How to write a debate paper

Friday, August 21, 2020

QA

QA Hey all! Time for another round of QA. A few general comments: 1) Easily-Googleable questions make me grumpy. Ex: what is the application deadline? or how many letters of recommendation do I need? Please ask the Internet for logistical questions before you ask me. 2) When I receive questions via e-mail, I have one of two responses: respond immediately, or file away and respond when I have longer chunks of free time (these chunks do not come by with great regularity). Sometimes I get e-mails with literally dozens of questions, all stacked together. There isnt necessarily anything wrong with that (unless a subset of those questions violate (1)) but its worth letting you know that really really long e-mails will often go into the respond later or respond much later pile. 3) For whatever reason, asking questions in the comments section of a blog post seems to have become a thing of the past, even though site traffic hasnt decreased at all. If you post your question there, you have a few advantages: youre likely to get a response more quickly, because current MIT students read the blogs as well, and you will get more diverse responses, because I unfortunately represent 1/4000th of the undergraduate population. So, Id encourage your generation to bring the comments section questions back! Phew. Okay. I think thats it. Moving onto e-mails from you all Z. H. asked, Do you read the essays? The answer is no, I have no input whatsoever on the admissions process. NONE! A.S. said, I just learned that my AP Calculus AB grade for my first semester is not a B+, but a C+. My teacher hadnt properly input my final exam score into the schools grading systemâ€¦ Id love to go to MIT. I want to major in Economics, and Id love to attend a school that is strongly scientific and result-oriented. I had a good application and a fantastic interview, but I think Ive just ruined my chances. I truly empathize with your situation in Quantum II class. I hope that things even out for you soon. I said, Thanks for your message. Im sorry to hear about what happened in AP Calc. Sometimes when Im bummed out about something, I try to imagine what it will look like to me a few years down the road. You may look back and think wow, that C+ really ruined everything alternatively, you might look back and think wow, you know, Im really glad I got that C+, because it motivated me to put in a bunch of work to fill in the gaps in my mathematical background, and Im way better off for it. How you feel down the road is up to you now :) But yeah I do empathize with you. Im a little freaked out that it may have ruined my grad school chances, but Im confident that Im a good applicant in other respects and Im sure things will work out. A.S. replied, Based on what Ive read on the MIT blog, youre crazy awesome. Presumably, graduate schools want to admit crazy awesome people, so obviously you should get in. I hope you get into your favorite school so that youre happy, but if not, its quite literally their loss. On the calculus front, my teacher agreed to raise my grade to a B on the condition that I get a B or higher by the end of the second semester. We both agreed that such a thing was very feasibleI always do better in semester 2. Ill be going to more study sessions and doing more practice problems, as well. Hardly the most exciting of plans, but its nice to have an outline for the battle to come. Thanks, bro. Battle on! V. M. asked, Over here at my school, we arent taught any foreign language. The languages taught here are English, Hindi and Malayalam of which English is my first language and Hindi my second. So I would I be able to fulfill that requirement by learning Hindi? Unfortunately I dont know anything about that best to direct e-mails like that to the admissions office. M. B. said, I spoke with some counselors at the community college Im attending for the next two years in place of my high school junior and senior yearsIn a totally unexpected turn of events, I will actually finish with Higher Level Calculus I, II, and III as well as Physics based Calculus I, II, and III, Differential Equations, linear Algebra, and a LOT of coding experience, which is particularly important to me. I am SO excited that I get to take these classes but I worry that I wont be able to handle it or that Ill overload myself and have a mental breakdown?! Alternatively, I worry Ill struggle too much and inherently have a suffering GPA because I took classes that I wasnt prepared for. The counselors at the college assure me that by the end of this year I will have had all the pre-college math I need in order to do well in Calculus 1, but I suppose some amount of uncertainty is natural on my part. I replied, The community college courses sound awesome! I sympathize with the fear of, you know, ruining yourself by taking more than you can handle. Let me pass on some advice that I got from Cathy Modica, the MIT Physics academic administrator, who has been around for a while and has seen a lot of undergrads come and go. She told me that she always encourages students to challenge themselves in other words, when theres a should I take this class? Im worried that itll be too hard she encourages them to decide yes!, because even if you dont get an A+ you learn a lot by stretching yourself and even surprise yourself by how much youre able to take on. That said, if you really find that youre WAY out of your depth so much so that youre not going to learn then pull out. I imagine that that will continue to be an option. So Id say go for it! Also, with those classes, you will be very well prepared for MIT :) Q. D. (a transfer applicant from California) asked, What kind of research opportunities does MIT provide for its undergraduate Physics students? Why did you choose to major in Physics? Is the transfer admission process handled by the same people who deal with freshmen admission? Why did you go to MIT? Whats bad about MIT? I replied (frantically, from an airport), Research opportunities: all kinds, from beginner stuff (simple coding, electronics, experimental stuff) to more advanced theoretical work for those with the requisite coursework. Why I chose physics: I liked my classes in physics, and the department here is absolutely fabulous. The professors are very invested in the undergraduates (which is not the norm for high-quality research institutions!) which to me is the most important thing. Also, there are great opportunities for doing research. Transfer admissions: I actually dont know anything about that, Im sorryâ€¦ Im actually not 100% sure why I went to MIT it was kind of a gut thing. I showed up for CPW, loved it. I also had been reading the blogs for many years, and felt comfortable with the place. There are the obvious things like GREAT UNDERGRAD RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES! and SMART PEOPLE! etc, but in the end I think it was a feeling that I would be happy here and certainly, Ive had a good time. That said, there have been very rough patches. The atmosphere isnt competitive, exactly, and people are good about working together, but every individual is incredibly competitive with him or herself. Were all used to being the best, I guess, so we can be very hard on ourselves. Id say that student low self-confidence and high self-imposed pressure is the worst thing about this place. It makes for kind of a stressful environment. U. V. asked, Any tips on writing? I replied, Read a lot of good writing, and write a lot. P. G. from India asked, I have sent in all my college applications before the deadline, and am now enduring the nerve-wracking period of waiting for the decisions. While my MIT admissions interview has been waived (owing to a lack of interviewers in my area), I do have upcoming interviews for some other schools. Would you have any suggestions regarding the college interview? It would certainly help a lot. Maybe a few general guidelines. I replied, Congratulations on having submitted all your apps! Advice on the interviews: if these are US schools (interviews work differently in other countries) then I would suggest thinking of it like any conversation with an interesting person. You want to find out about this person (and MIT!) but also want to communicate certain things about yourself. Relax, and let it be casual. It helped me to think in advance about the kinds of questions they might ask (what my interests are, what I do for fun, etc) so that I could have answers prepared but I didnt rehearse anything. N. L. asked, I have an equal passion for both the humanities and science/math fields. However,I am stronger in the humanities. Math and science are a challenge for me. I often stay after school to get tutoring from my teachers/other students. I was wondering what the average class size at MIT is. Also, are the professors available to help students one on one after class? I replied, I also have equal passions for the humanities and science/math fields and Im also stronger in the humanities. Unfortunately, average class sizes at MIT are very big, for beginner (freshman) subjectsoften hundreds of students. As you get more advanced and more specialized, class sizes get much smaller. That said, professors and Teaching Assistants are available to help at least in the physics department, theyre very easy to get in touch with and reach out to. Not necessarily directly after class, but each has a special set of office hours when you can drop by and get help. N. L. wrote back, Regarding the beginner freshman classes, I was wondering how how quickly material in class is covered. In my AP physics class we usually learn the whole chapter within a few days. Im a slower learner who needs lots of reinforcement before grasping a concept and the fast pace weve been going at has been a struggle for me to keep up with. I wrote back, It really depends on the version of the freshman class. For intro physics