Concerning the “Global Policy Forum” to be held at Millersville University on Sept. 15 – 16, Professor Melvin Allen says:
“Students often see college as a ticket to economic and social mobility,” he said, “but fail to recognize the importance of their college experience as preparation for leadership in government or business.
“Why shouldn’t people in public colleges be preparing themselves for leadership in the same way as students in historical colleges for elite students? After all, they are much closer to and understand the challenges facing average citizens.”
WATCHDOG: Good question. But most don’t, nor does much of the rest of the population.
In today’s world, the race to get ahead begins in high school and the goal is the “elite” colleges and universities. (Among the affluent, it sometimes starts as early as placement in prestigious pre-schools!)
Due to generous scholarships resulting from huge college endowments funds, many of the highest ranked colleges admit students without regard to their ability to pay tuition. The heavy work load, the interactions with other motivated students resulting from living away from home, the advice and contacts all propel graduates into further opportunities.
However, a motivated, able individual can obtain an equally good education at a typical state university. Probably the top 3% of the students (and perhaps more) at Millersville are equal in knowledge and potential as top students from any college. But a student has got to really want the education and seize upon opportunities to meet intellectual peers, befriend faculty, be involved in extra curricular activities that provide academic interaction with students from other colleges, and to widen their studies.
The Watchdog spent his freshman and sophomore years at a prestigious college where classes were less than 25 students and fifteen went up afterwards to have a word with the teacher. He transferred to a university for his final years. The classes were often over a hundred, but he and one or two other students often went out for coffee afterwards with the professor.
There are wonderful opportunities at a school such as Millersville for serious students if they seize upon them.
