Category: College

Honors College is usually observed as the place where all the smart kids are, however, I see far beyond that. When I think of UIC’s Honors College program, I automatically think of community. In high school, my group of friends and I saw education as an opportunity. Since we shared that mindset, it encouraged and helped us to strive harder and to achieve more. Although I could have achieved as much as I did without those friends, I feel that our shared love for learning played a vital role in my academic and personal success. I feel the Honors College will provide me with that same sense of community, where we as a whole offer the equivalent dedicated mentality.

Small communities are imperative in vast populace colleges like UIC because they provide support in a place where it is easy for students to feel alone. Being a part of the National Honor Society College would supply me with the kind of support needed to help me strive for better and achieve more. I want to be surrounded by other students and faculty who are just as determined as I am and will encourage me to do my best, just like I will for them. Since the Honors College is comprised of students from various colleges and backgrounds, it offers its members the chance to cooperate and see from alternate points of view. I am always attempting to enhance the manner in which I see the world and being a member of this program will enable me to considerably do more so than before.

As fellow students and friends, it can be difficult to efficiently accomplish tasks, since we tend to socialize more than work. My experience as a Taekwondo instructor helped me develop my leadership skills. My leadership skills are something that I am proud of because I know how to balance working with friends and socializing while maintaining productivity. This allows me and others around me to balance productivity and fun.

In the past, the support I received, within my community, played a crucial role in my academic success. It is essential that a community provides a positive support system where its members encourage each other and help build each other up. This can go as far as helping the overall community by sharing my diversity and knowledge with those around me. More specifically, I will share my drive to succeed and my love for learning with my fellow peers. I also hope to provide emotional support to those who feel alone at UIC. Regardless of how I may feel, I will continuously show that I am resolved to proceed.

If I were to be a part of UIC’s Honors College, I genuinely feel like I would be able to immerse myself in a community of students who want to succeed as much as I do. This program would provide me with a supportive community and an array of opportunities I would not be able to access elsewhere.

Attention: Think about that time when you did not have enough cash on you when you were with your friend and they just covered for you. Not a big deal, right? You probably venmoed them back or paid for the next time. Now, what if you needed to pay tens of thousands of dollars? You would probably take out a loan and work hard to try to pay it off. (AA)

Transition: Many college students are faced with this problem when they pay tuition and they are unaware of the options that are available to them to help reduce their costs.

Problem: College tuition has been rising, and it puts students like us in debt after graduation.

The costs of college continue to rise year over year.

Universities have been getting more expensive because of several factors: the increase in demand for higher education, an insufficient number of faculty, and a lack of funding.

According to Forbes in 2018, the average annual cost of a four-year university is $26,120 with a total cost of $104,480. In 1989, it would have been a total of $52,892 after adjusting for inflation.

The cost has more than doubled in less than three decades. (AA)

On average, that would be a 2.6% increase in tuition costs every year.

Student loan debt continues to increase and is getting more difficult to pay off.

After housing debt, student loan debt is now the largest debt Americans owe at $1.4 trillion.

CollegeBoard statistics show that the average amount borrowed for a college graduate in 1983 was $746, or $1,881 in today’s money. (AA) Contrast that with the average amount of $37,172 borrowed for a college graduate in 2017.

As this happens, wages have continued to stagnate. The Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis reports that the average growth per year in salary was 0.3% from 1989 to 2016.

As a result, Americans have been struggling.

The Washington Post in 2019 reports that young adults cannot afford to buy a house or save for retirement due to student loan debt.

Student loan debt made it more difficult for 400,000 families to qualify for a mortgage or save up for a down payment

With student loan debt, people were only able to save half as much for their 401(k) compared to those without student loan debt.

Transition: So how can we mitigate some of that debt?

Solution: To reduce student loan debt after graduation, we should apply for FAFSA.

Let me explain what FAFSA is.

FAFSA stands for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid and is used by students to help determine eligibility for financial aid for college.

The US Department of Education states that you will receive a Student Aid Report with your Expected Family Contribution, or EFC, after filling out your FAFSA. Based on the information in your FAFSA application, you may receive a Federal Pell Grant, which does not need to be repaid.

Over a third of high school graduates did not submit a FAFSA application.

Even if you do not qualify for federal financial aid, your FAFSA information may still be required to receive other non-federal financial aid programs like scholarships or college award packages.

FAFSA applications can help significantly reduce student loan debt.

According to CNBC in 2019, undergraduate students received an average of $8,440 in federal, state, college, and private grants.

If you are an Illinois resident attending the University of Illinois, the admissions office estimates your total expenses per year to be no more than $36,394. That means the average student here would be able to reduce their tuition by 23%. (AA)

You may think you do not need to submit an application for FAFSA because you will not receive any money or that it takes up too much time, but that is not true.