mechanics, for example, there are multiple versions: 8.01L, 8.01, and 8.012, which cover the topic at wildly different levels of rigor and pace. I also need a lot of reinforcement to grasp a concept, and classes here have been difficult for me. Granted, there is always help available if you ask for it. Its worth bearing in mind that you cant spend all your time getting extra help and if you always need extra help, in all your classes, this probably isnt the right place for you, or you havent picked the right level / number of classes. Its really difficult to give you advice on your situation, because I havent taken your AP physics class, so I cant really compare the pace to the pace of an MIT class. It is certainly true that if you dont enjoy the challenge, you will probably not enjoy MIT classestheyre not easy for anyone. A. J. asked, Is coding really required for physicists? I replied, Yes, coding is definitely required for physicists! I. S. asked, Anyway, because it is very competitive to get into schools such as MIT, I understand that it is important to do what is enjoyable in school in terms of both academics and extracurriculars. I really enjoy doing cross country and roboticsâ€¦but I havent really won major awards in high school Ive won some awards in cross country, but in terms of academics, I havent won any departmental awards. Though I have been in the math club, I havent won gold medals or any other type of recognition in a competition. However, I feel that I would still be able to write well about what I enjoy doing in my college applications. Would my lack of qualifications in awards be taken negatively by schools such as MIT? Or would it depend on the application as a whole (as they are evaluated holistically)? I really enjoyed the learning environment of the schools I visited, but sometimes, I worry that the admissions officers might question my qualifications because of my lack of awards/recognitions. I replied, Youre right; it is (outrageously) competitive to get into schools like MIT nowadays. So much so that acceptance is really down to luck, and whether you can somehow distinguish yourself from the zillions of other applicants. Distinguish can mean win every math award ever offered by the United States of America or win one gold medal per day since birth and I have classmates that fall into that category. However, it can also mean having a particularly thoughtful, kind character, which shines through on your application. It can mean taking a handful of AP classes, despite not going to a school that offers *any* AP classes. Basically, the goal of the admissions office is to identify applicants who will succeed here, and demonstrating the *potential* to succeed is just as important as having already succeeded. In other words, showing that youre the kind of person who *will* do awesome things here (who is brave, resourceful, etc) is as important if not more important than being able to l ist 20 awards that youve won. Im so (SO) glad to hear that youve been doing activities that you enjoy. Too many high schoolers think that the key to college admissions success is doing activities that will look good on their application and they ignore what they are naturally drawn to doing. I dont know you very well, but I can tell you that MIT will absolutely evaluate your application holistically, and that a laundry list of awards is NOT necessary for admission. A. T. asked, I dont know why am I telling you all this and Im sorry to ramble on this way but Ive always wanted to go to college at MIT ever since Ive known about the place; its just that I feel I havent done anything significant in the past 17 years of my life to be thought of as good enough to attend MITâ€¦I was hoping you could tell me what does it really take to get in and whether or not I still have a shot at getting in. I replied, First of all, saying that you havent done anything significant in 17 years doesnt make much sense. Youve definitely done things that were important to your family, your friends. Sure, maybe youve never been on the news but most of us havent. The phrase good enough to attend MIT also doesnt make much senseâ€¦we get admitted here because were a good fit, and that can mean a lot of different things. To get in, it takes a demonstration that you will thrive here. That you will be able to succeed academically AND socially. I dont know you very well, so I have no sense at all for whether that would be true for you. If you think you would be a good fit, then apply, and see what happens! S. S. asked, Ive had a fascination with space, physics, and math and science in general since I was small, and I think I would probably like to pursue a career in a related field. I dont think that Im interested in a teaching/professorship position though. I know that there must be research positions out there but I dont know much about them, and generally when I look for information on jobs in these fields I find a lot of results about academia. Do you think that you could tell me a little more about career options besides tech/engineering available for someone interested in studying the sciences? I replied, There are definitely options other than teaching or being in academia. For example, I work at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory, which is an NSF-funded institution and is made up of staff scientists, not professors. I really like the environment, and Id be happy to tell you more about it if you have particular questions. Other similar places include national labs, like the Sandia National Laboratories in New Mexico, or the Los Alamos National Labs. These places tend to do a lot of defense-related work, but they have cognitive science departments and definitely hire a lot of physicists. There are also communities of researchers at (some) museums. S. S. responded, I think my parents are a little concerned that if I major in a pure science like physics or even chemistry, rather than something with more obvious applications (engineering or something similar) that I will have a harder time finding a job. Is it very hard to find work with a physics degree? Also, do you kind of need to have a Ph.D or will a bachelors or a masters get you a good job? If I were to pursue a Ph.D or grad school, are there similar amounts of financial aid available? My parents and I are probably going to have enough trouble with just paying for the bachelors and I dont know how expensive grad school is. Do you know much about how jobs and research opportunities in Europe compare to those in the U.S.? Are there similar opportunities available? I heard or read somewhere that in some of the bigger, more basic classes at MIT, you ended up teaching yourself a lot of the material, rather than it being taught to you. I took the majority of my high school classes online through community colleges so Im no stranger to that learning method but I was curious if you agreed that that was the case. Also, are there a lot of physics majors at MIT? And as a blogger, do you get a lot of emails from random people such as myself? I replied, I guess it depends on what kind of job youre hoping to have. Actually, a lot of companies (for example, financial institutions) really like hiring people with physics degrees! And you definitely dont need a Ph.D. in physics to get a good job you really need a Ph.D. for academia (research, teaching at the college level, etc.) There are some good resources online; the American Physical Society has a thing about careers for physicists in the US. In any case, once you get to college, you will have the opportunity to talk about this stuff in more detail with company representatives, professors, and upperclassmen, before you have to make a decision about a major. So you have plenty of time, but its good to start doing some research now! You actually dont have to pay for grad school in physics YOU get paid! Its considered a full-time job (and, really, it is youre working all the time.) Youre paid (albeit not very much) to do research :) Europe: depends what you want to do! I know that in my particular field (astronomy) there are a lot of really strong research institutions in Europe. Not sure about other areas of physics. For me, learning in college has certainly required more independence than learning in High School did. Thats because I went to a really small school, so had a lot of guaranteed interactions with teachers. If a student didnt do his/her homework, the teacher intervened and tried to work with the situation. On the other hand, college classes are so much bigger that you often slip by being anonymous if you fall behind, there wont necessarily be someone to push you and make you turn in your homework on time. All that said, there are a lot of resources available for people with enough initiative to take them; at MIT in particular, Ive found the professors to be REALLY helpful you just have to make a point to get in touch with them, and take advantage of the available resources! There are, relatively, quite a lot of physics majors at MIT. I think that in a given year (~1000) there are about 80 physics majors. Departments like computer science/electrical engineering, and mechanical engineering, are a lot bigger though. Depends what you mean by a lot :) I usually get a couple of e-mails a week. QA Sometimes, I receive e-mails from prospective students. I posted a batch of them here, and I think that the time has come to do so again. A high school senior asked: I am applying to some schools in the US for undergraduate studiesI am extremely passionate about Physics myself and am seriously considering it as a career path. However, I dont know whether I should select Physics or an Engineering course as my major during undergraduate studies. Would engineering provide a broader base from which I can then go into Physics or should I stick with Physics itself? -and- My MIT admissions interview has been waived by the admissions office, citing