Higher Education would be more Effective with Selective Admissions

Higher education would be more effective if colleges were more selective in choosing students.
Describe a specific situation in which higher education would not be more effective if colleges were more selective in choosing students. Discuss what you think determines whether or not higher education would be more effective if colleges were more selective in choosing students.
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Many view the widespread access of higher education in this country as a top goal. Our culture, indeed, touts the graduation from a 4-year college and beyond as somehow completing a person and fulfilling one's potential. Politicians, in response, promise to make sure that all children can enter college so they can succeed in a competitive economy. The reality, however, is that making college accessible to more people by being less selective in admissions is counterproductive to maintaining the quality of higher education in this country.

When colleges admit students who have not proved themselves during high school, professors find themselves catering to the lowest denominator. That is, the coursework is simplified and classroom discussions cannot be conducted at a sophisticated level. In the process, students who are actually capable of studying and thinking critically lose out by not being challenged to the full extent. They are graded relative to the performance of their fellow students and easily receive high grades. When students from a college graduate and attempt to find jobs, it is difficult for employers to discern which candidates are most prepared for work---especially when ranking reports show that the school is not selective with admissions.

If colleges were more selective in the admissions process, they would experience better graduation rates. Students who have not achieved good test scores and grades during high school are less likely to pass courses and graduate from college. Some college institutions admit virtually all applicants regardless of high school performance. When these students repeatedly flunk and re-take courses, they delay graduation and waste money in the process. They could have, admittedly, succeeded in a route different from that of higher education. Other options include taking shorter technical/trade school courses that focus on practical job skills, joining the armed services or even following their entrepreneurial ambitions right out of high school. Unfortunately, our system hails higher education as the most prestigious route out of high school. Those who do not enter college are viewed as somewhat less "capable" than the university students. In order to ensure that young people are directed towards where their strengths lie, our culture should alter its perceptions of what are regarded as worthy paths following high school graduation.

Granted, there are arguments for why higher education systems could benefit from not being so selective in the admissions process. First, relaxing standards for admission would allow a greater diversity of students in the system. Diversity may refer to economic, ethnic, and other differences. Due to systemic factors, minorities (at least the Latino and African American populations) have consistently shown lower test scores and grades. Allowing underserved populations access to higher education adds different and valuable perspectives to the college classroom. The admissions of underrepresented minorities in prestigious institutions on the basis of race is known as "affirmative action" and continues to be a controversial political issue in America.

If a college chooses to admit students who have not proven themselves in high school (by means of test scores and grades), it may also open opportunities for late bloomers. Some people mature later in life and realize the value of education and studying. A few of these students may even find their passion during college and pursue successful careers later in life. However, these are exceptional cases and it remains true that those who have proven themselves in high school tend to have higher rates of graduation from college.

If colleges want to best serve students and society, they should make an effort to select students that have proven themselves in the past. Higher student quality translates to a more efficient and effective education. Students who have not demonstrated a capability to think critically and study during high school will be less likely to graduate and even waste time and resources. Indeed, we need to change our perception of what constitutes a "worthy" path after high school in order to maintain the integrity of higher education, as well as open paths for students that will work best for them.