Question

Educational institutions should actively encourage their students to choose fields of study that will prepare them for lucrative careers.
Write a response in which you discuss your views on the policy and explain your reasoning for the position you take. In developing and supporting your position, you should consider the possible consequences of implementing the policy and explain how these consequences shape your position.

Hint:

When a prompt asks you to consider the "consequences," structure your body paragraphs around them. You can dedicate one paragraph to the positive consequences and one or two paragraphs to the negative consequences. This creates a logical flow and directly addresses the prompt's requirements.

Answer 1

Step 1: Understanding the Prompt and Deconstructing the Policy
The core policy is: "Educational institutions should actively push students towards high-paying career paths." Your task is to analyze this policy by discussing its "possible consequences." This means you must think about the short-term and long-term effects on students, institutions, and society as a whole. Your own position should be shaped by this analysis.
Step 2: Brainstorming Consequences of the Policy

Positive Consequences (Arguments FOR the policy):
Economic Benefit to Students: Graduates would have higher earning potential, leading to greater financial stability, lower student loan default rates, and increased ability to contribute to the economy.
Meeting Market Demands: The educational system would become more aligned with the needs of the economy, filling critical gaps in high-demand fields like STEM and finance.
Increased Institutional Prestige/Funding: Universities whose graduates have high employment rates and salaries may attract more funding, better applicants, and higher rankings.

Negative Consequences (Arguments AGAINST the policy):
Devaluation of Humanities and Arts: Fields like philosophy, history, literature, and the fine arts, which are often less lucrative but are critical for developing critical thinking, empathy, and cultural understanding, would be neglected.
Stifling of Innovation and Passion: Pushing students into careers based solely on salary may discourage them from pursuing their true passions, which are often the drivers of groundbreaking innovation and personal fulfillment. Society could lose out on future great artists, social scientists, or basic researchers.
Risk of Market Fluctuation: A career that is lucrative today may be automated or outsourced tomorrow. A broad-based education that teaches adaptable skills (like critical thinking) may be more valuable in the long run than narrow vocational training for a specific high-paying job.
Increased Student Unhappiness: Forcing a student into a field they dislike can lead to burnout, career dissatisfaction, and mental health issues, regardless of the salary.

Step 3: Structuring Your Essay
A strong essay on this topic would explore the consequences in a balanced way.
Introduction:
Introduce the proposed policy and the tension between pragmatic, economic goals and the broader purposes of education.
State your thesis, which should be based on your analysis of the consequences. e.g., "While encouraging students to consider financial viability is a responsible measure, actively prioritizing lucrative careers over all other factors would have detrimental consequences for individual fulfillment and societal progress, ultimately undermining the core mission of education."

Body Paragraph 1 (The Merits of the Policy):
Acknowledge the positive consequences. Discuss the practical benefits of financial stability for graduates and the alignment with economic needs. This shows you understand the motivation behind the policy.

Body Paragraph 2 (The Negative Consequences for Individuals):
Discuss the detrimental effects on students, such as the suppression of passion and the risk of career dissatisfaction. Argue that personal fulfillment is a key component of a successful life that the policy ignores.

Body Paragraph 3 (The Negative Consequences for Society):
Broaden your argument to discuss the societal impact. Explain how devaluing the humanities and basic sciences could lead to a less innovative, less empathetic, and less culturally rich society.

Conclusion:
Summarize the key consequences you have discussed.
Reiterate your position. Instead of a simple rejection, you might propose a more balanced alternative, such as providing robust career counseling while still preserving a broad and diverse curriculum.