The Danger of Telling Poor Kids That College Is the Key to Social Mobility

Higher education should be promoted to all students as an opportunity to experience an intellectual awakening, not just increase their earning power

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Article Reprintcollege myth

A 12th-grader wrote a college admissions essay about wanting to pursue a career in oceanography. Let’s call her Isabella. A few months ago, we edited it in my classroom during lunch. The writing was good, but plenty of 17-year-olds fantasize about swimming with whales. Her essay was distinctive for another reason: Her career goals were not the highlight of the essay. They were just a means of framing her statement of purpose, something surprisingly few personal statements actually get around to making.

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