When I talked with 60 recent college graduates about the most valuable aspects of their college degree, no one described the learning that took place in a classroom. Instead, these young adults described leadership opportunities they had on campus, mentors they met through their on-campus jobs, and worldview-changing experiences like study abroad. These experiences sparked passions, introduced them to new people, and cultivated transferable skills they could use in their post-college careers.
Why are these quintessential college “campus life” experiences so important? They build what sociologists call social and cultural capital. The benefit of a college degree goes beyond the credential itself. When we talk about the value of a college degree, the intangible “squishy” elements that have nothing to do with what happens in a classroom are significant. The social aspects of college life which are so dangerous during a pandemic — the cramped residence halls, late-night student organization meetings in small offices, and communal dining areas — are actually instrumental to post-college success. Students build networks with their peers, gain access to university alumni, and find mentors among faculty and staff on campus. These networks provide guidance in identifying career pathways, obtaining summer internships, and learning about job openings. Throughout these experiences, students learn professional norms and how to signal their employability to future employers. …
We need to reckon with a higher education system that promises access, but disproportionately delivers advantage.
Why did rich parents cheat their children’s way into college?
While I’ll never think of Aunt Becky in the same way, it’s not surprising that wealthy parents paid a consultant to ensure their children were admitted to good colleges.
Why would these parents fraudulently scheme their children’s way into universities? Given the quoted consultant rate of $250,000 — $400,000 per student, we can assume the families who engaged in this practice:
- Live in good neighborhoods, which means they have quality K-12 public schools.
- Earn enough money (or have enough wealth) to afford private school tuition as an alternative to low-performing public schools.
- Can hire private tutors for SAT prep, bolstering their kids’ capacity to get a high score. …
How do you know if you’ve had an orgasm? This was a serious question I had at seventeen, and the answer certainly was not covered in my public school’s abstinence-only sex education program. We also didn’t talk about orgasms, masturbation, or other pleasurable aspects of sexuality at my church youth group. I didn’t know masturbation for women was even a thing until years later.
I received two overwhelming messages about sex as a teenager: one, it was only a permissible activity after marriage; and two, it was my job to stop guys who couldn’t control themselves from taking advantage of me. There were no conversations about my own sexual desires or agency. …
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