student sample essay
Necessities for Higher Education
Most people overlook the need for the admission standards at universities across the country to be raised. In this case the University of Kansas is no exception. The problems occurring from this issue are often times disregarded or, in some cases, not even seen. The University of Kansas is in great need to be one of those schools to raise admission standards. One drastic reason for this is for the fact that most students who come to colleges or universities are not prepared for the work they have to offer them. This stems from several factors. One of these factors could be from the school they come from. There are schools that are better than most in terms of education or college preparation. Some schools lack this ability or capability, however. When most students arrive at the university they believe they are prepared for what is ahead. This is shown at the City University of New York when Patrick Healy states that “fifty-five percent of first-time freshmen failed the basic writing test. About thirty-three percent failed reading, and 17.7 percent failed mathematics” (Healy A24). This shows that a majority of students are not ready for the job in college. Students entering the University of Kansas should be ready to successfully complete these classes. If they are not ready then it is a waste of their money and other students’ and faculty’s time and effort. The reason for needing to raise admission standards is to attract other students from around the country if not the world. A student being able to enter the school with the lowest test scores is not a temptation for more capable students of enrolling at the university. This is a turnoff to the more capable students. These students want a degree that says they succeeded at a challenging university that could not be accomplished at most others. The University of Kansas needs to raise test scores and other admission standards to allow the most capable of students in. Another reason for raising admission standards is to let the people in who are really going to do the work. Quite a few of the new students who arrive at KU think it is going to be an easy ride. Unfortunately, these students end up going out and partying or just not paying attention to their need to do the work. This assumption or decision is what gets a lot of students caught up in an academic bind. At the same time it is wasting their time it is also getting in the way of other, more capable students’ academic needs. This is shown through the need to enroll in certain classes. When the students who are really going to try arrive to enroll in certain classes they stand a chance of being denied to enter the class they need. Students who are not going to put forth any effort are the ones who block their entrance of getting into these classes. By them doing so keeps them from getting in and out of college when they are expected or planned to do so. The problem with this is the people that do not believe that this policy is fair. There have been several people who have spoken of this such as when Patricia J. Williams states that “this brutal competitiveness was really driving up the quality of all schools rather than just pounding to smithereens our basic commitment to equality of access and opportunity” (Williams 10). This may deny certain students, of course, but it is in need for the university to maintain a record of academic excellence. Regardless of the school they come from, or their background, they should be able to perform as well as the next student when it comes to achievement at the University of Kansas. In the end of all this controversy, the admission standards need to be raised in order for the university to maintain a reputation of providing an exceptional education. This is in the school’s best interest to keep capable students enrolling at the university. Not only that, but to keep students focused on wanting to learn in the school. Otherwise, what is to keep them from transferring to another school, or not coming here at all. (708)