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Is college worth it? Young males are opting out
Young Americans -- especially males -- see college as a high-cost, high-risk choice.

Joanne Jacobs
Apr 28, 20252 min read
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Hammer drops on student loan defaulters: No delays, no mercy
After five years of deferrals and loan forgiveness, the federal government wants student borrowers to pay what they owe.

Joanne Jacobs
Apr 24, 20252 min read
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The college admissions essay is absurd, unfair and cringe
The college essay favors students who know how to exaggerate their adversity and fake humility.

Joanne Jacobs
Apr 6, 20252 min read
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Colleges can admit 'diverse' students without racial preferences
Universities can enhance diversity by giving an admissions break to disadvantaged students of all races. It's legal and it's good politics.

Joanne Jacobs
Apr 2, 20252 min read
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1460+ (SAT) or 33+ (ACT) and you're in at U of Austin
The University of Austin will guarantee admissions to students with very high test scores.

Joanne Jacobs
Apr 1, 20252 min read
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At an average university, the average student is 'functionally illiterate'
College students can't read well and don't try, writes a philosophy professor.

Joanne Jacobs
Mar 31, 20253 min read
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Academia tilts very far to the left: Restoring balance won't be easy
Renaming DEI departments and ending diversity statements won't fix academia's intellectual monoculture.

Joanne Jacobs
Mar 24, 20252 min read
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DEI double take
Columbia researchers say they're losing federal grants for DEI language that they were required to add by the Biden administration.

Joanne Jacobs
Mar 23, 20252 min read
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Covid broke public schools: Let's build a 'future-ready' system
Education's "new normal" is horrifying. Let's build a new education system out of the ashes.

Joanne Jacobs
Mar 17, 20252 min read
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College and career success for all
Even college-focused charter schools are urging students to consider a range of career and post-high school options.

Joanne Jacobs
Mar 11, 20252 min read
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Dear Colleague: Do what the Ed Department wants -- or else
The Education Department has used "guidance" letters to force states, colleges and districts to spend hundreds of millions of dollars.

Joanne Jacobs
Mar 4, 20253 min read
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Asian-American computer whiz sues UC for admissions bias
The University of California is being sued by Asian-American achievers who charge racial discrimination in admissions.

Joanne Jacobs
Feb 23, 20251 min read
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'Americans got tired of being ridiculed for values like equality, color-blindness, and responsibility,' and now it's backlash time
The anti-DEI backlash is fierce, because so many people were forced to suppress their real feelings.

Joanne Jacobs
Feb 18, 20252 min read
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How do homeschoolers turn out?
Long-term homeschoolers are less likely to earn a bachelor's degree and earn less than non-homeschoolers, but they're happier.

Joanne Jacobs
Feb 10, 20251 min read
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Meritocracy 2.0: Can we celebrate weird geniuses and jocks?
Can we create a merit-based society that's more than a rat race?

Joanne Jacobs
Jan 21, 20252 min read
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Biden's education legacy: Lots of spending, no new ideas
Biden's education legacy: He gave schools billions to recover from the pandemic, but didn't focus on learning.

Joanne Jacobs
Jan 20, 20252 min read
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Credits for competency makes sense -- if colleges avoid the credit-recovery route
"Competency-based" education makes sense -- if students really are competent.

Joanne Jacobs
Jan 11, 20252 min read
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'Give yourself a break' is bad advice: Do difficult things!
Young people need to believe they can do difficult things. Don't tell them they're fragile.

Joanne Jacobs
Jan 6, 20252 min read
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Is a college degree worth the cost? 45% say 'no'
Americans think college costs too much and want more focus on preparing students for jobs.

Joanne Jacobs
Dec 20, 20241 min read
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STEM students will face sink-or-swim calculus in California
California community colleges will require unprepared STEM majors to be placed in calculus.

Joanne Jacobs
Dec 12, 20242 min read
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