Issue topic - Educational institutions have a responsibility to dissuade students from pursuing fields of study in which they are unlikely to succeed.

Write a response in which you discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with the claim. In developing and supporting your position, be sure to address the most compelling reasons and/or examples that could be used to challenge your position.

The statement suggests that educational institutions should recommend students to match their pursuing fields of study with their capability instead of following their own interests. Surly a perfect match between the major field of study and the innate disposition of the student would help them succeed in the competitive job market. Examples could be drawn from the numerous successful professionals who had the fortune to work in a field that matches their interests and talents. Albert Einstein, one of the greatest physicists in human history, had the opportunities to study physics in ETH Zurich. Wolfgang Frank, who originally studied law, made an important decision to transfer to Chinese studies in his freshman year. This decision turned out to be crucial for his entire career as he gained the opportunities to fully nurture his natural interests in studying China. However, the importance of the match between individual interests and studying fields does not necessarily imply that educational institutions are obligated to restrict the options for students. Academic freedom is essential for the growth of both the university and students.

Natural interests and academic potentials need to be discovered through studying the subjects first. It is a common misconception that each individual is assigned a certain piece of talents before entering educational institutes. However, the actual process often works in the reverse direction. As the famous mathematician Shing Tung Yau said, a mathematics graduate student should take sufficient mathematics courses before making a wise decision on which research topic they would like to specialize into. Dissuading students from studying any subject they like would prevent them from realizing undiscovered academic potentials within that subject.

In contrast to the statement, we can see how studying different subjects provide a sound education for the entire career development for the students. Consider the example of liberal art education in the US university system. Freshman students in most of the US universities are required to take courses in different academic disciplines including basic STEM subjects, music, fine arts, and literature. Even science students with little interests or capabilities in Art benefit from taking these enriching subjects as they provide a sound foundation for any specialization in the later stage of the university. This educational approach turns out to be successful as it cultivates one of the largest pools of scientist, artists and business professionals around the globe.

This last example shows how academic freedom allows exchange of ideas from different disciplines which in turn helps advance the disciplines themselves. By allowing students and scholars to pursue subjects of their interests, new branches of academic subjects could be developed. Consider how Bertrand Russell, one of the greatest philosopher in the 20th century, developed the branch of analytical philosophy. Sir Bertrand Russell originally selected mathematics as his undergraduate major but then transferred to philosophy due to his interests in the moral science. Although he did not study any course of philosophy throughout his undergraduate and his transfer was deemed to be unsuccessful, his previous mastery of mathematics turns out to be an asset for his pursuit in philosophy. The unprecedented marriage between mathematics and philosophy yields a new branch of philosophy, the analytical philosophy whose birth was characterized by the famous work “Princi pia Mathematica” coauthored by Russell and Whitehead.

Although the success of the individuals often depends on their capabilities in their chosen career and specialization, interests play a predominant role in motivating and developing the capabilities of the individuals. Academic freedom is important for both the advancement of academic discipline of a university and the personal growth of the students. Instead of constraining students from pursuing their own interests, educational institutes should provide more academic freedom for students.