GRE Issue Topic 84

Sample 1:

When I was considering my choice of colleges to attend and the course of study to pursue, I was overwhelmed. Many of my classmates even said they were going to postpone going to college because they didn't know what they wanted to do, and it would be a waste of money to attend in that case. One of my teachers finally asked, "How will you discover what you want to do if you don't go to college?" I realized that I would have the opportunity to broaden my horizons by taking classes in subjects that heretofore, I had not been exposed to. The world of higher education would become my oyster, and I was eager to partake. I was eighteen years old and hardly experienced enough to advise college professors about their courses. It was hardly my place to demand that college professors consider my interests or ask for my suggestions for planning their courses.

Like any aspect of life, an education should be balanced. A child, lacking knowledge and a sophisticated palate, would choose to eat hot dogs or macaroni and cheese every day. Such a diet, over a long period of time, would leave the child without vital nutrients to ensure his optimum physical health. Eventually he must add fruits and vegetables to his daily regimen. His mother must eventually override his interests and suggestions and consider his wellbeing. Although the child may protest initially and leave his veggies on the plate, his hunger will eventually compel him to give them a try. As he grows, he may become involved with athletics. His desire to compete successfully may even lead him to research the best diet for his level of activity.

This same child will begin school around the age of five and decide that recess or coloring is his favorite daily activity. Should his teacher allow him to pursue his favorite activity all day every day, his first year of education will poorly prepare him for his second year. He may become proficient on the monkey bars and always color inside the lines, but he will not know his numbers or letters, leading to lack of success at the next grade level. In this case, his teacher must intervene, perhaps by making recess or coloring a reward for completing an academic activity. In the same way that veggies in his diet will improve his physical health, academic rigor in his classroom will improve his intellectual health. Working with numbers may lead him to discover a natural ability in math or learning his first words may inspire him to become a voracious reader or prolific writer.

While most of us need parents or teachers to help us balance our physical and intellectual diets, some are capable of making those choices independent of older and wiser parents or counselors. One of my friends attended a private women's college with no core requirements. She could have taken four years of courses in just Italian, or just math, or just psychology if she so chose. In fact, she took courses in horseback riding and kayaking, which probably caused her parents to question their decision to let her attend this prestigious college. Eventually, my friend took a class, The Deaf Child, which met at a school for the deaf located just behind the campus. She uncovered an interest in speech and hearing science, and, after two years at the college, transferred to a large state university and earned an undergraduate degree in that field of study. She found her way by taking courses whose content had been proscribed by educators and developed a strong, healthy intellect.

It might be nice to have educators, employers and even parents take our interests and suggestions into account before making decisions that affect us. A number of problems arise from these considerations. In a classroom or workplace or family home, several disparate interests reside. Whose interests or suggestions are more worthy of consideration? Imagine the time lost by those in authority while attempting to accommodate everyone. Some students, employees, and children will be left as dissatisfied as if no one’s interests had never been considered. A college course catalog provides opportunities for students to explore and develop new interests. Deciding on which courses to offer should be left up to the professors who must use their areas of expertise to develop the content of those courses.