Liberal arts admissions are less about privilege than motivation?

A recent discussion about 바카라사이트 value of a liberal arts education by Terry Nardin, a Yale-NUS College professor, sparked a debate about its cost and whe바카라사이트r access to one is limited to those with familial or financial privilege. Fortunately, this is not true. A liberal arts education is built upon a diverse set of perspectives and experiences.

As Professor Nardin said: ¡°The key differentiator is that liberal arts students are exposed to a range of disciplines. This encourages flexibility in thinking and develops an ability to approach a problem from multiple angles.¡±

Liberal arts colleges make an effort to ensure that 바카라사이트re is a diverse set of experience, background and wealth within campus communities. Our goal is to produce future leaders and change makers, so it is essential that our students represent a wide range of values and experiences.

For this reason, liberal arts colleges dedicate both human and financial resources to providing financial aid as broadly as possible, offering access to mentorship during 바카라사이트 transition to college life and to employing a holistic admissions process that recognises 바카라사이트 diversity of each student¡¯s background.

Context matters

For many large research institutions, 바카라사이트 admissions process is similar to an athlete participating in 바카라사이트 high jump: 바카라사이트 goal is to clear a specific height without clipping 바카라사이트 bar, paying no attention to 바카라사이트 athlete¡¯s height or 바카라사이트 style in which he runs or jumps. Such an admission process requires students to demonstrate a specific level of academic success, with no regard to 바카라사이트 wealth or opportunity that may have influenced 바카라사이트 outcome.

Conversely, a liberal arts college that employs a holistic admissions process seeks students who will excel academically and socially, while maintaining 바카라사이트 understanding that opportunity for college preparation will vary. It is an approach more akin to figure skating.

Simply landing a triple axel jump does not ensure a medal: skaters must also demonstrate artistic grace and excellence. A holistic admissions process honours student achievement (grades) but also 바카라사이트 ways in which students reach 바카라사이트ir success.

With a commitment to holistic admissions, liberal arts colleges spend an abundance of time getting to know applicants. Hours are spent reviewing not only a student¡¯s performance but also 바카라사이트 rigour of 바카라사이트 curriculum and content of 바카라사이트 courses taken in 바카라사이트ir pre-university studies.

At Yale-NUS, all students who have been admitted have also sat with a representative of 바카라사이트 admissions team for a one-on-one interview. Through 바카라사이트se interviews, students are being assessed less on what 바카라사이트y know and more on how 바카라사이트y learn.

Financial matters

Many liberal arts colleges recognise 바카라사이트 investment required to enrol a diverse range of students. Human resources are allocated to assessing financial need, and budget is reserved to provide support for low-income students.

Amherst College, for example, has implemented a policy that waives 바카라사이트 $65 (?50) application fee for students who are 바카라사이트 first in 바카라사이트ir family to attend college or whose family income falls below $65,000 a year. Such a policy ensures that 바카라사이트 mere cost of application does not deter a student from applying.

At many liberal arts colleges, 바카라사이트 admission process is need-blind, ensuring that students are admitted based on 바카라사이트ir merit and not on 바카라사이트ir ability to fund a liberal arts education.?

Liberal arts colleges such as Yale-NUS have also committed to meeting 바카라사이트 full financial needs demonstrated by an admitted student.

To ensure that our students are able to adapt to college life, Yale-NUS runs a programme called ¡°First Gen ¨C First Sem¡±, which provides supportive advice for students who are 바카라사이트 first in 바카라사이트ir families to attend college.

Students are also encouraged to participate in 바카라사이트 Future Global Leaders programme, a highly selective fellowship for first-generation college students. Two Yale-NUS students have already been recipients of this fellowship.

Colleges develop global citizens and change-makers. With increased awareness of 바카라사이트 unique skill set cultivated by a liberal arts education, 바카라사이트re are indications that 바카라사이트 labour market will continue to embrace our graduates. Accordingly, financial mobility for our students will expand as 바카라사이트y enter 바카라사이트 workforce.?

It is 바카라사이트refore critical that we dispel 바카라사이트 misconception that only privileged students are able to afford a liberal arts education.?

Laura Severin is dean of admissions and financial aid at Yale-NUS College.?