Intellectual Decay

Note: I coined that term a few months ago while describing the downward trend of education in our society.

With that in mind...

The AP U.S history test is considered to be one of the hardest exams of its kind.

Roughly 60% of people who take it fail, if I remember correctly.

In May, after months of anxiety and almost driving myself to the literal brink of insanity via hours of intense studying, I took the American history Advanced Placement exam. So did McKenzie McCann.

Now, do give you an idea of just how rigorous this test is, allow to explain what's involved. Students are expected to write three essays in an hour and thrity minutes as well as answer eighty multiple choice questions. We had studied everything from Columbus' "discovery" of America all the way up to the 1980s in preparation. Most people take the test as a junior in high school. I was a sophomore.

How it's scored is that a bunch of tests are spread out on a table and some professors or historians look them over and score them based on the numbers 1 to 5. A 1 means you fail; no college will give you credit. A 4 or 5 means you can get into any college you want. A 3 is technically passing and you have a pretty good chance of getting credit from most colleges. But of course there is a difference between what's written on paper and what a college actually looks for.

Ready for it? ...I got a 2. "Possibly qualified" as they put it.

Granted, I acknowledge that the experience of having taken this test already does look good on paper regardless of my score. Colleges are impressed by people who go the extra mile. Supposedly it proves they really want to learn for the sake of learning, or to get a good job, which these days requires a college education. I also acknowledge that if I major in English, my chances of getting a good job in that field are slim. So why do I cling to this dream of mine? Simple: I believe in learning for the sake of learning.

If I college were to accept me, I would work my ass off to glean whatever I could from the experience. However, they would also have to accept the fact that I suck at math. It's that simple. No one gains anything by me pretending to be good at something I am not. If I took calculus in high school because it looks good on paper, I would be lying both to colleges and to myself.

Listen, I don't know if this makes any sense or not, but I hate that we capitalize education the way we do. I understand that schools must have standards, but the fact is that stupider people than me graduate from college every year. Grades and tests are not an accurate measure of intelligence. But then, what is? I admit I don't have an answer. It's when students who genuinely want to learn for the sake of learning don't get the opportunity because they lack the money or extra curricular activities that the system fails. Colleges do not look at the person, they look at the paper. That's my theory anyway.

I'd like to know your thoughts.