According to a 2016 article on NerdWallet, over $2.7 billion in aid in total was not taken.

More than $97 million in total Pell Grant money was available for 26,527 Illinois students. (AA)

The average time it takes to complete a FAFSA application is 21 minutes, according to the Department of Education.

It is even simpler now that the application auto-fills the tax information that your family provided the IRS with.

The application opens in October, which gives you more time to find the correct information and fill it out.

Visualization: Spending a little extra time to fill out your FAFSA application will help reduce stress in the future.

Receiving grants and scholarships will help lower the total cost of college. Imagine being able to begin saving money for retirement, while your peers are still struggling to pay off their student loan debts. You would have more spending money to go on vacations or splurge on luxuries or provide for your kids.

You would be a step ahead of others at every stage of life in the future.

Transition: So what can you do right now?

Call to action: When you go home, fill out the FAFSA application if you have not done so already.

Go to studentaid.ed.gov and click “Start here.”

Fill out all the necessary information and ask your parents if you are unsure.

You may be eligible for federal aid or other scholarships.

If you start now, you will have less to worry about in your future.

Student Loan Debt

Earning a college degree is expected after a person graduates from high school. The higher the degree, the more money is earned. It is the goal of many to be a college graduate, however, the financial status of those seems to be a huge factor as to why many do not go to college or take out loans. Student loans can come from the federal government, private sources such as banks or financial institutions, or from other organizations. However, applying for a loan is the last resort when it comes to paying for college because of its negative reputation. By definition, student debt is money owed on a loan that was taken out to pay for educational expenses. Students take out loans in hopes of being able to pay them back but many find themselves in debt. The total student loan debt has reached 1.5 trillion dollars but why has it reached this level? (Friedman 2019)

Generation of Americans have been borrowing money to pay for education for a long time and hundreds of thousands are in debt because of this decision. Students are encouraged to save money for higher education but, with college tuition rates rising it decreases the possibility to cover all costs without seeking some financial assistance. The higher the degree the higher the cost will be. For advanced degrees, according to an article on GoGrid, “a graduate student will no longer be eligible for the Federal Pell Grant or any need-based state financial aid.” Graduate students depend on loans and/or other resources to pay for their tuition. Student loan debt occurs more with graduate students because they have fewer options to pay for such an incredibly expensive tuition when compared to undergraduate students. The disadvantage of student debt can be the possibility of the student not graduating and still having to pay the money taken out.

Politicians are aware of the student loan debt being so high but no final plan to get rid of the debt is in place. According to Cautero, the average college graduate with a bachelor’s degree takes just over 21 years to pay off his or her loans. This interferes with the ability to buy a home or even save up money. Millennials, baby boomers, and Generation X all have one thing in common. Student loan debt affects everyone because this is a multi-generational issue. The borrowers struggle to afford basic necessities in life, including transportation, housing, and healthcare.

It is clear that student loan debt has become a crisis that has no solution at the moment. Millions of Americans are being affected regardless of age. There has been talked about passing a bill but time and time again, the Republicans continue to refuse to have a vote set in place. However, the Obama White House passed a bill to lower student loan interest rates, saving the average undergraduate $1,500 on interest charges in the year 2013. (Lederman & Elliott 2013) Lower student loan debt obligations leave Americans with more money.

The answer as to why hasn’t student loan debt has not decreased is because Republicans have blocked numerous votes on student loan refinancing. The issue is not a priority to those in the legislation. The Secretary of Education, Betsy Devos, has said that she will not commit to upholding an Obama Administration written rule to target for-profit colleges. Instead of helping students in debt, Devos Education Department is allowing debt collectors to charge borrowers exorbitant fees on top of their loan payments. (Ross 2017) The crisis is getting worse for students because of the Trump Administration. Tuition rises as well as the interest rate for these loans. To make matters worse, Trump Administration proposes the elimination of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness because of the budget plan for the 2020 fiscal year. The Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program forgives the remaining balance on Direct Loans after someone has made 120 (10 years) qualifying monthly payments under a qualifying repayment plan while working full-time for a qualifying employer. This program was signed into law in 2007 and there have been rumors of it being shut down for budgetary purposes.

