Who Should Be Allowed To Attend College

David Diaz

Jaques Steinberg in a New York Times article called “Are Too Many Students Going to College?” summarizes a debate hosted by the Chronicle of Higher Education. Steinberg gives the opinions stated by the experts chosen by the Chronicle, but he leaves it open for the reader’s opinion.

Steinberg’s article is merely a summarization of a debate hosted by the Chronicle of Higher Education. The Chronicle posed the question “Are Too Many Students Going to College?” to several experts. The general argument of those that said yes was that only 10 to 15 percent of potential students have the talent to succeed academically in a traditional college program. It is the belief of some people who support this argument that these students should not be allowed to attend college or at least not be subsidized by the government or university. On the other side, it has been argued that everyone deserves to further his or her education should be able to do so. Furthermore, these individuals should be able to do so without cost being an “insurmountable barrier.” Finally, Steinberg concludes by leaving his article open to further debate.

My argument on the subject is that college should be available to everyone who wants to further his or her education. However, entry requirements must be met in order to allow the college to screen out the individuals who do not possess the ability to succeed. In this way, colleges known for rigorous criteria may continue to offer extremely challenging and cutting edge education to those students capable of handling it. Other colleges, and two year universities can either prepare those who aren’t quite ready for a rigorous program to enter into a rigorous program, or can offer degrees worth less than those of a rigorous program. Everyone should be able to attend college, regardless of price, because the more education our nation has the stronger we will be. However, some colleges will be better than others and stronger students should be able to attend these colleges over weaker students. In conclusion, all should be allowed to further their studies, but only those capable of handling a specific college’s curriculum should be allowed to do so.

Steinberg summarizes an interesting debate hosted by the Chronicle. The Chronicle posed the question “Are Too Many Students Going to College?” The experts offered varying views saying either only certain students can handle a college curriculum and only these should attend or everyone should be allowed to further his or her education. Steinberg’s article was left open to further debate and so I offer the idea that anyone should be allowed to further his or her education, but only those capable of handling a specific college’s curriculum should be allowed to do so.