A College Administrator Is Talking to a New Group of Students

question 212

Essay

A college administrator is talking to a new group of students at the university. He points out that it takes a lot of thought and work to get into a university, speaks of the university in glowing terms, and finally compliments the students by telling them they are smart. Meanwhile, the students are thinking they were admitted to the university because of money, cheating in high school, special preparation for the entrance exams, or their parents. What psychological effect on the new students are the administrator's statements likely to have? How might these statements have an impact on the students' future academic behavior?

---

Definitions:

Spiritual Concept

refers to ideas, beliefs, or principles related to the soul, spirit, or sacred matters, playing a role in an individual's sense of meaning and purpose in life.

Hope

A feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen.

Validation

The process of acknowledging and accepting someone's feelings, thoughts, or experiences as legitimate.

Dying Person

An individual who is in the final stage of life, typically due to terminal illness or old age.