a lack of interviewers in my region. Will this adversely affect my chances of getting admission? Is there a way I can still have the interview? My response: When you get there, take classes in both departments and see which suits you better. Personally, I dont think that engineering provides a broad base for physics at all. The approaches in the two fields are very different. It would probably be much easier to start with physics and go into engineering laterbut again, you should see what the professionals and professors say once you get there :) -and- That will not adversely affect your chance of getting in; dont worry about it. A prospective student said: Hi. Awesome postJust thought Id bring a typo to your notice. The 19th or so paragraph reads Pulitzer Prices. and I replied: Whoops. Thanks for letting me know! My most loyal, dedicated reader (dad) gave (regularly gives) me: A list of typos from my most recent blog post. Thanks Dad! A prospective transfer applicant asked: What kind of research opportunities does MIT provide for its undergraduate Physics students? Why did you choose to major in Physics? Why did you go to MIT? Whats bad about MIT? I responded, after taking a moment to blink the jetlag out of my eyes and wipe the sweat off my forehead: Im sort of in the middle of a bunch of traveling, so my answer wont be able to be too long, but Ill do my best- Research opportunities: all kinds, from beginner stuff (simple coding, electronics, experimental stuff) to more advanced theoretical work for those with the requisite coursework. Why I chose physics: I liked my classes in physics, and the department here is absolutely fabulous. The professors are very invested in the undergraduates (which is not the norm for high-quality research institutions!) which to me is the most important thing. Also, there are great opportunities for doing research. Im actually not 100% sure why I went to MIT it was kind of a gut thing. I showed up for CPW, loved it. I also had been reading the blogs for many years, and felt comfortable with the place. There are the obvious things like GREAT UNDERGRAD RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES! and SMART PEOPLE! etc, but in the end I think it was a feeling that I would be happy here and certainly, Ive had a good time. That said, there have been very rough patches. The atmosphere isnt competitive, exactly, and people are good about working together, but every individual is incredibly competitive with him or herself. Were all used to being the best, I guess, so we can be very hard on ourselves. Id say that student low self-confidence and high self-imposed pressure is the worst thing about this place. It makes for kind of a stressful environment. A lot of people ask me about: The TOEFL. My response is always something like: I know very little about the TOEFL much better to ask an admissions officer for this one. A high school sophomore asked: (Paraphrased): MIT is my dream school, but people have been telling me that in order to get in you MUST take this one IB exam, and my school doesnt offer it. My school offers very few subjects. Heres a list of the classes I *can* take, and heres a list of all the extracurricular activities that Im involved with. Do I have any chance of getting in?? I replied: Thanks for getting in touch. It sounds like youre involved with lots of awesome activities, which is great! If a course isnt offered at your school, MIT will not penalize you for not having the chance to take it. That said, with something like math, you are expected to be at a certain level when you get here MIT recommends having some Calculus. Two things: 1) Not being able to take a specific class doesnt prevent you from learning the material. You could, for example, self-study, or take the class at a local college. 2) MIT DOES have options for people who come in with a more limited math background theres a summer program for incoming students to sort of catch up. Some people do come in without any calculus; its just rare. Presumably they demonstrated, some other way, that they would be able to come in with a different background and still succeed. The real goal of admissions: determine whether you will succeed here. Sometimes that means having a particularly high level of math experience. If you can prove to admissions that you will be able to succeed, then you have a good chance of getting in :) Beyond that, Im afraid I cant be of much help. If youre really worried, get in touch with an admissions officer. Sometimes people ask me about: Transfer admissions. I always say: No idea, Im sorry. Ask an admissions officer. A high school senior asked me for: Advice on the interview. I replied: Think of it like any conversation with an interesting person. You want to find out about this person (and MIT!) but also want to communicate interesting things about yourself. Relax, and let it be casual. It helped me to think in advance about the kinds of questions they might ask (what my interests are, what I do for fun, etc) so that I wouldnt have to sit there thinking for ages. A high school senior said, as part of a longer e-mail: I really want to study chemical engineering at MIT and have no intention of choosing any other course or attending any other university. -and- I know that there isnt, and shouldnt, be a list of things to do to get into MIT. Though the admissions office looks at your list of achievements and capabilities and your essays and only then do they decide to interview you. So what im asking is how do i put my passion down on paper and my capability in a bullet-point list? What kind of events, activities etc should i be participating that i can write down in this list where my passion, for what i want to become, will come through? Very alarmed, I replied: Im glad to hear that youre so enthusiastic about MIT, but its always alarming to hear people say things like I have no intention of attending any other university. There are a lot of very, very good universities, that are just as good as MIT in lots of ways. Please dont limit your interests to one school whether you get into MIT will ultimately come down to luck, so youre setting yourself up for a lot of unhappiness down the line if you close doors in your mind so early. Be open to, and be excited about, other possibilities! Youre right the admissions process is unfortunately not perfect at really getting to know somebody. And youre right that there isnt a list of things one ought to do in order to get in. Do note that they dont decide whether to interview you they interview all candidates that they physically can, as far as Im aware. So, yeah there is no list of things to do to get in. No one activity is better than another: the best activities are the ones you truly enjoy, and arent just doing to look good to MIT. If you do things you really enjoy, then are honest on your application (talk about the activities youve devoted the most energy/time to, etc) then I think you can trust that that excitement and commitment will come through. The answer to what kind of events, activities etc should I be participating in? is the ones you care about. Its really that simple. Obviously, keep it legal and safe =P but other than that the stuff youre already doing sounds awesome. Way too many people* ask: *people who havent read my QA blog posts carefully enough Heres my GPA, my SAT scores, my list of extracurricular activities. What are my chances of getting in????? Depending on my mood, I may respond to this explaining that I am in no position to evaluate things like this, that I am not at all involved in the admissions process, that there is so much context that I dont know about that I REALLY CANNOT ANSWER THIS QUESTION. Or, I might just not answer. PLEASE DONT ASK ME THIS QUESTION. Sometimes, people send me: Links to fun websites or videos, since youre interested in physics and other cool stuff like that (to quote one HS senior.) These spontaneous e-mails: Make me happy that the world has become such a connected place. Thank you! A high school senior asked: In my country, high schools are fairly different there were very few extracurricular activities. From what I see from the blogs, most accepted applicants were very active in clubs or teams during their high school years. Unfortunately, I do not have this option and I fear that it will hurt my chances somehow. Also, there are no advanced classes here, they are standard for all studentsadvanced classes also sound pretty importantfor getting into MIT, and, again, I could not have taken them as my school does not offer them. I replied: Admissions evaluates an applicant within his or her context. If your school doesnt, for example, offer AP classes, you will not be penalized for not taking AP classes. That said, the committee looks for evidence that the applicant tried hard to take classes that were challenging you shouldnt let yourself go through school feeling bored! Many students at schools without AP classes will take classes at a local community college, or online, for example. A high school senior asked: What sorts of extracurricular things did you put on your application? I replied: The sorts of things I had on my application were all activities that I was heavily involved with in high school. These were activities I got involved with simply because I enjoyed them. Thats all you need to worry about: finding things you care about and enjoy! They wont be the same as what I did because we are different people. For that reason, I avoid telling applicants what was on my application; Im worried about instilling some idea that theres a right thing to do. A prospective student asked: With the rigors of the physics major at MIT, do you have time left over for extracurricular activities? Does the academic rigor inhibit other opportunities, like research? I replied: As with any major at MIT, the work is difficult but its a matter of finding the right balance for you. If you pile on as