Access to Education and Academic Filters

It is everyone’s right to have access to basic education. Governments have implemented programs that offer free education to their residents for the primary and secondary levels. However, this greatly changes when students are to enter college education. Though it is the students who get to choose whichever university or college they want to further their studies, they still have to pass the qualifications set by the institutions they are trying to get in. In a sense, these universities and colleges also choose, albeit academically and objectively, who they want to study the courses they are offering. They place in academic filters that sort those who are qualified to become their students from those who are unfit.

There are ways that universities and colleges implement their academic filters. They often require applicants to submit documents to prove their academic qualifications. These documents include but are not limited to transcript of records or true copy of grades, written recommendation from previous school and personal statement.

The transcript of records or true copy of grades is a document that outlines in graphs the students’ academic performance during his attendance on a certain school. It lists the student’s achievements as well as the grades and honours received. The university wherein the student is applying to may request a copy of the transcript to prove that he qualifies for the course. A written recommendation may also be given by the administrator or a professor for a student to qualify.

Aside from the transcript, the university may also require applicant to submit a personal statement. Universities use this document as away to gain personal knowledge of the application without actually interviewing him. The personal statement is a chance for the applicant to sell himself to the university by detailing what the transcript cannot. The applicant, however, must not use this document to place information not necessarily true about him. The university will eventually find out whether what is written on the statement is true or not.

These filters show that education is a privilege in which only those who have good academic grades can access.