Excellent Sheep

1. Elite education perpetuates privilege and inequality

"Our educational system, it's been suggested, is what Americans developed in lieu of a European-style social welfare state to mitigate inequality. And once upon a time, it worked as advertised. But now instead of fighting inequality, the system has been captured by it."

The meritocracy myth: Elite colleges claim to provide equal opportunities, but in reality, they reinforce existing social hierarchies. The admissions process favors students from wealthy backgrounds who have access to better schools, tutors, and extracurricular activities.

Reproducing privilege: Once admitted, students at elite institutions are groomed for positions of power and influence. They develop networks and gain access to opportunities that further solidify their advantage over those from less privileged backgrounds.

Socioeconomic stratification: Despite efforts to increase diversity, elite colleges remain predominantly populated by students from upper-middle-class and wealthy families. This concentration of privilege perpetuates a cycle of inequality, as graduates from these institutions continue to occupy high-paying, influential positions in society.

2. College should develop critical thinking, not just career skills

"The purpose of college is to enable you to live more alertly, more responsibly, more freely: more fully."

Holistic education: College should be a transformative experience that goes beyond vocational training. It should challenge students to question their assumptions, develop analytical skills, and engage with diverse perspectives.

Intellectual curiosity: A true college education fosters a love of learning for its own sake, encouraging students to explore ideas across disciplines and think creatively about complex problems.

Personal growth: The college experience should help students develop:

• Critical thinking skills
• Ethical reasoning
• Effective communication
• Cultural awareness
• Intellectual humility

3. The purpose of education is self-discovery and intellectual growth

"Education is more than the acquisition of marketable skills, and you are more than your ability to contribute to your employer's bottom line or the nation's GDP, no matter what the rhetoric of politicians or executives would have you think."

Beyond career preparation: Education should help students discover their passions, values, and purpose in life. It's about developing a sense of self and understanding one's place in the world.

Intellectual exploration: College provides a unique opportunity to engage with diverse ideas and perspectives, challenging students to expand their worldview and develop their own beliefs and opinions.

Personal development: The educational journey should foster:

• Self-reflection
• Emotional intelligence
• Resilience
• Adaptability
• Lifelong learning skills

4. Humanities are essential for developing empathy and understanding

"The humanities are what we have, in a secular society, instead of religion. They are compatible with religion, but they have also, in important ways, supplanted it."

Cultural literacy: The humanities provide essential context for understanding human experiences across time and cultures, fostering empathy and cross-cultural understanding.

Critical analysis: Studying literature, philosophy, and history develops the ability to analyze complex ideas, interpret texts, and construct well-reasoned arguments.

Ethical reasoning: The humanities help students grapple with moral and ethical questions, preparing them to navigate complex real-world dilemmas.

Benefits of studying humanities:

• Enhanced communication skills
• Improved critical thinking
• Greater cultural awareness
• Deeper self-understanding
• Increased creativity and innovation

5. Good teaching and mentorship are crucial for a quality education

"Teaching is not an engineering problem. It isn't a question of transferring a certain quantity of information from one brain to another. 'Educate' means 'lead forth.' A teacher's job is to lead forth the powers that lie asleep within her students."

The importance of mentorship: Effective teachers do more than impart information; they inspire, challenge, and guide students in their intellectual and personal growth.

Small class sizes: Intimate learning environments allow for meaningful interactions between students and professors, fostering deeper engagement with course material and facilitating mentorship opportunities.

Teaching quality over research: Universities should prioritize teaching ability when hiring and promoting faculty, ensuring that students receive a high-quality education from engaged, passionate instructors.

6. The college admissions process reinforces socioeconomic disparities

"The college admissions process, 'complicated, publicly palatable, and elaborately costly,' writes Mitchell L. Stevens in Creating a Class, is 'the preponderant means of laundering privilege in contemporary American society.'"

Uneven playing field: The admissions process favors students from wealthy backgrounds who have access to test prep, college counselors, and expensive extracurricular activities.

Hidden advantages: Legacy admissions, athletic recruitment, and donor preferences further tilt the scales in favor of privileged applicants.

Perpetuating inequality: The current system ensures that elite institutions remain dominated by students from affluent backgrounds, limiting social mobility and reinforcing existing power structures.