many classes as its physically possible to take, you probably wont have time for other activities. If you prioritize having other activities, then you would choose to only do two or three physics classes, probably. I would say that the academic rigor only inhibits other opportunities as much as you allow it to. Most physics majors I know, do research as well as a couple of other activities so its definitely possible! A high school junior asked: Im a high school junior who has fallen in love with MIT. After reading the admissions blogs, the Tech, and pretty much everything about the school I could find, Ive found out that the academics and culture and basically everything are amazing and exactly what Ive wished for in a school. But theres one thing thats bothering me. Im a writer, and have devoted most of my time into creative writing-related things. I know youve said before that its very important for scientists to be good writers, and that theres a lot of writing involved in science, which does make me feel better, butâ€¦ Im not that great at science. Check that, I dont think Im very good at all. I dont really struggle in any of my classes except math and science, and Im having a terrible time in physics right now. I mean, I like science, and Im okay at math when I understand it, but Im more right-brained, and stuff that involves logical thinking and, for lack of better term, sciency stuff is difficult for me. Im not necessarily worried about being happy at MIT (I really love being around people who are talented in math and science and seeing all the cool stuff they do, I know MITs known for its really supportive culture, and I just have this really deep, unexplainable gut feeling that I would be happy there), but Im worried about the admissions process and being asked about my interests in fields that involve math and science. My lowest grades and test scores are in those areas, and I havent participated in that many STEM-related extracurriculars, and Im not sure that, if I was accepted, I would decide to major in a scientific field as opposed to writing. Do you have any advice? I replied: Thanks for your message! I have a few thoughts on your situation. The first is that theres a difference between finding science hard, and not liking it. I find science hard. I find math hard. But I like both of them, and thats why Im at MIT studying physics. I think that liking it is more important than being good at it, because liking will often lead becoming better. That said, as Im sure youre aware after reading everything about MIT ever, everyone at MIT must take a certain amount of math and science. Everyone takes Intro Mechanics (8.01) and Intro Electricity Magnetism (8.02). Everyone takes math through multivariable calculus. Everyone takes biology. Everyone takes chemistry. Freshman year, for most people, is made up of getting through those introductory classes. The reason is that the vast majority of MIT students will continue in science, and MIT believes in a strong scientific/technical background for everyone. People who really struggle in those classes have a rough freshman year. The goal of MIT admissions is to identify who will and will not be happy and successful at MIT. My inkling is that if you have been struggling in math and science so far, and havent demonstrated a particular interest in math or science, then it will be difficult to get in, because the admissions office might be concerned that you wont make it through freshman year in one piece. That said, theres a reason that wanting to major in a STEM field is not a requirement to attend MIT. MIT tries very hard to admit a diverse student body, and part of that is building a class out of freshmen with a wide array of interests both inside and outside of STEM. I dont think that knowing that creative writing is Your Thing would be a disadvantage, and that alone shouldnt deter you from applying to MIT if you think its the right fit for you. MIT actually has a very good writing program, and Im sure the department would be thrilled to get an undergraduate who wants to join their ranks. One more thing I should tell you, though. This is something you probably havent come across on the blogsI should probably write a long post about this. The fact is: the vast majority of people at MIT came to MIT because they wanted to pursue a STEM career. I know exactly zero people who showed up at MIT with the intention of majoring in literature, or French, or writing. I know a couple of people who ended up doing that, but only because their original major didnt work out for them. One of those people was a girl in my Lit class, who was the only French major in her entire 1000-person class. She often said that she was excited to graduate and get away from this place, because she felt like people judged her for not being a STEM majorshe said that when people asked her for her major, and she said French, the response was usually something like why would you come to MIT and major in French? I dont know how much of this was her own insecurities and how much of it was true, but she defin itely felt very lonely as one of the few pure humanities majors. Personally, I think the humanities are awesome. I love that you want to become a writer! But you should be aware that you would be one of few others majoring in the humanities; so consider whether that would be an issue. I guess in summary, my thought is: if you love science enough to be willing to struggle through it (like me), then MIT could be the right place for you. That said, you have to not struggle TOO much, because you dont want to come here and accumulate Ds and Fs. In the end, the admissions committee makes a judgment on who they think would or would not be a good fit for this place. If you really love the place, I think you should apply, be honest about yourself and your interests and your skills, and let MIT admissions decide. If you dont get in, youll know that maybe it wouldnt have worked out after all and if you do, then youll be a very unique MIT student :) I hope thats helpful sorry if it was a little disorganized, but Im at the airport right now and just sort of word-vomiting. Let me know if you have any other questions. A high school junior asked: What do you feel like MIT admissions is looking for? What type of person? Id like to attend, but I want to be where I will be a good match. I dont want to go to MIT or Harvard just because theyre the top schools. I replied: MIT admissions is looking for someone who will be happy at this school that means being successful academically, but also taking full advantage of all the resources available. Therefore, they will look for evidence that you really challenged yourself in high school and still succeeded. They will also look for evidence that you are involved in activities that excite you that you dedicate time and energy to them. They will want to see that youre the kind of person who would show up on campus and support your friends and do exciting things not just sit in your room all day, studying. These things are purposefully vague every admitted applicant is very different! QA I receive e-mails pretty regularly from prospective students (mostly High Schoolers), and have noticed that many of them have similar themes. So, I thought Id post a few up here. To spare you the trouble of scrolling and scanning, heres a table of contents: 1. Calculus and APs arent offered at my school. Does that eliminate my chances of being accepted to MIT? 2. What does a day in the life of a physicist look like? 3. Im worried that by pursuing a science/engineering career, I wont be helping people or the world, and that Im not smart enough to pursue what I want to pursue in math/science. 4. Im worried that Im never going to find a school as great as MITIm obsessed with it. Im sad that I probably wont get in, because Im not a genius. 5. Can I have some life advice? 6. Will you edit my application essays? A HS sophomore asked: Basically MIT is 110% my dream school, I have worked so very hard the past year and a half with that goal in mind, but I seem to be at a brick wall with no way around it. From what I have read, you must have taken calculus as a prerequisite for acceptance? This isnt possible for me, as my school does not offer any calculus classesI also worry about not being able to take AP classes, as they are not offered at my school. I would love to take them, but its just not an option for me and I feel as though I wouldnt be accepted because I didnt have the opportunity to take the classes MIT wants me to. I take the most difficult classes its possible for me to take at my school (honors, accelerated, etc.) but thats no replacement for the college level classes MIT expects out of a potential student. My response: The only *really* strict requirement for coming to MIT is proficiency in English. It sounds like youve got that down pat, so I dont think you have to worry about that. That said, try to understand the goal of the admissions committee: they want to pick 1,000 kids who are going to ENJOY MIT, and that means succeeding here in every dimension: academically, socially, extracurricularly, etc. My impression is that you would have a really rough time here if you arrived without knowing Calculus. Sure, the social atmosphere may be a good fit for you (who doesnt love nerds?) but if youre miserable and struggling to keep up with your peers, all of whom have taken Calculus, then its not worth it for you. You want to go to college and be happy, even if that doesnt mean coming to MIT (and, I cannot stress hard enough, it is POSSIBLE TO BE HAPPY WITHOUT GOING TO MIT!) The MIT admissions site, as you probably know, says that you should try to take the most stimulating courses available to you; you mentioned that youre taking all the honors, accelerated classes, and thats great. MIT wont punish you for not having certain opportunities. However, it may choose to not accept you because it feels