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Discuss the skills that every college student should possess Students deserve the right to leave high school and enter the world of work of college ready for the change. According to the American Council on Education, web America can only restore value to the high school diploma if higher education works closely with secondary education to define standards for college readiness and translate these standards into curricula and assessments that are broadly adopted and recognized by high schools and colleges. In this essay I will look at various aspects of this subject practical skills, social and academic ones. Some will be related to knowledge, others to maturity and practical ability. In 1950 80 % of jobs in America were classed as unskilled. By 2003 85 % were classed as skilled and it is estimated that this percentage will increase.
So important is this subject that various methods are being used in order to promote readiness. Columbia College for instance has a program called Saturday Scholars. web Its aim is to level the playing field for students from the inner city who are the first in their family to go to higher education. As well as classes in mathematics and English the students have mentors and also the chance to take part in discussions and learn life and leadership skills among other things. In Colorado and Illinois web there is a program designed to identify strengths and weaknesses of individuals. The report stresses that early planning and preparation are necessary.
It states that students that students who complete college preparation courses have an increased chance of success. web is a 56 page document on the subject of college preparation. It mentions subjects such as the difference in readiness between male and female students. Males score higher academically than females in maths and science, while females score higher in English. It states that improving college readiness is crucial to the development of a diverse and talented labor force. Academic Abilities According to recent ACT scores in America more students than ever are achieving good scores.
web However a closer look reveals that positive changes are minimal and are centred on the eastern states. Also, despite such improvements, students will still often spend their first few weeks of college in classes designed to make sure that everyone has a certain level of understanding of the subject. For some at least this means going over work previously done. According to the commission on the future of higher education (see below) this is because high schools are not linked to the colleges that their students apply to. The report states that only 2 out of 10 students met or exceeded College Readiness benchmark score in all four areas i. e.
English, Mathematics, Social Sciences and Biology. This figure was unchanged from 2005 According to Jennifer Dounay web more and more students and their parents expect that they will go to college and eventually graduate. This expectation has been rising for nearly 30 years for every socio-economic and racial group in America. Yet Dounay feels that both students and parents are misinformed as to what is required to get ready for college.
While states are expressing the desire for more students to graduate high school and complete a college degree, too many students will be left behind without explicit, ongoing guidance on academic preparation and parental involvement and knowledge about college. For instance just applying to college can be somewhat overwhelming if no one else in the family has ever done so. However only certain states feel the need to make it mandatory to inform parents as to whether or not their child is likely to graduate high school. Others take more care. Texas for instance has counsellors that provide all the information a student requires from quite early in his academic life, but some other states do not, especially not to those who are unused to the system. Those states that do also incorporate such things as early goal setting on an individual basis, these goals being updated annually...
Life skills Academic skills are important of course, but they are not the only factor to be considered. An acquaintance went away to college last year. She enjoyed her time. She came home rather often, but then it is only an hour away. She did quite well academically, and enjoyed her work placement. Nevertheless her tutors told her at the end of the first year that they thought she would be better going home for a while and coming back when she was really ready for college i.
e. when she had matured enough to get the best out of it. Not what she was expecting and yet probably the best advice. Her parents separated when she was tiny and have spent the intervening years competing for her affection this competing consisted of doing everything for her as well as pouring in gifts and money. Her college hall was catered so she didnt have to cook but she simply couldnt cope with having to use public transport, manage a budget or even launder her own clothes. And she is not alone.
She will be back in college next year. In between she has had a job, learnt to drive, contributed to the family budget, learnt some simple cooking and gone on vacation without her family. Her parents have had long talks with educational advisors, college tutors and each other. They wanted what was best for their daughter.
Unfortunately they went the wrong way about it. Today all three are much more informed as to what is required of a college student. May the day come when all students and their parents are able to say the same. Conclusion According to the Secretary of Educations commission on the future of Higher Education web the improvement of college readiness and success for all students is the joint responsibility of both K- 12 and Post secondary education.
It mentions the need for post high-school educators to provide clear guide lines as to what is needed. I would add to this that it is also the responsibility of both students and parents to find out all that they can. So we see that on an individual level, (the student), a local level, (the high school and colleges) and at national level, (by state intervention), it must be ensured that every student makes the best of the opportunities that await them. Electronic sources web retrieved 23 / 2 / 07 web retrieved 23 / 2 / 07 web web retrieved 23 / 2 / 07 web retrieved 23 / 2 / 07
Free research essays on topics related to: higher education, readiness, high schools, secondary education, college student
Research essay sample on Higher Education Secondary Education
