Education Quote by Steven D. Levitt
““Colleges and universities, meanwhile, have no such qualms about torturing their applicants. Think about how much work a high-school student must do to even be considered for a spot at a decent college. The difference in college and job applications is especially striking when you consider that a job applicant will be getting paid upon acceptance while a college applicant will be paying for the privilege to attend.””
About This Quote
Source Article: The Economist, “College Admissions and the Cost of Applying”, 2015
College admissions demand extensive effort from students, often unpaid, unlike job hiring where applicants are compensated.
In simple terms: College applications are labor‑intensive and costly for students.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the imbalance and seek fairer processes.
Themes
education
inequality
labor
economics
Mood
critical
concerned
Type
analytical
commentary
When to use this quote
- high‑school seniors applying to college
- career counselors advising applicants
- policy makers reforming admissions
Key Concepts
human capital
signaling
transaction costs
Questions to Reflect On
- How can admissions be made less burdensome?
- What alternatives exist to assess applicant potential?
A Different Perspective
The system can perpetuate socioeconomic disparity by favoring those with resources.
![“[...]if you are hoping to damage opponents' mental health, go ahead and tell them how inferior or dim-witted or nasty they are. But even if you are certifiably right on every point, you should not think for a minute that you will ever be able to persuade them. Name-calling will make you an enemy…” quote by Steven D. Levitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/4e9/steven-d-levitt-5284_first-place_if-you-are-hoping-to-damage-opponents-me_193482.jpg)