that, due to lack of sufficient preparation, you would be unhappy hereI wouldnt say that not having calculus eliminates your chance of acceptance, but I think it would increase your chance of being unhappy here even if you WERE accepted. That saidyou should check in with an admissions officer to get a more official opinion! If youre interested in learning calculus, I would suggest doing what you can to take classes at a community college or over the summer; the MIT website (as you probably know) suggests that if your high school doesnt offer courses that challenge you, you may want to explore other options, such as local college extension or summer programs. Another High School student asked: In your last blog, you said that you wanted people to learn what people in STEM do in their daily lives (e.g. does a computer scientist glare at lines of code until either their work day ends or they inexplicably develop dyslexia?). In previous blogs, youve mentioned that you are majoring in physics and interned over the summer as a research physicist in NRAO. I read your blog Im sitting at work right now, and I now find it difficult to express how epic that blog post was. I completely agree with what you said about telling people about the details of everyday life in STEM careers, and that blog was a perfect example! However, I was wondering, what does the overall schedule look like? (Not trying to be stalkerish, I swear!) You talked about what you do at your desk (immensely entertaining and fascinating stuff, definitely preferable to my summer spent burning through Calculus and Diff Eq), but not what you do when you arent at your desk. Im going to go out on a limb and assume that y ou do not spend eight hours a day sitting at a desk. So what does a day in the life of a physicist look like? My response: A day in the life of an astronomer! Ill describe mine (from the summer this is not at all what the school year is like) then describe my supervisors. Mine: 9am show up at work, turn on computer, drink something with caffeine, read e-mails and things. 9:30-10am actually start working. 12-12:30ish break for lunch, which usually involves eating food at my desk while I continue to code (SO HARD TO DRAG MYSELF AWAY) 12:30-3 more coding. 3-4 snacktime! go upstairs to the kitchen, where there is food and lots of awesome astronomers. socialize. learn a lot, and make new friends. 4-6 more work. *technically* I should have left at 6. I admit I pulled days that lasted until 10 at night, or even past midnight; it was a little ridiculous. I have a habit of cranking away until something is done to satisfaction, which probably isnt healthy and something I will have to deal with by the time I have obligations outside my work. Distributed throughout the day were routine trips to my supervisors office to ask questions. On Fridays, we had about two hours of group meeting, which involved sharing our progress with the other group members (a few grad students, a post-doc, and my supervisor) and discussing new ideas for going forward. And THROUGHOUT the day, I was in an office with other summer students, so there was often chatter and/or throwing things at each other and/or discussing issues with code. Every week, on Tuesdays, there were TUNA talks (Mondays had MUNA talks, the occasional Wednesday had a WUNA talk) that I always went to. Astronomers would come from all over the country (or even the world! There was one from Germany, another from the Netherlands) to present their research. The NRAO scientists would ask a lot of questions. Id ask questions. My supervisor: 10:30am show up at work. 6pm leave work. His schedule was pretty regular, having a family and all. During the day, he does a lot of coding, a lot of writing (grants, etc people dont realize HOW MUCH WRITING is involved in doing science research), a lot of discussing (he had like..eighty telecoms per day) and a lot of mentoring: his post-doc, grad students, me. He takes trips every now and then to Green Bank, the big telescope facility, to bring terabytes of data (in the form of likegigantic data disks. it was pretty ridiculous) back to work. He also goes on a lot of business trips, to China and Australia and other astronomy centers. Let me know if you want more details on any of that :) I guess a point I want to stress is that there is a lot of COMMUNICATING involved in science talking to people about your work, talking to people about THEIR work, writing proposals, chatting casually and making connections, etc. You wont last long if all you can do is code. A High School sophomore asked for advice on some dilemmas: 1.) Ive been told by countless people that Ill be wasting my writing talent if I pursue a science-related career, and Im also scared of this myself. 2.) I am also interested in many other science-related fields, and Im terrified Im making the wrong choice/will regret wanting to pursue Electrical Engineering/Computer Science and AI. 3.) Im afraid that by pursuing a science/engineering career, I wont be helping people or the world. 4.) Im afraid that Im not smart enough to pursue what I wan to pursue. Im a smart kid, but Im way more English-oriented than Math/Science oriented. My response: 1) False. Writing is an absolutely essential skill in science. My advisor from the summer spends a huge amount of his time writing: grants, papers, articles, etc. I personally believe that if scientists were better communicators (read: writers) then the gap between science and the public would be much narrower. Theres a big need for effective, articulate communicators in science! In a way, one could argue that you would be wasting your writing talent if you pursued a career that wasnt aligned with your real interests. 2) The nice thing about EECS is that you can go into a lot of fields from there. Every science nowadays requires programming the more you know, the easier life is for you. I personally wish I knew more. Once you get to college, you will be able to sample classes in a variety of subjects, and that will help inform your decision. One of my friends, for example, is a computer scientist/computer science majorbut he randomly found an interest in biology and is doing bioinformatics. 3) I think that science/engineering is one of the most effective ways to help the world! By studying the brain, we help cure neurological disorders, by studying the body we help cure diseases, by designing machines and robots we make contributions to medicine and technology that can have a very significant influence on peoples day-to-day lives. Electricity, computers, x-ray scanners, MRIIm not sure whether the people who invented those did so explicitly to help people. 4) I have the same fear. I dont think theres any reason to believe it, thoughand if you choose not to believe it then I think youre more likely to work your butt off and achieve things you never imagined you would be able to. These subjects are really hardI struggle. But I constantly amaze myself at how I manage to pull it off anyway. A concerned sophomore said: An especially big fear of mine is that Im never going to be able to find a school as great as MIT. Its pretty safe to say that Im obsessed with MIT. From what I read about it in student blog posts, it sounds like the most amazing place to be in the world! I feel as though no other school will be able to give me as great of a hands-on research experience that MIT has the potential to. Its incredibly sad that I most likely wont be getting in. Im not a prodigy, virtuoso, or certified genius. Im just a normal girl, and unfortunately, normal doesnt seem to cut it at MIT. I said: You shouldnt worry about finding a school that is great. You should worry about finding a school that is great for [sophomores name]. I would argue that those are distinct a school thats great for one person would not necessarily be great for another person. The most important thing is that you go to a school where you will succeed, not that you go to a school thats, say, in the top 5 on the US News Report rankings. A schools ranking has no meaning whatsoever if you go there and struggle. I know people who went to MIT undergrad, didnt do well, and are now struggling to find a job / get into graduate school. On the other hand, a school with not-a-very-high-ranking can be great if it means you excel; I know plenty of people at small schools who have gotten into awesome grad schools. My impression is that people overestimate the importance of the prestige of your school. Plenty of schools have research opportunities for their undergraduates. At every school, it comes down to whether or not YOU go out of your way to find or make such an experience. Thats something to ask when you visit schools, go on tours, talk to departments, etc. I would suggest making a point to talk to professors within departments before you apply / accept your place at a school; theyll be impressed that you were so ahead of the game! You dont have to be a prodigy or virtuoso or certified genius to get into MIT. Im not. Ive never won a math competition, I wasnt a National Merit finalist, or anything like that. I want to point out, though, that youre very interested in how the human brain works, and how we can apply that knowledge in the development of advanced AI systems and robots do you think that most people in the world would find that normal? :) The occasional person says: I would like some life advice from you. And I always say: Could you be a little more specific about what kind of advice you would like? The occasional person asks: Could you edit my application essays? And I always say: The short answer: no. The long answer: you want somebody who knows you well to read your essays, so that you can ask them questions like does this essay do justice to me? Does it accurately reflect me? Does it convey everything important there is to know about me and my interests? Those are questions I cant answer, so I dont think I would be helpful.