Factors contributing to admissions disparities:

• Standardized test scores correlating with family income
• Unequal access to college preparatory resources
• Geographic and socioeconomic segregation in K-12 education
• Implicit bias in the evaluation of applicants

7. Students should prioritize learning over prestige and grades

"Instead of worrying so much about building your resume, you need to start working on building your mind."

Intrinsic motivation: Students should focus on developing a genuine love of learning rather than chasing external markers of success like grades or prestigious internships.

Intellectual curiosity: Pursuing knowledge for its own sake leads to deeper understanding and more meaningful educational experiences.

Personal growth: Prioritizing learning over grades can lead to:

• Greater engagement with course material
• Improved retention of knowledge
• Enhanced critical thinking skills
• Increased creativity and innovation
• Better preparation for lifelong learning

8. Elite institutions often fail to prepare students for real-world challenges

"Students at places like Cleveland State—and I've confirmed these observations with people who have worked at comparable schools—are being trained to occupy positions somewhere in the middle of the class system, in the depths of one bureaucracy or other. They're being conditioned for lives with few second chances, no extensions, little support, narrow opportunity—lives of subordination, supervision, and control, lives of deadlines, not guidelines."

Sheltered environments: Elite colleges often insulate students from real-world consequences, creating a false sense of security and entitlement.

Lack of practical skills: The focus on theoretical knowledge and academic achievement may come at the expense of developing practical skills needed in the workplace.

Narrow perspective: The homogeneous socioeconomic environment at elite institutions can limit students' exposure to diverse viewpoints and life experiences.

Challenges faced by elite college graduates:

• Difficulty adapting to less structured work environments
• Unrealistic expectations about career progression
• Limited ability to relate to people from different backgrounds
• Overemphasis on prestige rather than personal fulfillment

9. Diversity in higher education is often superficial

"Visit any elite campus across our great nation, and you can thrill to the heartwarming spectacle of the children of white businesspeople and professionals studying and playing alongside the children of black, Asian, and Latino businesspeople and professionals."

Socioeconomic homogeneity: While racial and ethnic diversity has increased at many elite institutions, socioeconomic diversity remains limited.

Cultural bubble: The lack of true socioeconomic diversity limits students' exposure to different perspectives and life experiences, reinforcing a narrow worldview.

Tokenism: Efforts to increase diversity often focus on superficial metrics rather than creating a truly inclusive environment that values diverse perspectives and experiences.

Challenges in achieving meaningful diversity:

• Overreliance on standardized test scores in admissions
• Limited outreach to underserved communities
• Insufficient support for first-generation and low-income students
• Persistence of implicit biases in campus culture

10. The liberal arts offer enduring value in a changing world

"If anything, the liberal arts are more important now than ever, as a rapidly evolving global economy relies increasingly on creativity and innovation."

Adaptability: A liberal arts education develops critical thinking and communication skills that remain valuable across changing job markets and technological landscapes.

Interdisciplinary thinking: The broad knowledge base provided by a liberal arts education enables graduates to make connections across disciplines and approach problems from multiple angles.

Ethical reasoning: Liberal arts courses help students develop a strong moral compass and the ability to navigate complex ethical dilemmas in their personal and professional lives.

Benefits of a liberal arts education in the modern world:

• Enhanced creativity and innovation
• Improved problem-solving skills
• Greater cultural competence
• Stronger communication abilities
• Increased adaptability to changing job markets

11. Students must take responsibility for their own education

"There is only one problem with telling students to seek out good teaching in college. They're going to have some trouble finding it, because academic institutions usually don't care about it."

Active learning: Students should actively seek out challenging courses, engage in class discussions, and pursue independent research to maximize their educational experience.

Self-directed exploration: Taking initiative to explore topics beyond the curriculum, attend lectures, and participate in extracurricular activities can greatly enhance the college experience.

Seeking mentorship: Students should actively seek out professors and advisors who can provide guidance and support throughout their academic journey.

Ways students can take control of their education:

• Carefully selecting courses based on personal interests and goals
• Engaging in meaningful conversations with professors and peers
• Pursuing internships and research opportunities
• Participating in student organizations and campus events
• Developing a personalized learning plan that goes beyond degree requirements

Last updated: January 23, 2025