Caroline Bird’s 1975 article “The Case Against College” (Bird 15-18) argues that not all high school graduates are ready for college, a claim that still holds true today. From my personal observations, I have encountered college students who lack the necessary maturity for college and even obedience school. In her article, Bird raises several points questioning whether college truly improves individuals or if colleges should be responsible for raising children in a country club-like environment. To assess readiness for a college education, I will draw upon my own experiences as well as those of my daughter and nephews. The main argument presented by Bird is that college has never been able to fulfill its promise for everyone (15), an assertion with which I wholeheartedly agree. Many high school graduates nowadays are simply not mature enough to immediately transition into college after spending thirteen years in school. After graduation, they desire personal time and are mentally unprepared to adapt to the demands of a challenging academic environment. For example, my oldest daughter graduated from high school in 2009 and began her first semester of college that same fall; however, she dropped out when she found it more difficult than anticipated. Therefore, according to Caroline Bird’s 1975 article “The Case Against College” (Bird 15-18), it remains relevant today that not all high school graduates are prepared for college – a statement applicable even in the year 2010.In my personal observations, I have come across college students who lack the maturity necessary for college and obedience school. Bird’s article raises several points regarding the effectiveness of college for everyone and questions whether it truly improves a person or if colleges are responsible for children. She also wonders if her own children are living in an environment similar to a country club. To examine the readiness for a college education, I will draw upon my own experiences as well as those of my daughter and nephews. The main argument made by Bird is that “college has never been able to fulfill its promise for everyone” (15), which I wholeheartedly agree with. Today, many high school graduates are not yet mature enough to immediately transition into college after spending thirteen years in school. They desire some personal time after graduation and are not mentally prepared to handle the demands of a challenging academic setting. For instance, my oldest daughter graduated from high school in 2009 and started her first semester of college in the same year but dropped out after finding it more difficult than expected. Despite being employed part-time while studying full-time, Ms.Bird emphasizes that constant distractions hindered her academic focus, resulting in lower grades.The importance of commitment for students to fully embrace the benefits of their college education is emphasized. The author also argues that college has the ability to shape individuals into successful people.
The pressure to obtain a degree for success is immense, driven by both parents and employers. Despite my extensive experience and qualifications spanning over twenty-five years, I often find that individuals with limited work experience and only a diploma are preferred over me in job selection. As a result, I have decided to return to college after such a long time. The support of loved ones can greatly assist in making the choice to pursue higher education. It is crucial to sit down with someone who knows you well and document your dreams and aspirations. Evaluate what you hope to achieve in life and determine if pursuing a college education aligns with those goals.
Works Cited: Bird, Caroline. “The Case Against College.” 1975 Power of Language; Language of Power. New York: Pearson Custom Publishing, 2009. 15-18. Print