QA

Sunday, May 24, 2020

Youth Drug Use And Addiction - 1677 Words

Youth Drug Use and Addiction Youth in the United States face challenges every day, some more than others. These challenges can be difficult to navigate and can leave these young people finding alternative ways to cope with the stress that accompanies these challenges. According to CBS News reports a recent survey indicates approximately two million teens between the ages of 12 and 17 currently need treatment for a substance abuse problem, but only about 150,000 get the help they need. This high number is largely due to the fact that it is easy for teens to access many kinds of drugs but trying anything just once can lead to drug addiction. Teens are often more experimental than adults and willing to try anything their friends are doing,Ã¢â‚¬ ¦show more contentÃ¢â‚¬ ¦Another category where America took the lead was in drug overdose deaths per year. America sees 139.1 fatal overdoses every year per one million (NY Daily News, 2015). The United States Department of Health and Human Serv ices (USDHHS) has the Office of Adolescent Health (OAH) that identifies strategies to improve adolescentsÃ¢â‚¬â„¢ health and well-being and continue work with professionals and communities serving young people. Their website has information that provides locating assistance or resources in the areas specifically for adolescents in topics such as healthy relationships, mental health, physical and nutritional health, reproductive health, and substance abuse. According to the OAH more adolescents drink alcohol than smoke cigarettes or use marijuana. More than three in ten high school seniors report drinking some alcohol within the past month, and more than one in six reported Ã¢â‚¬Å"binge drinkingÃ¢â‚¬ within the past two weeks. Drinking endangers adolescents in multiple ways including motor vehicle crashes, a leading cause of death for this age group. One in five adolescents has ridden in a car with a driver who had been drinking. Illicit drug use - which includes the abuse of illeg al drugs and/or the misuse of prescription medications or household substances - is something many adolescents engage in occasionally, and a few do regularly. By the 12thShow MoreRelatedDrug Treatment For Adolescents And Adolescents1732 Words Ã‚ |Ã‚ 7 PagesDRUG TREATMENT FOR ADOLESCENTS 2 ABSTRACT Youths in the United States are using drugs more than ever and even at a younger age than the past. Reaching out to these younger addicts can be complicated. There are several ways to approach substance abuse treatment for youths. School counselors and parentsRead MoreDrug Abuse1279 Words Ã‚ |Ã‚ 6 PagesThe use of and abuse of illegal and prescription drugs are a health, social, and law enforcement problem that is affecting Americans across the country. Drug abuse is destroying the lives of many teens and adults and is also destroying families in the United States. The use of drugs is a major problem in the United States among all Americans, but drug addiction is the main cause for America s troubled teens today. Exactly what is a drug? A drug is any chemical that produces a therapeutic or non-therapeuticRead MoreDrug Abuse And Its Effect On Society Essay1167 Words Ã‚ |Ã‚ 5 PagesCourse Date Introduction A drug is a chemical substance applied into treating, diagnosing and preventing one from disease infections or a substance that is used by a person to enhance his or her physical and mental state in the perceived effect. Drugs used for different purposes and their effect depend on which cause for usage. It causes both positive and negative consequences directly to the user and in the long-run it affects the whole society or community. Drug addiction is the activity of uncontrollableRead MorePrevention of Adolescent Drug Addictions1408 Words Ã‚ |Ã‚ 6 PagesPrevention of Adolescent Drug Addictions Abstract Drug addictions among todayÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s adolescent is climbing to an all-time high rate. Parents need to become more proactive in the prevention of their children becoming addicted to drugs. However, parents alone cannot handle this overwhelming task, the local schools and the community will need to take action also. Together this is a possible task, team work and consistency will prevail and save adolescents from being drug addicts. Read MoreChapter 4 Was A Great Read, I Feel As Though This World1099 Words Ã‚ |Ã‚ 5 Pagesa great read, I feel as though this world often creates many stereotypes about illnesses such as obsessive-compulsive disorder, clinical Depression, and many other mental afflictions within the youth. Another that seems to remain controversial and misunderstood is sexual compulsive behavior that the youth have. Many see it as an excuse to act a certain way, or think a certain way; in reality it is a serious mental disorder that can cause devastating effects on the people that are consumed by themRead MoreThe Problem Of Drug Abuse1331 Words Ã‚ |Ã‚ 6 PagesBaltimoreÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s residents are addicted to the drugÃ¢â‚¬ (Yang, 2014). Graph oneÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s statistics represent the number of deaths caused by heroin in Baltimore, Maryland from January through June 2007-2014: (Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene [Graph 1], 2014). As the graph above illustrates, drug abuse is a disease that is often overlooked and if untreated it could turn into a recreational activity for the people using them and eventually increase the number of drug enthusiasts throughout Baltimore. ManyRead MoreWhen People Think Of Hollywood, They Think Of It Being1713 Words Ã‚ |Ã‚ 7 Pagescorner instead having homeless and drug addicts in every corner. Drug abuse has become a bigger epidemic overtime. Many individuals have been exposed to drugs early on which has lead to their addiction. Falling into the habit of drugs does not lead down a good path when all a person desires are substances to make them feel delirious. The concept of drugs being bad has been tossed around and questioned because of itÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s positive effects towards those who are ill. Drugs can be beneficial to those who dependRead MoreDrug Of Drug And Drug Abuse1538 Words Ã‚ |Ã‚ 7 PagesDrug Resistance Drug use has become an increasing problem among high schoolers and teenagers around the same age. Ever since the drug war of the 1900s, drugs have been a major problem in todayÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s society. Ã¢â‚¬Å"Use of drugs such as opium, morphine, and other byproducts were common in twentieth century AmericaÃ¢â‚¬ (Dobkin, 1998). While most students in standard high school drug education know about the use of coca leaves in Coca-Cola and the opium trade in China, drug addiction during the century is muchRead MoreEssay on Burn the Fuse of Drug Abuse667 Words Ã‚ |Ã‚ 3 Pages Addiction and abuse of drugs have remained an unexplainable circumstance, even till today. A mistaken assumption is that drug abusers lack moral principles, and if given a chance or in the presence of will power, their selections could be altered. In reality, drug addiction is known as a complex disease and requires more than will power or mere good intentions to change. Due to the fact that drug addiction could change the way the brain works, with time, the brain promotes compulsive drug abuseRead MoreSociological Perspective : Drug Use And Addiction969 Words Ã‚ |Ã‚ 4 PagesSociological Perspective: Drug Use and Addiction The use and misuse of illicit drugs in todayÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s society can be blamed on both individual, and societal factors. With the use of societal factors researchers can show the effect for a larger population, and provide better information of the population. Blaming the individual for developing the addiction will not fix issues that lie in society that worked against the individual, the underlying issues of poverty and addiction, many scholarly articles

