Are Colleges Requiring Students to Reach Their Full Potential

Abstract

This paper explores three published articles that describe the intensity of the various levels of rigorous course load in college. The context of the articles tended to believe that colleges needed a rigorous course load in order to prepare themselves for the inevitable future. Due to the statistics, the authors realized that as students we lack the ability to work hard and challenge ourselves to improve our work ethic. By discussing the complex issue behind the importance of how precise college students are able to retain information, the authors are able to notify readers about the knowledge required in a career.

Are Colleges Requiring Students to Reach Their Full Potential:

 A Review of the Literature

            When a high school student is applying to college they are unaware of the intensity of college life. The readings read in class were able to inform the reader about the complex issue regarding the intensity of college course loads. In addition, they are over viewing the controversial topic that colleges are focusing on providing rigorous assignments in order for them to familiarize them with the amount of work they will see in the future. Therefore, by learning how to cope with rigorous course load there is a greater chance of maintaining a higher-level job.

What Causes Academic Rigor?

            At the start of a college, career students are aware that their college courses are more intense than what they had in high school. This ensures that the student will be able to connect what they are learning to the methods used later in life. Therefore, when teaching a class of college level students, the professor “must become conscientious, caring, and attentive to every corner of their classrooms” (Hacker & Dreifus, 2010, p. 180). Professors should be able to recognize that the students taking the course are able to retain the information talked about during class time.

            Outside of the classroom, students must understand the material so that they are able to apply themselves to complete all the homework and writing assignments. Therefore, the professors make “the content specific to [their] course or discipline and the academic skills students need to be able to critique complex readings, carry out research and write college level papers” (Schnee, E, 2008, p. 67). Allowing each student to participate in rigorous writing assignments, professors must encourage the students to reach their full potential in and outside of the classroom. In addition, the professors give the students room for “Improvement in thinking and writing skills require[d] [in] academic engagement” (Arum & Roksa, 2011).

Why Is College Rigor Necessary?

            When a student finally graduates, they are required to be able to apply their academic skills and allow themselves to propel and to work harder in the workforce as well as later in live. Therefore,

they [are able to] advocate a conception of rigor that involves deep, critical, inquiry-based learning that pushes students to new levels of academic accomplishment and recognizes the importance of sufficient scaffolding for all students to reach high standards. They argue passionately for the supports and resources necessary to make rigor an attainable goal for all WEP (Worker education program) students (Schnee, E, 2008, p. 64).

This results in a requirement for people in the work force to be prepared for the future in their career. Thus, they are able to improve their daily workload and social skills.

            Once a semester in college starts, the professors must be aware of the whole curriculum for the class. Moreover, they prepare the class in a way that makes sure “the course is taught in a way that is interesting to students” (Hacker & Dreifus, 2010 p. 187). Causing students to participate more in class and pay more attention to the topics said will prepare them more for the future. An example of a less attentive student who is “poorly prepared for the future, having spent four (or more) years of college with only modest academic demands that produced only limited improvement in the skills necessary to be successful in today's knowledge-based economy” (Arum & Roksa, 2011). This resulted in a decline in the information determined to make higher class employees focused on improving themselves in the future.

Photograph of a meeting on a corporate level with employees contributing into the discussion. Source http://www.zimbio.com/Virtual+Administrative+Assistant/articles/cpclkZrig3M/Corporate+Business+Administration+Management

My Experience on Academic Rigor

            Before I introduce the challenge that came with college rigor, I must inform you about how I realized how important it was to maintain a rigorous course load. At the end of my sophomore year, I was called down to the guidance office to talk about what I was thinking of doing as a career in my future. Then I explained to him how I wanted to focus on being a physician and go to a college for pre-med. At that moment, he began to inform me that I was not going to be able to be admitted into college and I would have to go to community college where my credits could transfer over to a state school.

Over that summer, I began contemplating various ideas, often referring to the steps that would help me become successful. Then I came to the realization that the years at community college would restrict me from graduating on time due to lack of credits able to transfer. With weeks left of the summer I decided to make the bold choice to transfer to Central Catholic High School, which is a private school that focuses on students continuing their education.

At the start of the upcoming school year, I decided to work hard in each of my academic classes as well as dedicating much time to being a student athlete. Three weeks into the school year my French teacher noticed that the material we were going over in class was too advanced compared to my previous teachings. This resulted in me being a year behind in the subject, which only encouraged me to work ten times harder in all my classes and to follow through with my dream of being accepted to a college.

Throughout the course of my junior year, I recognized how helpful the school actually was towards students who wanted to advance with their education. For example, I had one teacher that was known to have the most rigorous course in the school and he helped me maintain a B average. This in turn helped me focus hard and allowed me to able to complete the given assignments.

Conclusion

            Throughout adolescence to young adult years, students must be aware of the rigorous course load that is required to maintain a stable job. Thus, this allows them to incorporate the complex critical thinking methods used in the daily lifestyles used in the real world. The importance of college rigor can only be beneficial to students as they enter the real world.

References

Arum, R.,  Roksa, J. (2011, June 02). College, too easy for its own good. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved from http://www.latimes.com/

Dreifus, C., Hacker, A. (2010). Are colleges worth the price of admission? In Birkenstien, C., Graff, G (Eds.) They Say/ I Say: The moves that matter in academic writing with readings. pp. 179-188. New York City, New York: W.W. Norton.

Schnee, E. (2008). In the real world no one drops their standards for you: Academic rigor in a college worker education program. Equity & Excellence In Education, 41(1), 62-80. doi:10.1080/10665680701764502