Student loans are a crushing burden to millions, especially those in the Latino and black communities that default at a higher rate than others. For many, the payments are proving unmanageable. By 2023, nearly 40 percent of borrowers are expected to default on their student loans. (Nova 2018) While borrowers are having trouble repaying, the only real winners are for-profit colleges and lenders who have taken advantage of the reduced enforcement of consumer protection by the Trump Administration. Research from The Center for American Progress (CAP), a public policy think tank, estimates 87 percent of black and 65 percent of Latino students take out federal student loans compared to 60 percent of white students. Among those who finish college, black bachelor’s degree holders default five times as often as white bachelor’s degree holders. They even default more often than white students who don’t complete their degrees, the CAP study found. (Jones 2019)

Nonetheless, Republicans and Democrats are both at fault for this severe crisis. President Bill Clinton traded the privatization of Sallie Mae pushed by a Republican Congress for an increase in Pell Grants sought by Democratic members of Congress. (Ross 2017) Both parties are to blame but only one has the willingness to take on the challenge to make a change for the future generations of students.

This is a systematic problem that continues to worsen while college tuition and the cost of borrowing money are rising. It is up to those in the state and local policymakers to set a plan in place because the federal government has turned a blind eye to this crisis.

Works Cited

1. Friedman, Zack. “Student Loan Debt Statistics In 2019: A $1.5 Trillion Crisis.” Forbes, 25 Feb. 2019, https://www.forbes.com/sites/zackfriedman/2019/02/25/student-loan-debt-statistics-2019/#7f2c694f133f.
2. McWhirter, Kathy. “Filing Your FAFSA for Grad School: Expert Tips and Resources .” GoGrad.org, 28 Nov. 2018, https://www.gograd.org/resources/fafsa-for-grad-school/.
3. Cautero, Rachel M. “How Long Does It Take the Average American to Pay Off Student Loans?” Thebalance.com, 25 June 2019, https://www.thebalance.com/how-long-does-it-take-to-pay-off-student-loans-4588027.
4. Lederman, Josh, and Philip Elliott. “Obama Signs Student Loan Bill Lowering Interest Rates.” NBCNews.com, NBCUniversal News Group, 9 Aug. 2013, https://www.nbcnews.com/businessmain/obama-signs-student-loan-bill-lowering-interest-rates-6C10887330.
5. Ross, Scott. “Devos, Trump Make the Student Loan Crisis Worse.” The Progressive, Aug. 2017, pp. 44–47.
6. Jones, David R. “Communities of Color Hit Hardest by Student Loan Debt Crisis.” The New York Amsterdam News, 24 Jan. 2019, p. 5.
7. Nova, Annie. “More than 1 Million People Default on Their Student Loans Each Year.” CNBC, CNBC, 13 Aug. 2018, https://www.cnbc.com/2018/08/13/twenty-two-percent-of-student-loan-borrowers-fall-into-default.html.

Public colleges and universities play a crucial role that can give a person the opportunity to unlock many doors which could eventually lead to higher education. Whether a college degree is kept or not, can be an important factor in determining a career path. Many high-paying vocations such as lawyers, doctors, and engineers require a degree. Without them, students might fall into low-paying jobs. Nevertheless, college is not without disadvantages. Unexpected bumps in the rod are often present in college life which can lead to students dropping out. A college dropout can be defined as “someone who doesn’t finish a project or program, especially school.” Whenever we quit or don’t follow through on a commitment (“dropout”). Regardless of the school, difficult times in college are unavoidable. From losing financial aid, lack of support from family, stress, lack of motivation, and poor school preparation to not having a close friend are the reasons that can influence a dropout and if those issues don’t get addressed correctly student retention can importantly drop.

According to Year on, “Reports estimate that only 54% of Americans who started college last fall will actually make it to graduation. Other studies have revealed some degrees don’t lead to jobs, leaving students under-employed and in debt.” A lower income can make it harder to achieve financial goals, like saving money for the future, buying a house, or a car, retiring, or even saving to have a family. Moreover, it can present an enormous challenge if a dropout still has college debt. College this day is expensive and one of the biggest causes of dropout rates include financial problems. Financial problems can be due to the student, a caregiver, or a guardian losing their job, which can add to psychological stress to financial citations.

Tuition becoming too expensive and unmanageable can have a direct impact on the dropout rate. According to College Atlas, “70% of Americans will study at a four-year college, but less than two-thirds will graduate with a degree, and 30% of first-year students drop out after their first year of school due to finances’. Not all students have a privileged background and for some of them being able to find funding and pay for overall college can be a constant struggle. According to a LendEDU survey, it showed that “55% of students struggled to find the money to pay for college and 51% dropped out of college because of financial issues.’

Financial problems have become more complicated in the United States due to student loans, “over 40% of student borrowers are not making payments on their loans, which adds to a vicious student debt cycle that pushes them out of school” (I grad for Schools). Students might tend to underestimate the cost of higher education, leading them to realize that they are not able to cover all the costs, so they would rather prefer making money by working full-time than pay for an expensive degree. In order to try to solve financial stress, we must school prepare and equip their students with financial education. Financial aid, loans, the management of money, and budgets are some important topics that should be tackled since having knowledge in these specific areas can be the key to helping students know how to correctly manage their expenses such as rent, tuition, and books among other expenses. Integrating fanatical literacy could lead to financial aid orientations.

