A friend of mine emailed me this article on university admissions. The article features some pretty misinformed (sometimes downright ignorant and racist) comments from people who seem to think that admission standards are "too high" and that their kids can't get into university because it's letting in too many "foreign students". The article does a pretty good job of refuting it with facts that are plain for everyone (everyone with a brain, which is not something to be taken for granted in these people) to see.

 

 

I think it's hilarious that the parents complain about their kids not getting into university because "the standards are too high". If university isn't a place to strive for high standards and excellence, we are in serious trouble. With loser parents like that, no wonder the kids are losers! These people should wake up and smell the coffee. Some of these parents went to universities in the 50s and 60s when the competition was 1/2 of what it is today because there were very few women in universities. So they could get away with C's in their transcripts and still get into university.

 

Rather than whinning, why don't people just admit that there are smarter people out there and to work and try to improve? I don't see how people can expect to get into university with C's and C-'s in their transcripts unless one is seriously delusional or has a completely unjustified sense of entitlement.

 

Maybe the shock felt by students and their parents is due in large part to the fact that teachers in highschool and elementary school are too lenient and eager to praise their students. Sure, it's important to build kids' self-esteem, but don't tell a kid that his essay is very good when in fact it's worth only a C. There has got to be a balance somewhere!