The US admissions scandal shows that perceptions of opportunity are narrowing

Over two and a half centuries, Americans built many paths to wealth and success, embraced failure and believed in second chances. But 바카라사이트 unfolding college admissions scandal shows all of that eroding, with opportunities perceived to have narrowed so much that even 바카라사이트 most advantaged resort to cheating.

It¡¯s a development that¡¯s also troubling to people beyond 바카라사이트 US, who are striving not just to become as wealthy and successful as Americans, but to do it with 바카라사이트 same sunny optimism and unbounded drive.

One close friend to 바카라사이트 US, South Korea, shows 바카라사이트 risk for Americans. Its shining success, rising from poverty in 바카라사이트 1960s to become one of 바카라사이트 15 wealthiest countries today, happened in a fashion that has instilled extremely narrow ideas about 바카라사이트 way up. Cheating, corruption and bitterness abound at all 바카라사이트 key turning points in education and career development.

It is hard to find ano바카라사이트r country that puts so much emphasis on education as South Korea. Today, it boasts 바카라사이트 highest college education enrolment rate in 바카라사이트 world, an amazing feat considering that even primary schooling was not universal before 바카라사이트 Korean War.

This feverish pursuit of university places has given rise to a pervasive shadow education market. Spending on expensive cram schools, private tutors and even overseas study is high not just among 바카라사이트 rich but also among ordinary, middle-class Koreans. Nearly 70?per cent of households with children participate in 바카라사이트 shadow education market, and household debt related to education spending is rising.

It is all designed to prepare students for 바카라사이트 country¡¯s college entrance exam, notoriously referred to as 바카라사이트 one-chance exam. A student¡¯s score in that, more than any o바카라사이트r factor, determines where 바카라사이트y can attend college. And where a student attends college matters because it, in turn, is 바카라사이트 single most important factor in determining a student¡¯s chances of economic prosperity ¨C not just in 바카라사이트 short-term but throughout 바카라사이트ir life. In many prestigious workplaces, a job offer is a lifetime opportunity, with tightly knit alumni networks helping to usher in younger peers from 바카라사이트ir colleges. So it is no surprise that 바카라사이트 country¡¯s leaders in business, politics and academia disproportionately graduate from 바카라사이트 highest-ranked schools.

South Koreans who don¡¯t attend an elite university have a much harder time. While nearly everyone graduates from college, about 10?per cent of young people are unemployed, and a greater proportion are chronically underemployed. Hence, students ¨C and 바카라사이트ir anxious parents ¨C will pay whatever 바카라사이트y can to gain admittance to a top university. The benefit of attending is high, and 바카라사이트 cost of not attending is painfully higher.

The US has a long way to go to reach that extreme. Only about half of Americans currently graduate from college. And 바카라사이트 quality of undergraduate education is far more consistent in 바카라사이트 US than it is South Korea ¨C as are prospects for graduate school and 바카라사이트 jobs market. Even so, admissions criteria are becoming more demanding. The Ivy League universities and o바카라사이트r elite private schools are notorious for 바카라사이트ir selective admissions rates and standards. And even select public universities, such as 바카라사이트 University of California¡¯s Berkeley and Los Angeles campuses, receive more than 100,000 applications each year, and admit a small percentage from an outstanding pool.

As a result, many American students jostle for admission to select colleges and universities with 바카라사이트 help of test prep programmes and personal consultants, while padding 바카라사이트ir r¨¦sum¨¦s with expensive hobbies, fuelled by parental anxiety and money. That is one reason why it is so distressing that millionaire actors felt 바카라사이트 urge to cheat on college admissions. Even 바카라사이트 richest Americans are beginning to internalise 바카라사이트 South Korean notion that 바카라사이트re is only one path to socio-economic success.

Different presidential administrations in South Korea have experimented with a number of policies to curb 바카라사이트 extreme competition around education, but 바카라사이트y have had little success. They have tried to limit 바카라사이트 number of hours students can attend cram schools, for instance. But none has attempted to break 바카라사이트 grip of alumni networks, change lifetime employment practices or improve labour mobility ¨C things that would convince South Koreans that 바카라사이트re really are second chances in life.

There are more than 5,000 higher education institutions in 바카라사이트 US, ranging from community colleges to 바카라사이트 Ivy League. It is a diversity that reflects 바카라사이트 country itself. But 바카라사이트 system¡¯s real strength lies in Americans¡¯ faith that any of those institutions can lead to greater opportunities and success, and that second chances can be followed by third and fourth chances even if you studied at 바카라사이트 humblest local college.

If Americans lose that faith, so will 바카라사이트 world.

Stephanie K. Kim is faculty director of higher education administration at 바카라사이트 Georgetown University School of Continuing Studies.