Posing complementary literacy workshops around campus could be an alternative. According to college, I grab, a college survey about financial literacy found out that “Students who attend schools with financial literacy programs are less likely to over-borrow compared to students who attend schools without a financial program. In fact, 17.3% of institutions with financial programs in place reported that their students borrowed less than the maximum amount awarded to them at least half of the time, versus 12.6% of institutions without a program in place.”

Another alternative would be implementing an income-shared agreement that “allows students to trade a small share of their future earnings for cash to cover upfront enrollment costs. Students have the opportunity to invest in their future career using funds provided by the income shared agreement to pay for the cost of enrollment in college” (Akers). Income shred, an agreement could either be short-termed or long-termed with a small low percentage of income owed monthly contracts.

No one makes perfect financial decisions. Therefore, when going off to college, students should be tested if their financial training really pays off, with a solid foundation on financial stress relief students should be able to go through the years without making multiple financial mistakes and be able to peruse a career long term to have a thriving future.

Throughout my high school career, my coaches and some of my teachers have pushed me to go towards an HBCU not only to get my education but to better myself and to become a young educated black man. My teachers and my coaches have stressed to me that being educated and knowledgeable is a source of power. They told me to work hard toward my career but be educated, knowledgeable, wise, poised, and smart about my decisions. They also told me that whatever college I attend, HBCU or PWI, to work towards my life goal and don’t let anyone stop me.

Every student is different, we all have our own separate set of goals that we want to achieve. The institution of your choosing should reflect what you need and/or trying to pursue, and especially not the opinions of others. I transferred from a PWI to an HBCU so I’m speaking from my experience based on my point of view and my observations while attending.

The choice of whether to go to a PWI or an HBCU for the undergraduate/master’s degree is a personal conclusion and depends upon the person and what they are going for. Some schools only offer so much and sometimes the school you want to go to may not have your major. When you compare both schools you will see that PWI institutions usually have student bodies made up mostly of whites, with different races such as African American, Hispanic, Asian, and more. A historically black college or university can usually have student bodies made up mostly of blacks, Caucasians, Asians, Hispanics, and other races. Comparing schools shouldn’t be based on what and who goes there or who graduated there, it should be based on your needs to go forth into your major. But when you compare the people or culture, you see that HBCU attendees/alums are under the impression that the people that attended PWI’s think they’re somewhat “better” or more “sophisticated” than HBCU students for attending schools that are more highly known by their “Big Name”. Then you have some of the black PWI attendees/alums that think HBCUs are too “ghetto” or do not have the proper resources. This is true sometimes but only because a lot of the HBCU schools do not get equal funding as other schools do. Because of this, they would rather go to well-known schools for xyzzy reasons.

A lot of people weigh in on a lot when both schools can produce big names. I think when people see what a school has produced, they think “well, this school is better because of such and such graduated from there”. a lot of the Black PWI attendees will say that too. Also, you’ll hear a lot that may get the impression that HBCU attendees think they’re “more woke,” or more Knowledgeable for attending a black institution over a white one. This comparison also involves the idea of which degree holds more weight because when most jobs see your HBCU degree and then see another person with a PWI degree, they’ll likely take the PWI one because of the bigger name.

Both schools have their pros and con, but I am going to have to say that an HBCU is better in my opinion. I feel like any HBCU is underrated for what it can produce. But whether you attend an HBCU or a PWI you go for one purpose and that purpose is to get your education. Many people have the idea that by attending a Predominantly White Institution they will get a higher level of education, but you could easily get the same at an HBCU. I transferred from a PWI to the HBCU I am attending now, and I can tell you the feeling is different, and the environment is entirely different as well. The two could be remarkably similar but also vastly different in certain areas.

The PWI I went to was Indiana Tech University. This was a private college as well. I can say I enjoyed myself and enjoyed the people I met but it just did not feel like home. I didn’t feel like I was supported like how I feel now. After I’ve done some research on the graduation rate, a lot of sources say black graduates from historically black colleges and universities are significantly more likely to feel an enormous amount of support while in college than their black peers who graduated from predominantly white institutions (RAY). HBCUs have always been a strong influence in assisting African

American students in their studies. That doesn’t mean that grades are handed out on a silver platter but there is more of an understanding from the students and professors. Not only do they feel comfortable but there is a level of understanding. For example, students usually go for an environment around what they were raised with while they were young. So, a black student picking an HBCU is more comfortable for them than picking a college far away that’s a PWI.

