Claim: Colleges and universities should specify all required courses and eliminate elective courses in order to provide clear guidance for students. Reason: College students — like people in general — prefer to follow directions rather than make their own decisions.
Write a response in which you discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with the claim and the reason on which that claim is based.
Many students are under the impression that a college degree guarantees a future in their chosen profession. Their teachers and parents assure them that a degree will open doors to a stable job with a decent salary. However, with rising costs of college and an unemployment rate of 8.6 percent, earning a college degree may not be such an easy task. Colleges and universities should be responsible for providing clear guidance for students. An overwhelming number of students graduate with degrees that do not necessarily make them employable. This has led students such as myself to seek guidance by enrolling in multiple online courses or enrolling in community college. Colleges should specify all required courses and eliminate elective courses in order to provide students with better educational and employment opportunities
To provide students with a clear path for attaining their desired career, colleges should specify all required courses. By eliminating elective courses, students can focus their efforts on preparing for courses that will give them the skills needed to enter the job market. A student majoring in business might wish to take business courses such as marketing, accounting, or finance. However, students who intend to teach English or biology should take courses in those two subjects. By eliminating elective courses, universities would ensure that the students they enroll are prepared for the courses they must take
The college admissions process has become a complicated process, with mountains of paperwork and tests to be passed. Many college applicants, especially high school students, are uncertain of their options or lack the requisite knowledge to select a major. Students should have the freedom to select elective courses that interest them, but colleges should provide a suggested sequence for career-specific education. For example, a student with aspirations of being a professional chef could enroll in culinary arts courses, followed by courses in cooking, baking, and restaurant management. If a student with artistic inclinations would like to teach art, then he or she should enroll in art classes. However, college programs should require students to take courses in related subjects, such as math, biology, and music. By specifying the order in which students should complete their courses, colleges would be helping to prepare them for the job market
Students should be responsible for preparing themselves for the job market, but colleges should still provide students with a roadmap for their career. Colleges should teach students proper time management and organizational skills, and they should encourage students to participate in extracurricular activities. If students master these skills, they will be prepared to face the challenges that they will face in their future careers. By eliminating elective courses, colleges would be providing their students with the skills they need to succeed.