Inkwell 2018-2019

In short, America has a college admissions problem. Some advocates have proposed reform plans such as the Coalition for Access, Affordability, and Success’ plan for a virtual portfolio of all of a student’s best work since ninth grade (Jaschik, 2015). In both my and the majority of the nation’s guidance counselors’ opinions, which were not consulted while crafting this piece of elitist talent-grubbing “reform,” it is a terrible idea crafted of good intentions. Imagine if the massive aneurysm of senior college applications started as soon as one entered high school, and then all the prep work could begin as soon as – or before – middle school. It would be equivalent to selling a child’s right to a childhood to four years of overpriced schooling, at most. Why do we force our children to do this? Why indeed? Works Cited Brooks, David. “‘The Chosen’: Getting In.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 6 Nov. 2005, www. nytimes.com/2005/11/06/books/review/the-chosen-getting-in.html. Broome, Edwin Cornelius. A Historical and Critical Discussion of College Admission Requirements. Macmillan, 1903. Denizet-lewis, Benoit. “Why Are More American Teenagers Than Ever Suffering From Severe Anxiety?” The New York Times, The New York Times, 11 Oct. 2017, www.nytimes.com/2017/10/11/ magazine/why- are-more-american-teenagers-than-ever-suffering-from-severe-anxiety.html. Henriques, Gregg. “The College Student Mental Health Crisis.” Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers, 15 Feb. 2014, www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/theory-knowledge/201402/the-college-student- mental-health-crisis. Jaschik, Scott. “80 Colleges and Universities Announce Plan for New Application and New Approach to Preparing High School Students.” 80 Colleges and Universities Announce Plan New Application and New Approach, Inside Higher Ed, 29 Sept. 2015, www.insidehighered.com news/2015/09/29/80-colleges-and-universities-announce-plan-new-application-and-new- approach. Lam, Andrew. “White Students’ Unfair Advantage in Admissions.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 30 Jan. 2017, www.nytimes com/2017/01/30/opinion/white-students-unfair-advantage-in-admissions.

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