It’s always gratifying when research backs up what you’ve been personally experiencing. And the research comes from Harvard, no less! Last year Harvard released the report, Turning the Tide. Their research shows that college admission practices are damaging our children and are harmful to society. And the press responded favorably, giving them a lot of positive press coverage for the report.
The personal hope I have for Turning the Tide
Why was I personally so excited to hear about the Harvard report?
When my oldest was in second grade, I became alarmed when I heard about the late hours high school students were staying up to do homework, even when their parents were helping them.
But it is even worse when it starts happening to your own kids. I am so tired of helping my daughter stay up until 4 am so she can finish her homework.
Yes, that really did happen. And I’m not proud of it. As we both struggled to stay awake one night, I told my daughter that I felt like I was aiding in a weird form of child abuse. But we had also tried not doing the homework or signing up for different classes, and neither of those approaches worked either.
From my research and talking to other parents, I know that fear of not getting into a “good” college is what’s driving this madness.
So I was I was really excited when I started seeing news articles about Turning the Tide!
In additions to a big story on ABC news that I covered in another article, check out these other news articles applauding the release of the Harvard report, Turning the Tide.
5 News Articles about Turning the Tide
Turning the Tide means big changes for college admissions
Rethinking College Admissions – This op-ed in the New York Times predicts big changes to the college admissions process, based on the release of the Harvard report, Turning the Tide.
Turning the Tide highlight how college admission requirements are hurting students
AP Overload, Padded Resumes, Suicides: Why Harvard Is Pushing Elites to Rethink College – Highlights how current university admission policies harm students on both end of the spectrum. They are driving affluent kids to suicide while excluding disadvantaged students.
College applications can make the most accomplished students feel inadequate
To get into college, Harvard report advocates for kindness instead of overachieving– This article opens with a scenario that shows how a student feels filling out a college application, when they don’t have enough to fill in all the blanks in spite of full schedules.
Changing college applications would decrease emphasis on standardized tests
Harvard report: Make admissions process more meaningful – Students spend enormous amounts of time preparing for standardized tests – tests that current college applications ask for.
The history of college admissions that led to the need of Turning the Tide
The Absurdity of College Admissions – How did getting into an elite school become a frenzied, soul-deadening process? – References “Turning the Tide” as evidence that change in college admissions is needed, and looks to history to explain how the college admissions process evolved. Historically, the SAT opened up admissions to more students, not less.
Do we need to turn the tide in college admissions? Is it turning?
Are you are convinced of the importance of Turning the Tide? Does it raise your esteem of Harvard that they have recognized their own part in this process? One year in, how much progress has Harvard made in Turning the Tide?