I don’t have a lot of compare and contrast mostly because I see them as just another Institute of learning. Even though I’m fully towards an HBCU, everyone has their own different experiences with which school they attend. Personally, the reason I choose this HBCU is that my girlfriend goes here as well, and I’ve always wanted to go to an HBCU ever since I was younger and watched “Drumline”. Your school of your choosing should be based on your major and how you feel, not on everyone’s silly opinions on where they think you should attend.

Works Cited

RAY, SEAN SEYMOUR, AND JULIE. https://news.gallup.com/poll/186362/grads-historically-black-colleges-edge.aspx. 27 October 2015.

The work done this semester achieved the specified goals. This semester a lot of time was spent getting used to Vivado and settling up projects. Also, a lot of time was spent getting used to Verilog. As VHDL had been done before the goals may have been achieved more quickly if this language was used. But this allowed me to broaden my knowledge of languages. Also as this is used a lot in the industry it is a benefit to use. For next semester it would be presumed that the time spent getting used to Vivado and Verilog and problems that occurred in the language would be mainly solved this semester. Also, problems with connecting the amplifier would not happen next semester.

The next step for the next semester would be to pick a tune. To find the notes for this tune. Test that the note produced is the note specified and is not picking up noise or an error in the code.

With the work done this semester, the code would be changed to the value input from the switch and will play a lot more notes for different periods of time to play the tune.

Work on displaying notes on the 7-segment display will be something new for this semester. Playing different notes is building on previous work. But no work was done on the 7-segment display.

The main goal for this semester is to do extensive work with the Vivado system to become more comfortable with Vivado and the chosen language and to produce a number of sounds on the amplifier. In conclusion, the goals of this project have been achieved. As extensive work had been done with the Vivado system on sample projects and the writing code step by step had been done. Errors could be found more quickly as there are multiple different ways to test for errors. That the simulation can be tested to check different outputs depending on the input. That the implementation of the block design can also be viewed to see if the design is correct. This builds greatly on next semester for working with Vivado.

As different notes were produced on the speaker this achieves the goal to build on the next semester to play a tune. A lot of work has been done on different problems encountered to produce different sounds this will help greatly with next semester. Work on the clock and make sure that it resets in the correct places for the counter which can cause a lot of errors. Having a count greater than or equal to is safer as it could go over the counter when switching from statements. So this catches problems that would occur if it went outside the count.

In conclusion for next semester, a lot of work on the frequencies and playing multiple frequencies after each other work has been done. This will help greatly for next semester as the background is mainly covered. That correct notes will then need to replace with random notes.

It can be observed that work will need to be done at the start of the 7-segment display to ensure it can work at a small level before including it in the main code. As work on the 7-segment display was not done this semester.

In today’s fast-paced and ever-changing world, pursuing higher education has become increasingly important for individuals seeking to secure a successful and fulfilling future. The benefits of a college education are numerous and far-reaching, ranging from enhanced career prospects and earning potential to personal growth and development. As someone who has always been passionate about learning and eager to pursue my goals, I am excited to share why I want to go to college and how I believe it will help me achieve my dreams. 

Through this essay, I hope to convey my motivations for pursuing higher education, the impact I hope it will have on my life, and the steps I am taking to make this goal a reality.

Career Advancement

Advancing one’s career is a common and crucial reason for pursuing higher education. As the job market becomes increasingly competitive, having a college degree is often seen as a prerequisite for securing a desirable job and advancing in a chosen career path. 

Through a college education, students are equipped with vital skills and knowledge that are fundamental to success in many professions. These skills include critical thinking, problem-solving, communication, and teamwork, among others. With a college degree, individuals are better positioned to compete for the jobs they aspire to and qualify for higher-paying positions. 

The ability to enhance one’s career prospects through higher education is a compelling reason why many individuals choose to pursue college, and the benefits of this investment can be substantial and long-lasting.

Personal Growth

Another reason why I want to go to college is for personal growth. College is an opportunity to learn about new subjects, explore different ideas, and challenge oneself. A college education can expand my perspective on the world and help me to develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills. 

Additionally, college can provide opportunities for personal and social development, including making new friends and participating in extracurricular activities.

Expanded Knowledge

One of the main benefits of a college education is the opportunity to gain knowledge in a variety of subjects. College courses cover a wide range of topics, from literature and history to math and science. With a college education, I will be able to deepen my understanding of subjects that interest me and learn about new subjects that I may not have had exposure to before. This expanded knowledge can also benefit me in my personal and professional life.

