Today in class we talked about Universities. A subject was brought up about whether Universities should accept on terms of wealth, race, social class, etc. This got me thinking. Highschool students work tirelessly to get into a college, so why should students with money be allowed a foot in? As I mentioned in class, Bill Cosby got his daughter into a college by funding a new building for the University. This made me mad. It isn't really fair, but I know that it happens. As everyone says, it's not what you know, but who you know. This got me thinking, what is the point of college? Is going to college a stepping stool just in case you don't know that one person who can pull strings for you? Is the point of getting into an Ivy League college so that you meet more important people and have better ties? If so, what is the point of Roger Williams? Should I be here to make ties with the most "important people? This sits with me wrongly because that would mean leaving out the people that I judge as unimportant. And on that subject, how can I determine who is important and unimporant in regards to making relationships with so that I am successful? Is that judged by wealth also? Thinking back on my college entry, I'm happy with how it went. Although I come from a well-off family, my father didn't pull any strings or call in a favor to anyone to get me in anywhere. His method was that he earned it, so I should too. My father worked at MIT for a considerable amount of time when I was younger. My friend's urged me to just apply to see what happens. I refused because I don't think that this is the way that I should be accepted. My father and four generations before him have gone to MCP. An admissions counselor visited my highschool, and I explained my family's background there (at this time I was still considering the pre med to medical school approach). This man basically flat out told me that because of my family, I would most likely be accepted into the school. He said as long as I wasn't close to failing, I had nothing to worry about. This turned me off from that school because I don't think thats fair.
For example, this kid in my highschool was an amazing football player and he got into BC with a 2.0 GPA. None of us thought it was fair, especially since the class president didn't get in to BC. It wasn't a fair situation at all. I disagree with this concept entirely and think that colleges should not accept upon those standards.
About Me
- Stephanie Birch
- Hi! My name is Stephanie Birch, but I prefer to be called Steph. I am from Gilford, New Hampshire, which lies on the Southern side of Lake Winnipesaukee. I am currently a double major in Legal Studies and Communications at Roger Williams University. After undergraduate at Roger Williams, I intend on going to law school to fulfill my dream of becoming a lawyer.
1 comment:
steph...I think the thing is, in america, we like to think of ourselves as a meritocracy (DEF: a society in which people rise and fall on the basis of ability, not birthright). And yet, we simultaneously understand that "it's not what you know, it's who you know." There is a contradiction between these two, it would seem. Why should we kill ourselves to get into a good college and do well if our parents can simply pull a few strings for us and help us out. The reality is that for most afluent and even many middle class Americans, strings are pulled to get into college and strings are once again pulled after college. So, why do we keep trying to fool ourselves with this myth that "if you work hard enough, you can be anything you want" if we also know that...it's not what you know, it's who you know. Those with connections will prosper, those without connections will...
thanks for sharing. I continue to enjoy your posts.
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