The Strenuous Cycle Of Stress

In “Too Many People Are Going to College”, the author, Charles Murray’s main purpose is to encourage people to rethink college. He clearly gives very valid and educated reasons on why college isn't for everyone and how society has made everyone think that college is a norm and, in a way, a rite of passage into adulthood and citizenship. Murray is given the difficult task of proving to the people that society has marred and distorted the views of college. He does an exemplary job of executing this task. Murray presents his argument that college is not all society says it is by presenting counter arguments and either giving rebuttals or conceding.

Acceptance into an Ivy League University is often considered the pinnacle of educational achievement. Thousands of students from around the country stress and panic, thinking that their future success is based on their acceptance into elite universities. Frank Bruni aims to change those beliefs and give parents and students some peace of mind in: Where You Go Is Not Who You'll Be: an Antidote to the College Admissions Mania. Bruni explains in his book that, “where we go to college will have infinitely less bearing on our fulfillment in life than so much else: the wisdom with which we choose our romantic partners; our interactions with the communities that we inhabit; our generosity toward the families we inherit and the families that we make.”

Frank Bruni’s article “How to measure a college’s value”(2015), analyzes the value of a college education based on a diversity of often unconsidered factors. Bruni supports his claim by questioning the unknown, constantly repeating the central argument in order to shift the audience away from preconceived notations, and through statistical facts to provide credibility. Bruni’s purpose is to educate society on what constitutes a college’s worth in order to demonstrate that the experience is truly based on an individual’s actions and not the school index value. Due to the factual nature of the article it is written to advise incoming students on how they can benefit from each college not just ones that are assumed to provide a defined path for

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

College pressures dominate our lives. They begin to levitate around us and slowly derail our lives. William Zinsser elaborates about the college pressures that modern generations are facing. He reveals multiple commonalities that the typical college student encounters on a daily basis. Zinsser states, “They want a map-right now-that they can follow unswervingly to career security, financial security, social security, and presumably, a prepaid grave” (12). He is spot on, the pressures demand my attention and won’t take no for an answer. So far I’ve gone head to head with these pressures every day since I started my freshman year in college. For the time that I’ve been here, my mind is overwhelmed and distraught with the amount of stress that gets piled on top of me every single day. I drown in these unrealistic expectations written in those faulty suggestion bars about how to be successful in college and college 101 tips. College pressures surround me like a dull gray cloud. It showers me with expectations and unfinished checklists. College itself is similar to carpooling to hell and back, but with no actual guarantee with a ride back.

Gary Colombo, Robert Cullen, and Bonnie Lisle in their book “Rereading America” feel that commencing college is a very disturbing experience. So many things we have to deal while starting college, but the major challenges are expanded difficulty levels and higher expectation which we are not familiar over the years of high school. In order to solve this issue, we have to remodel ourselves by taking up the challenge and rethink about our strength and flaws. To succeed in college we need to be mentally strong and dedicated towards our goal.

How many can remember middle school through high school years being full of the constant reminder to think about one’s future after graduation? For the most part, this would involve attending a good college to further one’s education. Caroline Bird wrote her essay “College is a Waste of Time and Money” because she has seen throughout her many lectures at various college campuses that there is a great number of college students that given another acceptable option would not be there. She emphasizes that they are only there because it is either the social norm, required by some parents, or the believed thought that it is the only way to become successful. Bird effectively informs and to some extent persuades the reader by using logos, with the help of ethos and pathos, that college is not intended for everyone but there are many who attend anyways because of these reasons.

Students today have been raised to think that college is just the next step in life after high school. Decades ago,going to college was a huge achievement and not many people enrolled. Today, however it is almost expected that you go to college. The purpose of college has been changing over the years. Students and professors have lost sight of what to get out a college education. Gary Gutting explains in his article, “What is College for?” that students are losing passion for higher education. He also believes that professors are not realizing what their true job really is, and are not doing the necessary procedures to help their students succeed. “In On the Uses of a Liberal Education”, Mark Edmundson shares similar ideas, and gives a first person point of view of Gutting’s ideas about the quality of the college experience. Mark Edmundson would agree with Gary Gutting’s claims that the quality of colleges is declining and is negatively affecting the students and faculty members.