Network and Connections

College can also be a valuable opportunity to make connections and build a network of professionals in one’s field of interest. Professors, classmates, and alumni can all be valuable sources of information, advice, and support throughout one’s career. A strong network can help me to find job opportunities, get advice on important career decisions, and make connections with others in my field.

Higher Earning Potential

Obtaining a college education not only provides personal and professional benefits, but it can also result in higher earning potential. Research has demonstrated that individuals who hold a college degree typically earn more money over the course of their lifetime compared to those who do not possess a degree. This increased earning potential can translate into a better quality of life and greater financial stability. With a college degree, individuals have access to a wider range of job opportunities and are better equipped to qualify for higher-paying positions. 

Additionally, the skills and knowledge acquired through a college education can enable individuals to pursue entrepreneurial endeavors, further enhancing their earning potential. 

Conclusion

To summarize, pursuing higher education is a valuable investment that can open up countless opportunities for personal and professional growth. From the chance to explore new areas of study, develop essential skills, and build my network, to the potential for increased career prospects, a college education promises numerous advantages. I am looking forward to this journey with eager anticipation and feel certain that pursuing higher education will help me reach my goals and unlock my full potential.

Ultimately, I believe that by investing in myself and my education, I am investing in a better future for myself, my loved ones, and my community.

This Article is about how some may feel that title IX is the reason why schools are eliminating male sports programs. The author also talks about court cases that involved Title IX cases between an athlete and a school. He discusses a 3 hurtles dealing with Title IX. Title IX is an Act of the United States Congress that was passed in 1972. This Act prevents sex separation in schools and other instructive Programs that get government reserves. Title IX has been an act for more than forty-five years and is credited with making everything fair for women in education, sports, and all the more as of late has been the lawful road for casualties of rape and badgering (Jones 2015). A basic role of Title IX is to stay away from the utilization of government assets to help oppressive practices. There are 3 prongs in Title. IX Prong 1 is called the ‘sheltered harbor’ test since in the event that a school agrees to this prong, at that point an assurance of the staying two prongs is pointless. The proportionality number is determined by taking the level of female understudies selected at the establishment, and subtracting the level of female competitors (Anderson, Cheslock, and Ehrenberg 2006; Yanus and O’Connor 2016). On the off chance that the proportionality number is certain, at that point there are progressively male competitors by rate. A zero proportionality number shows the sexual orientations are equivalent, and a negative number implies there are increasingly female competitors by rate (Anderson, Cheslock, and

Ehrenberg 2006; Yanus and O’Connor 2016). As far as the quantity of competitors, the DOE orders the ‘copied’ tally. For instance, a three-sport competitor taking part in the fall/winter/spring athletic seasons would be tallied multiple times for reasons for a competitor check (Mill operator v. College of Cincinnati 2008). To explain further, a competitor who strolls on and makes a group without a grant, groups that incompletely store or completely support themselves however are supported by the organization, and competitors in a list spot who may rehearse however don’t contend, are all meant athletic interest (Hogshead-Makar and Zimbalist 2007). The NCAA references that it is a misnomer to presume that magnificent prong one is a ‘protected harbor’ since fulfilling any of the three prongs is adequate for Title IX consistence. In fact the proportionality test is the standard that extremely drives the assurance of whether a school is consistent or rebellious with Title IX. The second and third pieces of the settlement test take into account consistence by something short of proportionality. In the instance of Boucher v. Syracuse University, the District Court allowed outline judgment to the respondent college since it had shown a background marked by program extension as the college had plans to include progressively intercollegiate groups for female understudies (1999). While it is conceivable to consent to Title IX with the subsequent prong, it isn’t the primary technique for examination, and it is hard for schools who don’t meet the primary prong to meet the second as Syracuse shown for their situation. Prong Three Interests and Abilities Fully Effectively accommodated. The third prong of the three-section test is an assurance if the school has completely and effectively suited the interests of the under-spoke to sex (Policy Interpretation: Title IX and Intercollegiate Athletics 1979).

Why go to college if you’re not guaranteed to get a good job? In today’s society with student debt at an all-time high going to college is necessarily meant for everybody since not everyone is fortunate enough to have the opportunity to travel to interviews or other things that enhance your resume to look better. Going to college is not needed in today’s world due to rising student debt and inequality at record levels.

Why attend college when you can excel in other careers and make the same money, if not more, without a degree? The website usatoday.com shows countless examples of well-paying jobs that pay on average about $70,000 a year. It claims that jobs like an electrician, Gaming manager, or personal care aide are not only good paying but enjoyable too. The website states that good-paying jobs without a degree don’t look for education they rather look for skills people bring to the business instead of what degree they have or what grades they had on an important test. This proves that in today’s society with technology advancing every day and opening career opportunities college isn’t the right thing to do anymore.

