The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1913-10-04
DR.. McVey Discusses
Entrance Requirements

In the September issue of The
Popular Science Monthly is a scholar
ly article on the subject, College I'm
franc Requirements, written by DIR,
F. l.. McVey, president Of the uni
Versity Of North Dakota and a member
Of the new State Board Of Education.
This article is especially opportune
coming at a time when students are
l uzzling their minds over the choice
Of a college Or university and the
selection of courses of study. This
selection is a matter to which thou
sanos Of high school students through
out the country and thousands of COL
lege men and women, for that matter,
must give serious and earnest con
sideration.
Problem is Complicated.
A phase of the situation that great
ly complexities the solution Of the
problem Is the fact that in many
school course does not have the slight
est idea what college or university he
will enter four years hence, or he may
not at that time intend to go to any
higher institution of learning. Ac-
cordingly at the completion of high
school course, a student may find that
he cannot meet the requirements OF
the college or university he desires to
enter, not because the high school he
attended does not provide adequate
instruction and facilities but solely
because he did not select his studies
with a view to meeting the college
entrance requirements Of that par
ticular institution.
= Another complication Is that caused
by the fact that the requirements of
different colleges asst and west are
not the same and so 1t may be an
impossibility for the average high
school to meet the demands of all Of
tt en-.
A Broad Point of View.
For several years a marked change
has taken place in the attitude, Of
colleges and universities toward the
matter of entrance requirements. The
examination of catalogues, articles and
discussions shows clearly the swinging
of opinion from the former college
view to the high school way Of re-
garding the question. 1t Is now
generally conceded that the relation
ship existing between the college and
whole system of education and not a
specific relation between two Of the
factors Of that system.
The growth of the high school at
tendance and the emphasis upon the
importance of it as a factor have been
brought about by a clearer recognition
Of the high school in it's relation to
public education.
Emphasis Upon Citizenship.
The placing of the emphasis upon
citizenship and the efficiency of the
individual seems to point c~onclusively
to a larger freedom on the part Of the
high schools and their management to
meet the specific needs of the group
Of young people who come to their
doors. "a.
The recognition Of the mechanic
arts. household science n agriculture
together with the attempt to reflect
the major industries of the community
have brought the vocational idea in
conflict with the traditional one of
culture.
To the student OF educational prob--
lens the middle ground seems the
,saner position to take since it is pos
sfble for young people to secure a
blending of liberal and vocational
training at the same time and, through
this combination, education can re-
-ceive the proper emphasis upon its
social significance. The combination
OF b two makes possible a closer
relationship Of the work which the how
is doing, to the welfare Of society.
Requirements of Universities.
The paper includes a table showing
the, admission units required in the
liberal arts colleges of the various
state universities. Tswenty-fiye 81
them require fifteen units for admis.
sion. The average entrance require
ments are three units Of English, one