Summer 2 - College Choices

Draft 3

"American higher education is at a unique moment in its history" (Provenzo, 2013, p 392). This is because of how American College education has transformed from an option to a necessity. Colleges, in this current time are essential, even to get simple jobs such as working as an intern. College education has evolved to become an important key to making a successful life and that is why choosing the right college and majors is important for one’s future endeavors.

Colleges that I am applying to must meet what is needed for me educationally and my health needs One reason why University of Southern California is a school I’d like to attend is because, not only of the quality of their education, but also the fact that USC themselves have said on their college website that “USC students receive a great health benefits plan” (2017). With this added benefit, along with the fact that USC is a widely recognized school for their education is one reason why I’d like to go to school. USC is a great and widely known school but will it guarantee my success? This idea, is counted by the fact that “A name-brand college will not guarantee your success” O’Connell, (2011). What O’Connell says about this, is that colleges with big names such as Harvard, Princeton, or Yale; will not help you in your future. What does help then? Well, answering questions such as these will definitely help: “What she says will help is Why, really, are you going? What are your abilities and strengths? What are your weaknesses?” (O’Connell, 2017). Answering these questions will help you find the college that is right for you, and after answering these questions I realized that USC is still a good school, but it may not be a good choice for me, as I do not know if this school is right for me. This is supported by Julie J. Park who says that- "There is no one-size-fits-all answer to that question" (2013, 94). Dr. Park is an assistant professor of education at the University of Maryland, College Park. She is quite credible in what she says about choosing the right college. She knows what the process is like for students when choosing a career. Knowing this, I must find a college that suits my ideal career path.

“For this feeling of wonder shows that you are a philosopher, since wonder is the only beginning of philosophy” (Plato 155D, 369 BCE). This is how Plato, one of the many great philosophers of all time would describe philosophy and it is for this reason why I chose Philosophy as a major. Philosophy is one major I would like to take, because of how it can help me as “Students who learn philosophy get a great many benefits from doing so. The tools taught by philosophy are of great use in further education, and in employment” (University of Washington 2017). Philosophy, in another definition, means a belief held by one person. Another reason for me wanting to take philosophy is due to how it can help me get into a good law career but, why take philosophy, why not Political Science? The path to a law is varied because “Although the major is not important, courses in fields such as philosophy, logic, history, economics, computer science, math, and the physical and social sciences may be helpful” (University of California Santa Cruz, 2017). Philosophy students learn how to ask questions and how to answer them. Which is very important in law, especially criminal law. This is one reason why I want to major in Philosophy.

Political Science, is another recommended Pre-Law major. In fact, this major studies “the way human communities shape and share a common life through their institutional practices, ideas, interests, and expectations” (USC Santa Cruz, 2017). Political Science with an emphasis on Law is structured around the fundamentals of Law. This is argued by another college,in which they argue that (reword) “Law schools are primarily interested in students who possess strong analytical and communication skills” (University of California Santa Cruz 2017). .It seems that any major is accepted as long as one is able to think and analyze. This is supported with Univeristy of Souther California Santa Cruz’s explanation of how “the study of politics can constitute the center of a broad-based course of study drawing on history, sociology, anthropology, philosophy, economics, literature, science, and law” (2017). So, what is the right major? The answer is that there is no right answer, Law schools look at your LSAT scores along with a few different factors, then deciding whether or not to admit you is the right choice. So, as long as one is able to synthesize and answer questions on the LSAT well, then one is almost guaranteed to go to a good law school.

This is the path I have chosen to take, when going to college. The path of Philosophy and Law. These are both important to the society as without wonder and Philosophy, we would not have science, and without Law, there is no order and there is no functional society.

Draft 2

"American higher education is at a unique moment in its history" (Provenzo, 2013, p 392). This is because of how American College education has transformed from an option to a necessity. Colleges, in this current time are essential, even to get simple jobs such as working as an intern. College education has evolved to become an important key to making a successful life and that is why choosing the right college and majors is important for one’s future endeavors.

