bird explains why higher education is not always the right choice for students after high school. The author believes that students do not come to the decision to attend college on their own but they are expected to and pressured by parents, advisors, and society. In the beginning of the article the author argues that colleges use techniques to sell themselves just like any other product on the market. They advertise what they have to offer and tell students what they want to hear. She also feels that campuses, stemming from the riots in the 1960’s, have started to

When I was a prospective student, I visited a variety of different colleges. Basically, when talking to prospective students I try to stress smaller schools because you are joining a community rather than just school with a name. I would not like this area of Higher Education because Ian stressed the competitive nature of admissions. For this reason, I do not think I would be successful in this field because I am not competitive in nature. 4.