Sometimes a college degree does not pay off as much as it costs to get it, and sometimes the competitiveness of getting into a certain school or program makes the cost issue even more serious. When you graduate college it might leave you with debt, high stress levels, or possibly no self-motivation. The question that goes through every student’s head at least once is “Is college worth it?” This question is even more complicated for today’s average family household and prospective high school graduates. One of the main problems for today’s high school graduates is the rising price of college education. Attending college can add up fast considering the price of (room, board, books, supplies, transportation, and personal expenses. it can cost up to tens of thousands of dollars per year. In Steven Barkan’s book on social problems, Barkan states that “ Only 44% of all students who attend a four-year institution is lucky enough to have annual tuition and fees amount to less than $9,000 per year.” This means that of that 9,000 you would still be paying about 750 a month which could go towards your rent or invested into stocks which in ten years if invested properly could add up to about 40,000 dollars. Besides the costs and likelihood of getting in, college can still benefit your life in multiple ways.

Over the past 30 years, Greek life has gotten a lot of stereotypes, but this is because no one truly knows what goes on inside of the organization other than those that are a part of it. One might even say it’s a “secret society,” kind of like the Illuminati. But what is Greek life? It’s an organization for university students that help them gain life experience and help with the local community. Greek Life has always held a negative connotation that states if you join a fraternity or sorority then you gain the stigmas of only wanting to party and get drunk every night or to show you are above others in a materialistic way. In the past few decades, every good thing they do gets glazed over by all the negative connotations. Those being that all they do, once they join Greek life, is not care about school. But, a lot of that is false. Fraternity life is very strict, especially here on Nevada’s campus. They tend to drop people if their GPA is lower than 3.0 and if they also break the house rules or university rules.

Greek life is often referred to as a “secret society.” This is because you never truly know what goes on inside of it. When you try to ask a question about it, the member tends to deflect the question and tries to change the topic. But why is this? Is it because it’s tradition or is it something else? For example, I know quite a few people who are involved both in fraternities and sorties, and when asked about how their time is spent in the organization, they become very hesitant to answer. One friend, Jace Woodard, is a part of a fraternity on here campus and cannot discuss anything that he does, all their meetings for the house are to be called “business meetings” and not fraternity meetings. The term “secret society” reflects the idea of Greek life being the new “Illuminati”. The term may seem vague and slightly terrifying, but since the organization first emerged, they have consisted of a network of supporters who vow their lives to help a community and each other. This is done so both sides can band together as brothers and sisters until death does its part. In reality, Greek life is just one big club that houses a lot of traditions that they don’t want to get out of.

Greek life has a lot of negative stereotypes. The top is that you only join to party and get drunk every night, some might also say you “buy friendships” and sexual assault. But how true are these stereotypes? John Hopkins, a student journalist, states that “scholars had focused on alcohol use, sexual assault, and hazing, largely overlooking the organizations’ influences on student development.” And he’s completely right. I mean the stereotypes for Greek life all come from social media, movies and TV shows, and even our family members. We grow up in a society where we like to blame people for silly mistakes that we all make. Who can safely say they never got drunk in college? Or who never went out with friends because if they wanted to go have some fun? It’s because of the stigmas that we grew up with do we tend to blame the most obvious party. One thing a lot of people tend to say about those who join Greek life in college was the “popular” kids in high school. That statement couldn’t be more wrong, because Greek life is a welcome center for everyone, they try their best to accept anyone and everyone to the best of their abilities.

One of the most popular stereotypes in Greek life, mainly fraternities, is hazing. Hazing is defined as, “subjecting potential group members to degrading initiation rituals. (Honeycutt)” Ever since the 1970’s hazing has been a thing in fraternities, it’s when active members take the new members (pledges) and try to make them prove themselves that they belong within the house. It’s meant to be a harmless joke but has cost many kids their lives and even sometimes ruin their careers before they even start. The stereotype behind hazing new members is that active members will make the pledges drink a lot and then go “dare” them to do something like walk down the road wearing a silly costume, ring the school bell, etc. just some dumb harmless humor (Hollmann). But many believe that it’s always taken a bit too far, and it has been in the past. Little do people realize that hazing is illegal, this is because of how dangerous it can get, but most fraternities nowadays just make the pledges do one small thing that humiliates them. For example, one fraternity on campus made its current pledge class act like an animal for a full day, they weren’t allowed to speak to anyone and had to do certain things if someone said a key phrase or word, the joke ended once the fraternities meeting started later that night.

