GMAT Preparation Sample Essay AWA
Computers in schools will provide a great leap forward for students that previously lacked the ability to access the Internet or practice their computer skills.
The Internet facilitates research for students for school work and other interests. The Internet also provides opportunities for students to test out their ideas and interact with people around the world. Educational companies such as INTOTHEBEST, Inc., use the Internet to distribute their books and educational materials. Over 50,000 people have downloaded my book, The INTOTHEBEST College Guide which helps students prepare for college and get into the best school for them.
Before the Internet, students did fine, but the research process took more time. In doing research papers, I had to go to the library to look up books and sources. Today, reading the New York Times on the Internet saves me money since I don't have to pay for a subscription, and lets me keep up with current events. I learned about the work of a professor at Harvard, Caroline Hoxby, who researches the value of going to the most selective school possible for undergraduates. Professor Hoxby's research papers are available online for free.
Computer skills are valuable for students because they allow students to be more competitive at work and get better-paying jobs during school and after they graduate from college. Having access to computers in school is the first step towards improving computer skills. I started taking computer classes in sixth grade. By 8th grade, I could type at 85 words per minute. In 12th grade, I received my first personal computer and in college, I bought my first PC.
Having computers in school is good, but having computers at home is better. Playing around on my own PC, I learned more than I did from the computer at school. There is a fear among people who don't understand computers that they will break something if they do something wrong. Having my own computer gave me opportunities to fix things when something went wrong, install operating system upgrades, new memory, software, hardware, and other peripherals. Computer skills helped me move from working in the dining hall to working in the computer lab at Princeton. That job made it easier for me to get a job at an IT consulting firm after graduation, which led to other consulting opportunities around the world. These skills gave me the foundation to create my own company.
There are downsides to having Internet access. I find myself checking e-mail and reading Web site newspapers more than I should. Students probably spend more time on instant messaging than they spend reading books. Research has shown that young people are spending less time watching TV and more time surfing the Web. Given that time on the Web is interactive, this is probably a step in the right direction.
Overall, computers in schools will open up new windows of opportunity for motivated students to take advantage of the amount of information available in the world, which is increasing at the fastest rate in history.
As Ben Franklin said, "Empty the coins in your purse into your mind, and your mind will fill your purse with gold." The Internet facilitates this process, enabling more students to gain access to educational materials that will enrich their lives.
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