Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1961-07-30
EDUCATION FORUM
By BENJAMIN FINE

@. Our son enters his last
year in high school this fall.
He has average academic
ability, doing B work. Can you
recommend a college that will
take him? Do colleges accept
students with average ability?
A. Many colleges will accept
a B student. Indeed, colleges
will also accept the c student.
Not every one is Of A caliber.
And who knows, really,
whether your average" boy
with a B record in high school
might not make a name for
himself in his chosen profess
sion in later life? We tend to
place too much emphasis on
marks. Ask your guidance
counselor for a list Of colleges
that will consider your son.
Should an average student
go to college? My answer is
yes. It is important that our
country get the skills from all
its citizens, whether average or
especially gifted. OF course, not
every boy should try for the
Ivy college, or the four-year
institution. To some, the two
year junior college may be the
answer. And to others, the an
swer may lie in the diverse
offerings of q State university.
Remember: Colleges do accept
average students.
Q. I am So with only q high
school equivalency diploma. ]
have a keen interest and apti-
tude for foreign languages.
made extraordinary progress
in Spanish while living in
South America for a year. Am
I too old to start a college
career? I'm willing to work
hard, take correspondence
courses, private instruction OF
attend classes. I want to teach
Spanish.
A. I'm afraid the cards are
stacked against you. You would
have a rough time entering
college, at your age, as 8
freshman. 1t would take foul
years to get your degree. Their
you might find that at age s.
the schools would not find 8
place for you. Correspondence
courses might prove valuable
but certainly they will not re.
place a college degree. Neither
would private instruction de
more than give you the per.
sonal satisfaction of mastering
the Spanish language better.
I don't want to sound pes.
SimiStic, as I don't like Il
discourage anyone who wants
to continue with his education
Not long ago I advised a SO.
year-old man to go to evening
college, as I thought he wouls
be more comfortable at thai
age with mature evening stu
dents than with young fresh
men. A number of readers pro
tested, saying that college
should be open to all persons
regardless of age. I agree. Blu
from the realistic point o
view, you will find the goint
difficult and unless you are ,
woman Of determination anC
unusual Stick-to-it stamina
you will drop out before thu
four years are up.
@. With college tuition goint
up each year, how can {
family with average incom,
send a child to college? MY
son is a high school senior
recently made "a on a ma
tional geometry test, is on the
track team, was elected to thu
honor club and is bright. Yet
his prospects of going to col.
lege are poor, although hi
wants to go. We have foul
other children, all younger
and they appear bright, too
Where can we get money? My
husband makes $50 a week
which isn't much. Even a State
University is out of our reach
Please tell me what we car
do?
A. I wish I could help you
Money is a major factor ir
college attendance. DR.. Donald
S. Bridgman, consultant fol
the National Science Founda-
ton, following a Nationwide
study, found that among high