Thursday, May 14, 2020

The Progressive Era Of The 19th Century - 1463 Words

Maya Stepansky Mr. Meyer Progressive Era DBQ Toward the latter part of the 19th century, bustling America, in response to the trends of industrialization and urbanization that characterized its Gilded Age, began its new century by entering into a new historical/political epoch that came to be known as the Progressive Era. This distinctive period in history (spanning from the 1890s through 1920) found progressives seeking to use the American federal government as a means of change through social, political, and economic reforms. Politically, the passage of the 16th, 17th, 18th, and 19th amendments are evidence of the success of progressive reformers, despite the fact that some of the new laws failed to create desired social changes. The efforts of the progressives were mainly effective when it came to social reforms related to workerÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s rights and child labor, but less productive in attaining improved civil rights for African-American citizens. In addition, the government was, to a large extent, successful in the establ ishment of economic reforms to aid the working class, such as those enforced by Woodrow WilsonÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s Ã¢â‚¬Å"Triple Wall of PrivilegeÃ¢â‚¬ ; however, President RooseveltÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s famous anti-trust efforts were ultimately not far-reaching enough at the time to eliminate all problematic corporate monopolies and related corruption. During the Progressive Era, political reforms were effectively executed on the national level through the passage of Constitutional amendments. IndeedShow MoreRelatedThe Progressive Era During The 19th Century1195 Words Ã‚ |Ã‚ 5 PagesThe Progressive Era was social activism and political reform between the 1890s and 1920s. The reformers of the Progressive Era tried to help the corrupt government, improve the not so great economic state for lower and middle class and immigrants, and invoke social change. The reformers were also very effective of making the problems of the 19th century known in America. Media development and some innovation did an excellen t job of bolding all the corruption in the government and scandals of publicRead More Change in Life from Antebellum to the New Deal Essay1361 Words Ã‚ |Ã‚ 6 PagesIt was a long process that took centuries to occur from when America was first colonized by England. America started slow and far behind England and other European countries in the technology race but a diverse culture and the work ethic of American people all helped to push this country forward. From antebellum America in the 19th century, to the Progressive Era in the late 19th century and early 20th century, and finally to the New Deal period in the 20th century, many changes occurred as millionsRead MoreThe Progressive Era857 Words Ã‚ |Ã‚ 3 Pagesapparent to them and many other times they have no idea it is happening until decades later. Regardless of what happened in different eras of history one thing always holds true, it made America who they are as a country. From the late 19th century into the early 20th cent ury America went through one of these transformations with the birth of the progressive era. It left itÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s imprint on American culture and will continue to for decades to come. The decades that worried America and its future wereRead MoreThe During The Progressive Era989 Words Ã‚ |Ã‚ 4 PagesDuring the Progressive Era, various groups responded to the political, social, and economic woes that resulted from the rapid industrialization and urbanization of America during the 19th Century. The mass immigration of foreigners and the northern migration of Africa-Americans led to urban overcrowding and competition for wage-paying jobs. Electric lighting allowed factories to expand the working hours and increase the output of manufactured goods. There was little regulation for employee welfareRead MoreThe First Midterm Assignment During American History1500 Words Ã‚ |Ã‚ 6 PagesThe late-19th century was the most prolonged time period in American history and also what the bloodiest. Many violent events occurred that gave the 19th century its name, such as, profound labor conflicts between boss and workers, the Indian wars that was an extended battle for peace and a benefit in their lifestyles, the Jim Crow law which was established to separate races throughout the city, and also the fight for the American Empires power. These were the major issues that made the 19th centuryRead MoreThe Progressive Era Essay1133 Words Ã‚ |Ã‚ 5 PagesFrontier, and late Nineteen Century, Agrarianism The development of the United State into an aggregation of civilized settlements and large Cities influenced the economic movement, socially and culturally by the end of the Civil war and first World war. This brought about the industrialization and massive boom in immigration experienced at this period. Urbanization became key in the history of America and it has its influence in the attractiveness of the nation. The progressive era was from 1870 to 1916Read MoreThe Gilded Age : A Powerhouse Rose From The Ashes Of The Civil War871 Words Ã‚ |Ã‚ 4 PagesProgressives in the Gilded Age The Gilded Age: A powerhouse rose from the ashes of the Civil War. From the Civil War until about 1896, the Gilded Age was born. The United States was going through an era of governmental, fiscal and societal restructuring. Gilded Age got its name because Mark Twain seen as a period where everything seemed to be well on the surface but beneath was a scheme of political dishonesty and self-indulgence. Around this time, the affluent upper class was created due to theRead MoreComparing the Approaches of the Progressive and Populist Movements893 Words Ã‚ |Ã‚ 4 PagesPopulism vs. Progressivism Essay During the late 19th century and early 20th century the progressive movement and populist movement were groups and organizations getting together to resolve social, economic, and political problems occurring in the United States. Both movements had different approaches to what was more important and how to deal with problems. Progressivism was mainly for the betterment of cities while populism is for agrarian section of farmers. First of all there were social failuresRead MoreThe Progressive Era Essay example1010 Words Ã‚ |Ã‚ 5 PagesAs the 19th century came to a close a new epoch, known as the Progressive Era emerged in response to industrialization. This early 20th century reform movement pursued control of the government to the people. In order to reinstate economic opportunities and to correct inequity in American life. Progressives believed that government could be used as a powerful tool for social improvement (Gillon, Matson 2009). Although the Progressive ideal was presented by numerous Progressive authors of differentRead MoreThe Populists and Progressives1137 Words Ã‚ |Ã‚ 5 PagesDuring the late 19th and early 20th century both the Populist Party and Progressive movement wanted to preserve some things, while also addressing the need for reform. Although many of the ideas and goals of these Ã¢â‚¬Å"Third partiesÃ¢â‚¬ were initially not legislated and considered far-fetched, many of these ideas later became fundamental laws throughout American history. The Populists and Progressives were both grass roots movements, and addressed the needs of the poor and powerless, for the Populists it