While there are a lot of negative connotations about Greek life, they do a lot of good and try their hardest to defy all the stereotypes. One of the biggest things that Fraternities and Sorties try to do is prepare their members for life after college. To do this they tend to push their active members to be the best and not give up. While this could be very challenging, most believe that in the end, it’s very rewarding. Everyone that I interviewed, had the same opinion when it came to the stereotypes made about Greek life. They all said they know it’s there, but it pushes them to strive for more, to prove to people that they aren’t what people say they are.

Joining Greek life can help college students. It gets them more involved with both on-campus and off-campus life. By joining a fraternity or sorority one can make lifetime friendships, gain leadership skills, and a lot more. One current student, Darby Shaw, states that joining a Sorority her Freshman year was one the best things she’s ever done. This is because of the friends she’s made during her journey and the things she does inside her sorority that help not only college students but also the surrounding Reno community. She states that Greek life is, “a complete personality and resume builder.” This is completely true because one of the main goals in Greek life is to help prepare members for life after college. By joining a Sorority, Darby was able to get two different finance internships over this past summer. This happened because of her current position as Vice President of Finance in Sigma Kappa. Darby also stated that joining Sigma Kappa helped build her personality more over the past four years. This is because she has become very involved in a community and is surrounded by people, she considers lifelong friends. She also mentioned that joining a sorority it has given her life opportunities that she would never have gotten to experience. These were going out of state to fundraisers and house meetings and being able to meet so many amazing people over the past four years.

Another way this community defies its stereotypes is through the statistics they prove every single year. Those are higher graduation rates, higher grade point averages, and even better chances of getting higher income after graduating (Routon & Walker). This is all done because of the support that each member has for their brothers and sisters. One thing no one likes to talk about is how each fraternity or sorority tries to push its current members to be the best they’ve ever been. This could imply school and social events. One sorority here on Nevada’s campus, Kappa Alpha Theta, pushes its members to do well in school. They tend to hold study sessions and even sometimes tutoring to the girls who are a part of the house. One former student, Austin Blatnick, was a part of the Fraternity Sigep de Mayo. He stated that he has, “gone into an interview before where I mentioned being in Greek life and one of the people who were on the panel had also been a part of my fraternity at some point.” What this implies is that by joining Greek life you can become very connected with the community and even be able to connect with others about it. Something that few people realize is just how big Greek life is. A lot of people tend to think it’s a small community, but thousands of people are either current or past members of a certain house. So, you never really know what or who you might come across.

Every sorority and fraternity has a mission. That mission is called philanthropy, the desire to promote the welfare of others, expressed through donations or money and good causes (Lara & Johnson). Some philanthropies help with diseases like Alzheimer’s, others help the surrounding communities with homelessness or children in need, and some even help those who are military veterans. With philanthropies, it helps get the stigma that Fraternities and Sororities are only created to party and not care about anyone but themselves. Instead, this organization helps get its members out in the world and do some good. For example, Sigma Kappa has 5 different philanthropies that they are a part of. Those being, “The Sigma Kappa Foundation, Inherit the Earth Gerontology, Maine Seacoast Mission, and Alzheimer’s research.” All these missions strive out to different communities around the world to help bring awareness to it all. With the “Inherit the Earth Gerontology” and “Seacoast Mission,” Sigma Kappa does its best to go around and pick up trash and help push for environmental-friendly lifestyles. As for Alzheimer’s research, Sigma Kappa raises money all year round to help fund research for a cure for Alzheimer’s and donate money to organizations that sponsor the disease and help spread awareness about it. Philanthropies also help the members gain community hours. This could be very beneficial for both school and career-related things. Writers Christen Lara and Daniel Johnson stated this about philanthropies being used by Greek life, “Philanthropy given by alumni is an important, and increasingly important, source of financing for institutions of higher education. Given the competition for those donations, it would be valuable for smaller institutions to be able to model the potential of their own alumni database, and to identify high-probability, untapped philanthropists.” This statement provides the details that further enlist the idea of philanthropies being good not only for the community but also for the institution or organization.

In the past 3 decades, Greek life has gotten an infinite number of stereotypes that will last forever. But how true are those stereotypes? How did we get them in the first place? The answer to that one may seem simple but is quite complex. This is because we all grew up with the negative connotations of going Greek. We got it from movies and TV shows, the media, and even sometimes our parents, who were in a sorority or fraternity. It appears that joining a fraternity or sorority is very taboo nowadays, but why is that? Is it because we don’t truly know what goes on inside the organization, or is it because we want to believe everything we see on social media and the big screens?

Greek life has helped many people get through college and has even opened the floodgates for those graduating. From making friends to being involved with the university and local communities, this organization has benefited people so much in the past 200-plus years it’s been around. While the negative stigmas will always stick to the terms Fraternity and Sorority, just try to remember all the good they do. Sure, they like to party and have a good time, but what college student doesn’t?