GRE Essay: Educational institutions have a responsibility to dissuade students from pursuing fields of study in which they are unlikely to succeed.

Educational institutions have a responsibility to dissuade students from pursuing fields of study in which they are unlikely to succeed.

Write a response in which you discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with the claim. In developing and supporting your position, be sure to address the most compelling reasons and/or examples that could be used to challenge your position.

Educational institutions have humongous responsibility in helping a student develop and understand his passion and potential. Educational institutions and the wisdom of its faculty and staff lay the stepping stone to a synergistic relationship between a student's success and the society's needs. A lot of thinking goes in curriculum development, staffing, course delivery, moral and physical education in these institutions. Certainly, educational institutions must engage in helping a student succeed. However, a student's passion may be influenced by several factors outside of the institutional boundaries. These passions should not be dissuaded. Educational institutions should play a role of mentor and let the students decide the future for themselves.

Selection of a field of study has been a challenge for students. If there are two ingredients for success, they are passion and potential. Every student is different. Each student has a different level of passion and potential towards different fields of study. Moreover, these interests and skills are highly temporal . I wanted to become a aircraft pilot when I was in my sixth grade. During my ninth grade, my interests shifted towards computer science. I did not like biology solely for the reason that I hated dissecting frogs and cockroaches. As I grew up into high school, university and beyond, my choices became narrower. Note that the interplay of passion and potential formed the pillar of my selection of specialization.

Clearly, the choices exist during the early stages of our schooling. Educational institutions play a big role in developing these passions and potential in us. We spend a major part of our childhood in schools. The educational system and the values that they inculcate in us greatly determine the potential in us. I still remember my mathematics teacher. Her inspirational and enjoyable maths sessions gave a special perspective to this subject. I aced almost all exams in mathematics and it still remains to be a favorite subject. From potential develops passion for many of us. Application of mathematics in empirical modeling, computational finance and probability theory turned out to be my field of study.

However, its not just the educational institutions that influence us. One of my friends wanted to became a magician inspired by one of his neighbors and few television shows. While its not hard to find a movie hero's fan or who worships a sport-star, we can safely say that there are many such forces that direct our interests.

Given all these, there are limits to what educational institutions can do. While helping to identify the potential and passions, it can only indicate where we are likely to succeed. However, our influences sometimes are too strong to undermine our knowledge and force us to venture into new waters. This need not be bad in all situations. For instance, my friend who was inspired towards magic, is now an established magician. He does not regret dropping out of his university or leaving his comfort area which was then chemistry. Our schooling was demanding. Parents and some friends did not share the passion. Clearly, potential was unproven. Yet, the risk that he took, paid off. There are several such success stories. Bill Gates, the famous Microsoft founder was a college drop out. These people found their passion themselves and had a strong belief on their potential. They were willing to go against the tide. They became successful.

However, all those who swim against the current, may not be successful. There is only one Bill Gates and there are probably a million who failed on the same path. There are many who took the advise that their schooling provided and are now successful. Educational institutions have a responsibility to help their students identify true passion and potential. In an age where one can get easily distracted, these institutions must direct the students towards successful future. However, they should not underestimate the other forces acting upon the students. They, most certainly, should not dissuade students from what they believe will not make the student successful.