When the committee chooses the applicants that they want, they choose kids with very unique qualities. They have to stand out from others and be well rounded; basically be perfect in the university eyes. Those kids would be described as stereotypical ultra-high achieving elite college students or in James Atlas words “Super People”. William Deresiewicz shared his own personal experience about being in the Ivy Leagues in his article. “These enviable youngsters appear to be the winners in the race we have made of childhood”, said Deresiewicz. He watched many of his students on campus and realized that the reality is different. The elite education system has students who are smart and driven but also students who are insecure and clueless to their purpose in this world. They are great at what they do but they don’t really know why they are doing it. Many students hide behind this façade and hide their fears, anxiety or depression. It’s very unhealthy, but they will do whatever they have to do to succeed. The students are terrified of failing, it’s very scary and they can’t take that risk because it could jeopardize their future. Some students leave the Ivy League schools because they felt as if the environment was stifling their soul. They want to experience getting a real education and live life to the

An analysis of Ivy League college selection processes among students reveals an alarming trend; students are selecting college environments based solely upon the prestige of the institution without regard to the application of their studies. For many people, their goal university would be an Ivy League University. William Deresiewicz, once a Yale professor, wrote a book explaining how Ivy League Universities are creating an unequal society amongst students. Mr. Deresiewicz was once on the inside of the Ivy League institutions and now he is showing people what the Ivy League institutions are really like from the inside establishing ethos through narratives regarding himself, students, and society.

Frank Bruni, the author of Where You Go Is Not Who You’ll Be, dedicates his fact-filled odyssey by stating, “To all the high school kids in this country who are dreading the crossroads of college admissions and to all the young adults who felt ravaged by it. We owe you and the whole country a better, more constructive way.” Bruni then proceeds by assaulting the very foundation on which the modern higher education system is built off of, the notion that not all colleges are created equal. He theorizes that a college is not based solely on name and prestige, but what you are able to make of it and what a college is able to offer you. Pressing onwards, Bruni contends that there is no ideal

Peter Hart, an average student who is rejected from the top two universities of his choice and later attends Indiana University, determined to make the best of it. Bruni includes, “it was confidence building. He thrived during that first year, getting a 3.95 GPA.” (Bruni, 5). Peter later gains admission to an honors program, becomes Vice President of a business fraternity on campus, starts his own enterprise, works with the Boston Consulting Group along with a private firm, and finally attends Harvard’s graduate business school. “Yes, he said, many of his Harvard classmates had undergraduate degrees fancier than his; no, he said, he didn’t feel that his Indiana education put him at any disadvantage.” (Bruni, 8). Peter explains that Indiana University helped him transform into a bolder and more confident person. “I got to be the big fish in a small pond,” he said. Now, if he wanted to, he could swim with the sharks.” (Bruni, 8). Peter also includes that an old friend of his that had attended Yale University wound up at the exact destination he was. Peter Hart’s anecdote supports the claim that one does not have to attend a prestigious college in order to be

For the past half a century education has been heralded as the key to success. Parents across the country preach to their children that, providing they acquire a college education and degree, the world is their oyster. The documentary “Ivory Tower”, directed by Andrew Rossi, calls that whole notion into question. The biographical film opens at the University of Harvard, the nations oldest institution of higher learning, on move-in day. Hundreds of new students and their parents flood the campus grounds of one of America’s most prestigious universities. From there, in order to provide a complete overview of the complete college experience, several other types of colleges are shown; such as community, 2-year, and vocational schools. Each is examined in turn to determine both the positive and negative aspects.

The college admissions standards in America today are more rigorous and in depth than they have ever been but can also be somewhat unfair. The process of applying can be quite stressful for students and parents alike as they try to successfully weave their way through an expansive application that includes everything from essays to transcripts and so much more. And while the feeling of being accepted leads to true exuberance because of all that hard work (as I can personally attest to), the feeling of being denied can rival it in intensity without a doubt (as I unfortunately can also confirm). As college becomes more and more encouraged in high schools across the nation, and as the number of college applicants continues to grow there will continue to be more of those students who are not accepted to a certain school, granted there is a place for everyone. But this phenomenon brings up a simple question; why? Students are left to ponder why they didn’t receive admission in many cases, as no college that I know of gives an actual reason as to why acceptance was granted or denied. Luckily we do have some information supplied by schools and other various sources on what factors are the most important to schools. While we may not like all of what we find when taking a closer look, it is still interesting nonetheless.

What makes a college experience? Is it the long hours and hard classes, the partying, or is it the name of the college you attend? An unseeingly similar question may be asked to accompany this. Does where you go to college really matter? In the United States especially, colleges and universities are known for being “party-schools”, prestigious, or just plain easy. The Ivy-League were the top-notch places to go a few decades ago. However in modern day, we are discovering that other colleges do just as good of a job at preparing people for the rest of their lives, joining the workforce, and making money.