Colleges that I am applying to must meet what is needed for me educationally and my health needs One reason why University of Southern California is a school I’d like to attend is because, not only of the quality of their education, but also the fact that USC themselves have said on their college website that “USC students receive a great health benefits plan” (2017). With this added benefit, along with the fact that USC is a widely recognized school for their education is one reason why I’d like to go to school. USC is a great and widely known school but will it guarantee my success? This idea, is counted by the fact that “A name-brand college will not guarantee your success” O’Connell, (2011). What O’Connell says about this, is that colleges with big names such as Harvard, Princeton, or Yale; will not help you in your future. What does help then? Well, answering questions such as these will definitely help: “What she says will help is Why, really, are you going? What are your abilities and strengths? What are your weaknesses?” (O’Connell, 2017). Answering these questions will help you find the college that is right for you, and after answering these questions I realized that USC is still a good school, but it may not be a good choice for me, as I do not know if this school is right for me. This is supported by Julie J. Park who says that- "There is no one-size-fits-all answer to that question" (2013, 94). Dr. Park is an assistant professor of education at the University of Maryland, College Park. She is quite credible in what she says about choosing the right college. She knows what the process is like for students when choosing a career. Knowing this, I must find a college that suits my ideal career path.

“For this feeling of wonder shows that you are a philosopher, since wonder is the only beginning of philosophy” (Plato 155D, 369 BCE). This is how Plato, one of the many great philosophers of all time would describe philosophy and it is for this reason why I chose Philosophy as a major. Philosophy is one major I would like to take, because of how it can help me as “Students who learn philosophy get a great many benefits from doing so. The tools taught by philosophy are of great use in further education, and in employment” (University of Washington 2017). Philosophy, in another definition, means a belief held by one person. Another reason for me wanting to take philosophy is due to how it can help me get into a good law career but, why take philosophy, why not Political Science? The path to a law is varied because “Although the major is not important, courses in fields such as philosophy, logic, history, economics, computer science, math, and the physical and social sciences may be helpful” (University of California Santa Cruz, 2017). Philosophy students learn how to ask questions and how to answer them. Which is very important in law, especially criminal law. This is one reason why I want to major in Philosophy.

Political Science, is another recommended Pre-Law major. In fact, this major studies “the way human communities shape and share a common life through their institutional practices, ideas, interests, and expectations” (USC Santa Cruz, 2017). Political Science with an emphasis on Law is structured around the fundamentals of Law. This is argued by another college,in which they argue that (reword) “Law schools are primarily interested in students who possess strong analytical and communication skills” (University of California Santa Cruz 2017). .It seems that any major is accepted as long as one is able to think and analyze. This is supported with Univeristy of Souther California Santa Cruz’s explanation of how “the study of politics can constitute the center of a broad-based course of study drawing on history, sociology, anthropology, philosophy, economics, literature, science, and law” (2017). So, what is the right major? The answer is that there is no right answer, Law schools look at your LSAT scores along with a few different factors, then deciding whether or not to admit you is the right choice. So, as long as one is able to synthesize and answer questions on the LSAT well, then one is almost guaranteed to go to a good law school.

This is the path I have chosen to take, when going to college. The path of Philosophy and Law. These are both important to the society as without wonder and Philosophy, we would not have science, and without Law, there is no order and there is no functional society.

References

Park, J. J., & Pardes-Collins, K. (2013). Spirituality and religion in higher education. In J. L. Devitis Contemporary colleges and universities: A reader (94-105). New York, NY: Peter Lang.

Plato, McDowell, J., & Brown, L. (369 BCE). Theaetetus. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Provenzo, E. F., Jr. (2013.). Computing, scholarship, and learning. In J. L. Devitis Contemporary colleges and universities: A reader (392-402). New York, NY: Peter Lang.

University of California Santa Cruz. (2017, July). Law School. Retrieved September 19, 2017, from https://careers.ucsc.edu/student/ConsiderGraduateorProfessionalSchool/law_school1/index.html

University of California Santa Cruz. (2017, June 29). Politics. Retrieved from https://registrar.ucsc.edu/catalog/programs-courses/program-statements/poli.html

O'Connell, M. (2011, February 21). How To Choose A College That's Right For You. Retrieved from http://www.npr.org/2010/12/08/7506102/how-to-choose-a-college-that-s-right-for-you

University of Southern California. (2017). USC Student Health Insurance Plan. Retrieved from engemannshc.usc.edu

University of Washington. (2017, July). Why Study Philosophy? Retrieved from https://phil.washington.edu/why-study-philosophy