Wait—Look!

After the drama of university applications and wave of college decisions comes the vexing choice between institutions, which America considers the decision between possible futures.  The weight this choice carries and the factors used to determine the “best answer” reveal the views and values of American society. 

Parents want the best for their children, and press for the most prestigious option, revealing the thought that success leads to happiness, and name-brand universities substantially improve one’s chances for it.  Another crucial factor is price; parents favor sending their children to schools that will cost less money.  It seems logical that people would prefer to spend less money than spend more money, but what happened to “getting what you pay for” and “splurging for quality?”  People will pay the extra money to buy a sophisticated speaker system, or a top-of-the-line phone, or the nicest car they can afford, or that house they have really had their eye on.  If college is so crucial, why should the same logic not apply?  What makes spending extra thousands on a car or a house a better idea than spending that extra money on their child’s education, particularly given the belief that the choice will have an important bearing on the child’s future?

Of all the reasons to choose a college, the most celebrated is the concept of “fit:” the most academic and nurturing school that students feel at home in.  Of all the ways to determine fit, the most celebrated is a college visit.  Seeing the college for oneself, to view the buildings, sit in on classes, speak to current students, eat the food, and generally absorb the atmosphere is an excellent idea.  While fit plays into the American value of customization and the idea that there exists a single ideal that is perfect for each person, it also recognizes the importance of college as an experience instead of just as a means to an end.  Furthermore, it recognizes that some aspects of a place cannot be understood from a pamphlet, and that what seems incredible to one person, may not have the same effect on another.  So while some aspects of the college decision process reveal negative aspects of American culture, others demonstrate its strengths.