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

The Rising Costs Of Formal Education - 1649 Words

American youth have more pressure to get a good education than ever before, but at what price? The cost of education is at an all time high and rising every year. Many Americans are struggling with a large amount of student loan debt weather they graduated with a degree or not. The only way to secure the future of students today is to invest in the students themselves rather than investing their money into the corporate market. By preparing students for higher education and providing financial resources students will have the knowledge to deal with student loans and the debt they may be accruing while in school. The rising costs of formal education has become a real and concerning issue for most Americans. Whitehouse.gov states, the average income of families has remained roughly the same in the last three decades. In that time the tuition rates have more than tripled. This leaves families struggling to get their kids through school. According to Forbs, universities and colleges have been raising their tuition fees by 2 to 5% each year. Forbs also found that in public schools while students are paying more for their education, the college or university is spending less money on the studentÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s education. Forbs explains that the 2008 recession is largely to blame. On the contrary, that was 6 years ago and public schools are still spending less money on studentÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s education but charging the student more for it. This means that the tuition students are paying is not beingShow MoreRelatedWhy Education Is Important For A Formal Setting960 Words Ã‚ |Ã‚ 4 PagesEducation in my opinion is the constant acquisition of knowledge either in a formal setting or an informal setting. A formal setting where education can be gained will include schools, colleges and universities. At such places there are laid down principles and rules that must be followed and overall, teaching is done in a much organized manner. The informal setting include our homes, workplaces, and in our communities. Teaching is done in an informal manner in this kind of setting but at the endRead MoreFormal Training For The Development Of An Educational Modules1156 Words Ã‚ |Ã‚ 5 Pages Instruction is a procedure that includes the exchange of learning, propensities and aptitudes starting with one era then onto the next through educating, research and preparing. It can be in a formal or casual setting. Formal training includes standardized learning in view of an educational modules. In today s general public, training and learning has an essential part in molding the lives of people and the general public on the loose. The best method for boosting monetary development, decreasingRead MoreThe Presence of Corruption in Bangladesh 1471 Words Ã‚ |Ã‚ 6 Pageshappen such as floods and cyclones. Bangladesh has a flat low lying terrain making it vulnerable to rising water. The three large rivers in Bangladesh usually is the main source of flooding. With these natural disasters property, infrastructure and lives are in danger. It is sure this will have a heavy toll on the economy of Bangladesh. Better precautions needs to be taken in order to overcome the costs of these nat ural causes. Therefore it is inevitable instability will be caused by BangladeshÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s geographyRead MoreFinancial Factors That Influence Healthcare1205 Words Ã‚ |Ã‚ 5 Pagesnursing lobbyists in our nationÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s capital are influencing legislation on quality of care, patient and health worker safety, access to care issues, healthcare reorganization, direct reimbursement for advanced practice nurses, and funding for nursing education (Marquis Huston, 2009). The National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality drive research priorities. In the health service division, the Center for Medicare, Medicaid Services, individual consumers, andRead MoreThe History Of The Nurse Anesthetist1746 Words Ã‚ |Ã‚ 7 Pagesphysicians and Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNA) as the debate of a CRNAÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s ability to practice autonomously was now the center of attention. With the costs of healthcare rising and the reimbursement reducing for anest hetic care of patients undergoing surgical intervention, the utilization of CRNAÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s has shown to be more cost effective while delivering high quality care, hence supporting the need for the practice of anesthesia to be included in the scope of nursing. In order for oneRead MoreIs An American College Education Still? Worth It?1465 Words Ã‚ |Ã‚ 6 PagesIs An American College Education Still Ã¢â‚¬ËœWorth ItÃ¢â‚¬â„¢? One of the realities of the past several decades is that society has come to place an increasing level of emphasis upon the importance of education. Whereas it has been understood for decades that education is an integral component of the overall level of success that a person might hope to experience during their lifetime, the necessity of each and every individual striving for a college degree has been a more and more defining aspects of the driveRead MoreComparison Paper1140 Words Ã‚ |Ã‚ 5 Pagescare costs continue to rise in the United States. The growth of health care costs has been exceeding the GDP growth by two percentage points annually since 1940. These rising costs impose a substantial burden on the U.S. economy. Higher spending on public programs like Medicaid and Medicare strains state and federal budgets. Higher insurance premiums pose a challenge for employees and burden workers with higher health costs and lower wage increases. Ã¢â‚¬Å"The burden of rising health care costs is particularlyRead MoreAnalysis Of Gec Report 2015, Rhino Tracking Essay949 Words Ã‚ |Ã‚ 4 PagesUganda people have were briefly discussed some Options and Evaluation were listed and compared afterwards based on the principle not to harm the environment and animals. After the local financial situation and the fund rising of the rhino-protecting organization the study of funding rising and the sustainable power source for the device were decided. Finally some further problem were even considered, however none solutions were provided. During the research of group B, the procedure was not clearly presentedRead MoreResistance Of The Patriarchal Norms Of Pakistan1306 Words Ã‚ |Ã‚ 6 PagesResistance to uprooting the patriarchal norms in Pakistan, especially in rural areas, is another cause of the lack of education, especially for girls. You can see this resistance in the attacks on teachers and the high rates of illiteracy, especially among women and girls. Balochistan is one of these places where education can be scarce and the dangers are high. Ã¢â‚¬Å"There have also been attacks on teachers, such as one in October, when four female teachers in Quetta had acid thrown at them as they leftRead MoreCompare And Contrast Types Of Managed Healthcare Organizations.1635 Words Ã‚ |Ã‚ 7 Pages emphasizing social as care well as medical services. While acute care is usually confined to specialty providers, the providers of long term care are more wide ranging. They include traditional medical providers such as physicians and hospitals, formal community caregivers such as home care agencies, facility providers such as nursing homes and assisted living facilities, and informal caregivers such as friends or family members. Understanding the classification of healthcare services in terms

Tuesday, May 5, 2020

Confucianism vs. Legalism free essay sample

Back in the early civilizations of China, there was a major controversy between two different ideologies: Legalism and Confucianism. Legalism was a political philosophy that taught that a powerful and efficient government is key to maintain order and control over an empire. This ideology supports the fact that rulers should be strong and govern through force because people are naturally bad. Confucianism, on the other hand, was preached by a man named Confucius, who strongly believed that rulers should be virtuous and lead by a good example. Basically the whole idea behind Confucianism is to keep everything morally upstanding and honest to set an example for the people. Confucius believed that if the ruler or leader created a positive society then all of the people would just naturally follow and do the right thing if the leader shows them what is right. This ideology was meant to take violence out of government and other things. We will write a custom essay sample on Confucianism vs. Legalism or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page In contrast, legalism is a far different ideology in a sense that a successful government depends on the conformity to law. This ideology basically means that people really do not have the free will to do or say whatever they want. If they do that, the government will fall and cause anarchy with in the empire. The legalistic viewpoint on human nature is just that people will always do the bad thing if they are not punished. This refers back to when Hanfiezi said, Ã¢â‚¬Å"When a sage governs a state, he does not rely on the people to do good out of their own will. Instead, he sees to it that they are not allowed to do what is not good. If he relies on people to do good out of their own will, within the borders of the state not even ten persons could be counted on. Ã¢â‚¬ Legalism states that government as well as society canÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t be successful without force toward the people. If I were a peasant, I would like to be governed by Confucianism. Although both philosophies have many differences they can be compared as well. Both of these philosophies contain a ruler that has to set an example for its people whether it is good or bad. I believe as a peasant I would want the free will to do what I want and not get punished if I donÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t follow a uniform order. As a noble, I would also like to live under a Confucian style philosophy because I have the freedom to do what I want with my property and riches that I own instead of them being stripped from me which is what a legalistic ruler would do to me. This is what Shi Huangdi did to the nobles when he was in power. If I were an emperor, I wouldnÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t really mind which philosophy I would rather live under because I feel like the people will listen to me either way although Confucianism would be a more peaceful and easier way to settle it. I would want to lead a good example for my people so if I had a choice I would probably go with Confucianism because I would be confident in my ability to leading by example and trusting my people would follow.