Research Proposal Assignment
Working title: Ivy League Students and their one track
mind to Elite Jobs
Topic:
For
my research paper I want to study the mindset of students in Ivy League schools
and how these elite schools push to shape their students into competitive and
marketable candidates for the elite jobs in the United States that really can
only be obtained by graduating from the top schools. I want to focus on the
idea that these students attending Ivy League schools are less focused on
learning and more focused on doing well with the sole purpose of furthering
their elite status by earning a high paying position upon graduation.
Research Question:
From the view point of the United States’
top universities, is it feasible to define the term success as maintaining
one’s elite status by obtaining a high paying job that is practically only
offered to those of high stature. And is that contradicting the theory of
meritocracy?
Theoretical Frame:
The
two theories I am looking into right now is the elite theory and the theory of
meritocracy. The elite theory recognizes the idea that the elite which include
those that attend top universities, are those who have and continue to hold a
high percentage of power just due to their wealth and education. Devon Peterson
references this theory in his work “ Careers at Princeton: The Allures and
Drawbacks of Elite Jobs. He discusses that those who attend elite universities
have this mindset that they must have a job that accentuates their elite
status, he writes “For four years we have enjoyed being the most elite
college-aged kids in one of the most elite nation to ever exist, these banking
firms provide us with a way to maintain our elite status in society”
(Peterson). He is referencing Wall Street, a job market which has recently
become all the rage for Ivy League students, however just a dream for others.
This is where I want to look at the theory of meritocracy and see if this
theory is even realistic in today’s economy. Meritocracy
is the theory that one’s success is dependent on one’s ability and effort.
Meaning that social class plays the backseat and as long as you’re smart and
work hard you can be just as successful as anyone else. As Karen Ho states in
her work “Biography of Hegemony”, meritocracy is a big part of the American
dream however the way Wall Street recruiting contradicts the theory. Wall
Street recruiters hire ivy league graduates, simple as that however not fair to
say the least. This trend of elite’s hiring only those of their status is an
unfortunate truth of the American economy.
Research and Plan:
As
far as my research and planning I am going to take a better look into how the
Ivy Leagues and students attending them measure achievements. The source I have
that seems to be the most helpful when it comes to determining that is “I Saw
the Best Minds of My Generation Destroyed by The Ivy” by W. Deresiewicz. While
the title sounds extremely negative, it is primarily the Deresiewicz opinion as
he discusses that people he is referring to consider themselves very
successful. It’s all a matter of opinion and that why I’m very interested in
find the opinion of the Ivy Leagues. I also want to look more into the idea
that students who attend the top universities are there to further their high
class status rather than becoming intellectually smarter. What makes them so
money hungry and is that something that best for our society? In general, I
still feel as though I need more information on elite jobs as well. What
constitutes an elite job and how have they been able to shut regular people out
when America’s whole vision is surrounded by the idea of meritocracy?
1.
Bruni,
Frank. "Chapter 7: An Elite Edge?" Where You Go Is Not Who You'll
Be. New York: Grand Central, 2015. 135-55. Print.
2.
Deresiewicz, W. "I Saw the Best Minds of My Generation
Destroyed by The Ivy League." New Republic 245.13 (n.d.): 24-29. Social
Sciences Citation Index. Web. 11 Oct. 2016.
3.
Duboff, Josh. “Six College Students Create
Job-Search Site.” Yale Daily News, www.yaledailynews.com, 2005.
4.
Ho, Karen. “Biographies of Hegemony.” The New Humanities
Reader, 5th edition. Kurt Spellmeyer and Richard Miller, eds. Stamford,
CT: Cengage Learning, 2015. 165-191. Print.
5.
Jones, Michael. "The Hard Truth About Soft Skills: What
Recruiters Look For In Business Graduates." College Student
Journal 50.3 (2016): 422-428. Academic Search Premier.
Web. 24 Oct. 2016.
6.
Lawler, Peter Augustine. "Grade Inflation, Democracy, And
The Ivy League." Perspectives On Political Science 30.3 (2001):
133. Academic Search Premier. Web. 11 Oct. 2016.
7.
Mullen, A. "Elite Destinations: Pathways To Attending An
Ivy League University." British Journal Of Sociology Of Education
30.1 (2009): 15-27. Social Sciences Citation Index. Web. 24 Oct. 2016.
8.
Peterson, Devon. “Careers at Princeton: The Allure and Drawbacks
of Elite Jobs.” Daily Princetonian, 2002.
9.
Thompson, Lyndon. "Please don't cling to the ivy." Education
Journal Jan. 2009: 20. Academic Search Premier. Web. 11 Oct. 2016.
