Education has dramatically changed–particularly in the last two years. Educational institutions are coming to grips with this reality. Students have been changed dramatically as well. They are far more brand conscious and unsure of what their goals are than in the past. Notice the passive construction of “Students have been changed…” The change did not come organically from within. Whether it was media, parental pressure, or Covid, expectations were pushed down upon the heads of many students. Perhaps you are not one of them, and that’s great. Perhaps you are one of them, and this is an opportunity to reengage and take ownership of decisions that will affect you for the rest of your life. Before moving forward, please review the following videos:
The first video discusses the assumptions underlying our modern educational establishment. Are we widgets being built at a factory or by individuals? The second video discusses the purpose of education. After watching it, is it the purpose you see in education, or are you looking for a credential (the degree) that will let you earn a living? And the final video is about the unique way that a tailor sees the world. When you go to buy clothes, you are seeing if you meet the standards of normal assumed by the clothing manufacturer. When you go to a tailor, the clothes are made to fit you. As he says in the video: “Everybody is perfect.” Are you tailoring yourself to an education, or are you getting an education tailored toward you?
Having seen these videos and thought about them, you are going to write a research project where you explore your own education and career goals. What education do you need to achieve your goals? Where did you acquire this information? Is that source actually reputable (or is it, Uncle Pete)? What program is best to get you to your goals? How do you know this? Will the cost-benefit analysis of your goal work out? It all depends on how you define cost. For example, if you consider satisfaction an important goal in life, then lower pay may be justified because dissatisfaction is a cost you are not willing to put up with.
What if you have no set goals at present? Wonderful! College is a time for experimentation, so there is absolutely nothing wrong with not having a set goal. Simply do a hypothetical. It may help you develop an actual goal.
Of course, since you live in California, there are a couple of additional factors you should consider. Our educational environment is highly competitive. Half of the investment dollars of the entire United States end up in California. More businesses are started here than anywhere else. As a result, we also have more business failures. The average income of someone moving to California is 117,000 a year, which is one reason why our housing costs as much as it does. There is an exodus of people out of the state, but they represent the middle and lower part of the income scale. What this all means is that California is still the place to make dreams come true, but it requires enormous commitment and effort. Individuality, creativity, and unique solutions are all rewarded here, and this is something you should consider in your education. What are you doing to differentiate yourself from the pack? What additional skills and qualities are you developing to not become a widget (as described in the video above)?
Here are some tools you can use to explore potential directions:
https://novoresume.com/career-blog/career-aptitude-test
https://www.payscale.com/college-salary-report/best-schools-by-majors
https://www.payscale.com/college-salary-report/best-schools-by-majors
https://www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2014/article/education-level-and-jobs.htm
https://blog.collegeboard.org/the-ultimate-guide-to-choosing-a-major
Your essay here can be completely personal, but the research in it should be thoughtful and realistic. If you put in that you will transfer to Harvard at the end of your education here, make sure you also inform us of the steps you have taken to make sure you can do so. Have you looked at their requirements? Why did you choose them? Etc.
Obviously, since your thesis here will be personal, I will be looking at the quality of the research and the thoughtfulness of the analysis. But I will be doing so not as your teacher but as you many years from now considering whether what you came up with was useful or not. Did you just go through the motions and squander the opportunity? Or, did you develop a realistic plan that addresses what YOU want (or could want if it is hypothetical)?
Make sure you have a strong thesis, to begin with. Make sure you find evidence from outside sources to support that argument and make sure you explain how the evidence supports your argument. Your essay should consist of the following:
Four to six pages (word count is 1250-1500 words) without the works cited.