Sep 17 2007
CollegeNET and Scholarship Election
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There are a plethora of companies and websites out there that offer scholarships to help fund a student’s college career. I imagine you could think of at least three such places off the top of your head, but can you think of one that has a scholarship election system?
CollegeNET.com utilizes a unique system, which they call “scholarship election”, that essentially allows the students to determine who should and should not be awarded the scholarship funds. The process through which the students can determine the eligibility of one another is rather interesting as it incorporates aspects that everyone can agree are essential to academic and just real-world growth.
Each month students are given topics that they can expound upon. Topics range from forever hot-button-topics like abortion and religion to current events. Each student can cast votes on these discussions. At the end of each month, on midnight, the votes are tabulated and the top students who have accumulated the most voting points are awarded the scholarship money and discussion begins anew for the next month.
The ability to formulate and express one’s thoughts and opinions into a cohesive argument is something that cannot be taught in solely in a classroom. It is a skill that is acquired and honed through practice. But if one does not receive constructive criticism along the way their development will be severely stunted. CollegeNET’s system allows for both. Students are able to get practice on how to better express themselves and the voting system allows them to track their progress and improve their skills. I find this to be highly preferable to the old system of just sending in an essay and hoping the person that is reading them isn’t too bored, tired, or upset, when they get to yours.
