Dear reader, a crisis is looming in our universities as a generation ill-prepared by pandemic-ravaged K-12 education floods campuses. Months of learning loss compounded by systemic issues threaten academic standards.
Consider the alarming grade inflation epidemic—where high grades belie low standards—rendering GPAs meaningless. In Los Angeles, for instance, inflated A’s mask the stark reality that only a fraction meet grade-level standards.
Moreover, the abandonment of standardized tests by over 80% of colleges exacerbates the problem. While imperfect, these tests offer critical insights into academic readiness, unlike biased holistic measures favoring affluent students.
Picture the quintessential 2023 freshman—patchy knowledge, unprepared for college rigors. His incomplete education leaves him adrift in subjects like algebra or historical analysis, his deficiencies unacknowledged by a system averse to failure.
As universities face this influx, they must choose: uphold standards or succumb to mediocrity. Readopting standardized tests isn’t about elitism but ensuring meritocracy in professions like medicine and law.
These students deserve more than lowered standards—they need rigorous challenges, inspiring curricula, and institutions committed to their academic growth. Amidst the challenges, perhaps lies an opportunity for this generation to rise above expectations.
