Essays on College Experience

Amy Cornell in the excerpt titled Fiscal Independence and the College Experience makes strong persuasive arguments regarding the eminent discrepancies in law in relation to the definition of financial independence and goes ahead to describe her struggles in college to make ends meet. She narrates her ordeal from early childhood, having to put up with financial struggles given her mother was an elementary school teacher and his dad an electrician running a mini-shop in the neighborhood. From the onset, she knew that her parents could not support her through college and she had to maneuver through the odds to ...

“Snapping Beans” by Lisa Parker is a narrative poem depicting a college-age girl and her relationship with her grandmother. Through an interaction about the speaker’s college experience, readers learn of the vast differences between the two women’s lives. The relationship between the two women appears loving and tender. One example of this is in lines 21-23 where the speaker describes how her grandmother touches her face: “She reached the leather of her hand / over the bowl and cupped / my quivering chin” (Parker, line 21-23). Nonetheless, despite the affection between them, they are clearly living in ...

Freshman year at college is one of the most important years in a college student’s life. Primarily, the reason for the importance and the anticipation of going to college is because students are bound to experience more freedom, more competitive education and a wholly different learning experience and atmosphere; altogether a lifestyle that will be starkly different from high school. However, a major question before a first-year college student is, whether they would prefer living on campus or off-campus. This is a topic of concern because many students enroll in colleges that are in a different State or ...

Much of the stress that is present during college is common knowledge, though a good deal of it becomes exaggerated and blown out of proportion for those who have yet to experience such a venue. Movies, television shows, and even the words of friends and family that have been through the college experience often tend to paint vivid pictures in the minds of future students. For many that picture ranges from viewing college as a place that is either made for hard work and great sacrifice to a place of non-stop partying and debauchery that is borderline illegal in ...

Introduction

Recent history, more so, the frequency of economic downturns over the past few decades, has championed the fact that college education is indeed a necessity towards social as well as economic advancement (Hughes, Serebryanikova, Donaldson &Leveritt, 2011). As more people focus on attaining college education, there are challenges that come to light. One of the most prevalent challenge being scarcity of economic means towards establishing direction towards setting out a brighter future path to greater success and opportunity for those from needy family backgrounds (Rondeau, 2007). Without a doubt, tuition fees present needy college students with the largest expense. ...

Part One: Labor Market Research

In general, an entry level accountant will need a bachelor’s degree, but more and more companies are asking for experience. So the problem for out-of-school college graduates is the onus to build experience even before they have landed their first job. According to Payscale, the median salary of an Accountant in the United States is $46,164. Note this is the median salary, so this means half of accountants make less than $46,164, and half of accountants make more than this amount. Geography certainly plays into the calibration of salary. According to the United States Department of Labor ...

When it comes to receiving a higher education, some still look down on community colleges, believing they are the lowest of the low. They do not see that community colleges can offer almost everything that a four-year university can offer in the way of education, as well as experience. Community colleges are also a cheaper alternative to four-year schools, given today’s economy. However, some areas that community colleges are lacking have become surprisingly crucial for students’ college experience. Many do not believe cafeterias are necessary on community college campuses; this is a problem. Cafeterias provide a central meeting place that allows students to ...

Paul Roberts’ use of the college experience is different as compared to Eggers' use of the college experience. The reason for this is that in Roberts’ case he does not give college examples from his own experience. Rather, in his essay he makes up a fictional situation where students are required to write a 500-word essay over the weekend. Eggers uses examples drawn from his own personal experience while at college. He discusses how he was able to utilize his free time volunteering. Another difference in the use of the college experience is how easy college students can relate to ...

In Louis Menand’s “Live and Learn: Why We Have College,” the author discussed the utility of a college education, and the different functions and expectations colleges have of its students. While there is not a lot of quantitative evidence used, it is tangential to his overall argument, which was emotional and pluralistic in nature. In essence, Menand believed there are two equally valid uses for education, encapsulated in two theories: one in which college is a gateway to a future career and financial rewards, and one where college is meant to be an avenue for learning and bettering oneself as a learner and ...

The life at college introduces us into a rich experience that is capable of shaping our welfare. Every person expects the college experience to change his or her ways in particular manner. College experience models individuals by making them develop important life and professional skills. When joining the college, most people expect to have good in their education, but mostly the reality turns out to be a sour experience (Bush 16). I present unique expectations, as I am motivated to complete my college studies and be successful as my role models. The paper highlights my expectations from the college education and ...

Reflection Paper

Part 1: Reflection on weekly journals Reflecting on the journals I wrote during my internship gave me the insight that the experience and my exposure to pre-K students taught me a lot life lessons that helped me mature both for my future career and for life in general. For one, my studies prepared me to face children who I initially thought to be easy to handle because teaching them entails much fun and play. However, my experience in the internship made me realize that handling children takes great skill and knowledge of learning development and psychology. I had ...

Minority Student Retention and Graduation Rates: Translating Quantitative Studies into Actionable Results

Minority students make up approximately one-third of total student enrollment in America’s post-secondary institutions. Recent studies have shown that approximately 40 percent of African-American students who enroll in four-year colleges and universities can expect to graduate, while slightly less than half of Hispanic students remain in school (Journal of Blacks in Higher Education, 2012). There are a number of key academic, financial and social factors that dictate low minority graduation rates in the United States, and each has been the subject of qualitative research aimed at understanding what should be done to bring about measurable improvement. There is a general ...

Activities

When I was a sophomore in high school, I was vice president of the Korean Club, an organization which sought to bring together Korean students, as well as educate others in Korean culture. The club was created in 2009 by myself and my friend, who acted as the president. While participating and running this club, I organized several activities to introduce Korean culture to the rest of my school and community. I taught basic Korean expressions and the Korean alphabet to my classmates and teachers. What's more, I served my fellow classmates traditional Korean foods, like Kim-Chi and Topokki. The ...

There are many reasons I wish to attend George Washington University, not the least of which being my commitment to a good education and to attending a diverse university. Given my intercultural experience, I feel I would be a very good fit for the George Washington University community. Being from South Korea, and living there most of my life until very recently, I have a great deal of knowledge regarding this unique and vibrant culture. I would consider it a great honor to offer this information and knowledge about my culture to those who would be interested, furthering the collective understanding of those who ...

3 July 2011

When strolling across the college lawn, it immediately becomes obvious who the different groups are and how they are contrasted. Their one common factor is that they are all reading – some may be reading textbooks, some may be reading classic literature and others may be looking through laptops or, in some instances – sketching. These distinguishing features are what separate college kids from one another. Some of them want a diploma in something specific – their subject; others want an education – a board overview of what is available in the world; the rest want a job – something that will utilise their ...