Why my daughter said no to Oxford University and yes to Leeds | Oxbridge and elitism | The Guardian

[Oluwatoyin Vincent Adepoju]

https://www.theguardian.com/education/2019/sep/01/my-daughter-rejected-oxford-university-history-of-art-leeds

[Dawn E. Smith]

This article is very interesting because I feel as though a lot of students pick schools based on the props it give their career and success. By Rose being raised around Britain culture it was a big step for her to step away from what's expected and do what she felt was right for her. Although the school could give her a lot of connections she based her decision on what she believed and valued. I feel as though it is important for our generation to create our own expectations and not do things because of family traditions or for the perceptions associated with doing what we choose.

On Monday, September 2, 2019 at 5:40:23 PM UTC-5, Oluwatoyin Vincent Adepoju wrote:

https://www.theguardian.com/education/2019/sep/01/my-daughter-rejected-oxford-university-history-of-art-leeds

[Keaontay Ingram]

In this article Rose event with her gut feeling while picking which school she wanted to attend to for her future. Instead of her listening to everyone else about the reason to go to the school, she wanted something different for her self. She chose a different path from everyone  else. I personally agree with her decisions because when you make a life long decisions it should be for yourself instead about someone else opinion. At the end of the day you have to live with that and I feel like Rose chose a different culture for her liking and befits for herself. It is great to see someone else choose a different path instead of following other people's perspective.

[Alexandra V Rodrigues]

This article by Sophie Hastings touches on a topic becoming increasingly controversial which is the debate between choosing the brand or the personal fit for college.  Most people choosing the former because its associated with better job acceptance rates, higher salaries, and social prestige that the latter won't receive.  No one ever tells you "I think it's great that you felt TCU was a better fit than Yale" and if they do its out of sympathy, because most people would be so shocked by the decision.  Most students nowadays, myself included, are trying to go to the best possible school they can get into which carries with it a "brand name", the same way an authentic Gucci purse is viewed differently than one from Target.  This student had the courage to do what most don't and this article captures that rarity. 

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Alexandra Rodrigues 

[Amber Schriever]

I found this article very interesting in that it shows another perspective on education that I have not been completely aware of. Oxford is one of the prestigious universities in the world, and I would have never thought of turning it down. After reading the discussion, it makes sense. I always try to put my money in places that represent my beliefs, so why not do the same with education? 

[Kiana Fithian]

I believe it was brave of Rose to choose a path that not necessarily everyone would’ve agreed with. She made the decision for herself, focusing on a personal fit rather than prestige, brand, and herd mentality. On a larger scale, this is and example of how the individual should act within a greater group or population. While everyone is influenced by the people who raise them and by the culture that surrounds them, they shouldn’t blindly accept beliefs of others and claim them as their own, but instead listen to the knowledge and advice of those around but still come to their own conclusions about the world and the people in it.

[Katherine Serradell]

In this article, the writer explains why her daughter, Rose, opted out of going to the University at Oxford. Although it was a shock to many people, and many thought she was making a mistake, she stuck to her instinct and decided to attend the University of Leeds to gain the value that comes from a vibrant culture. I really enjoyed this article because it helps people reevaluate their assumptions when it comes to an individual’s education being linked to the possibility of power and class in their future careers. It can be hard to swim against the tide, but it is great to see that there are students who value the mix of cultures and diversity as part of their university experience. After all, there is so much we can learn from each other’s various backgrounds and it can be far more valuable to be culturally competent in an ever-changing world than having the “white privilege” of having gone to a highly acclaimed school.

[Strike Mkandla]

My comment on the brave student's choice of Leeds over Oxbridge is to congratulate her mother for resisting the inevitable pressure to push her own instincts. I had the great "advantage" that I was born of peasants turned workers who did not go beyond half of primary school. They could not have made choices except to advise that I look forward to "safe" professional choices. But my my children grew among books and papers of very literate parents with opinions and experience on several fronts. We have struggled to avoid prescribing to our three children as they chose their paths into university, The ,most important thing for me is how to remain positive and supportive even where initial choices bring unexpected challenges and doubts.

[Ifeoma Okonkwo]

This article embodies women moving into the further. Growing up in the African community women were always supervised on every aspect of life. Who to date, what school to go to, always being groomed to fit the tradition of their household. This article is a step away from the norm because Rose built up the courage to leave the norm, to decide her fate, instead of filling her cultures fate for her. I love women empowerment and Rose has set the bar for things to come.

[Djimon Phillips]

In this article, we focus on the effects of a woman with a choice. With two options in her grasps for where she would carry out her education, Oxford or Leeds, it sparked outrage when she picked the "less" prestigious of the two. While solicited input from loved ones and friends on the decisions you plan to make is always helpful, opinions on one's decision that they have made for themselves are obnoxious and uncalled for, especially in Rose's case. The simple actions of her being able to choose and how upset others got over her decisions displays just how much power individuals feel entitled to in terms of deciding a woman's life.

[Oluwatoyin Vincent Adepoju]

Superb summation, Alexandra

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[Briana Releford]

This article hits home because it is about a young women deciding which collegiate experience is best for her. She must choose between the “prestigious” university, which enables “greater” experience and expertise, or the university in which she feels best fits her personally. I too was once in her shoes. I had to choose between traveling out of state to attend UCLA, which would grant me more opportunities in my passion, or staying in state and attending UT, which get more comfortable for me due to its proximity to home In the end, I made the decision to go to UT, and I can honestly say I made the best decision for me. Sometimes, we have to have block out external factors, such as our parents, and make the decision that we deem the most fit for ourselves.

[John Samuel Burleson]

 

I found this article to be incredibly refreshing. I attended a public school in Houston and had many close friends who fell into to same predicament. Unfortunately, many of us were taught to make good grades in hopes of attending the college with the highest reputation in order to help our careers in the future. It is clear to me that Rose would have been successful, regardless of what school she attended due to her in independent attitude towards the decisions she makes. I love seeing individuals make decisions for themselves because ultimately the college you attend comes down to where you believe you will fit in. I wish Rose the best of luck and admire her decision!