You shouldn't have to bicker your major

On Feb. 25, The Daily Princetonian's Editorial Board published an excellent piece outlining suggestions to prevent the Wilson School from being used as a resume builder and to attract students who are truly interested in public service. The suggestions put forth, such as a summer service requirement, would do a lot of good in this regard, but I would take it one step further. The entire application process for this "most exclusive club on Prospect Avenue" should be scrapped.

First of all, this would reduce the temptation for many undecided sophomores to apply "just to see what happens." I remember my sophomore spring, when I was unsure of what major to choose. My mother suggested I apply to the Wilson School for exactly that reason. The application process can allow many undecided sophomores to essentially have their major chosen for them. Eliminating the application altogether would require more students to actually think about whether they are truly interested in majoring in policy rather than simply filling out an application because they are unsure of what to do or are taken by the "allure" of a selective major.

More importantly, though, it would almost completely eliminate the students who see the Wilson School simply as a springboard to a high-paying job. As it stands, the Wilson School's selective process gives it a certain "prestige" and allows students to boost their resumes by having passed another "litmus test." It is very telling that the online application for McKinsey & Co. has two choices for Princeton applicants: "Princeton" and "Princeton-Wilson School." One could reasonably argue that the type of work Wilson School students do better prepares them for a career in consulting. Still, I would venture to guess that if the classics department became selective tomorrow, McKinsey would be adding another choice for Princetonians to its list. It should be upsetting, especially to those in the Wilson School itself, that the department is valued by many not for its renowned faculty or program of study, but rather for the simple fact that it is selective.

Eliminating the selective process would also draw the focus to the actual merits and educational values of the school. With the hollow prestige born of selectivity gone, students who are solely interested in a resume-boost and not policy and public service would, rightly, not be interested in the major either. The Wilson School already has more requirements than other majors, such as junior year task forces that do not count as a class. With the selective process gone, no one would willingly take on these extra requirements unless they were genuinely interested in the major.

Some might argue that the application process is necessary for finding dedicated students and keeping the number of majors within the school's capacity. But an application process does little to narrow the field because Princeton students are experts at putting together convincing applications. If almost everyone submits a "strong application," this sort of process becomes a mere GPA contest. Ironically, getting rid of the selective process altogether would provide the school with the most dedicated and, I would be willing to bet, most qualified students possible without all the unnecessary effort the application process requires. As for the number of majors, I think that for the reasons outlined above, if the Wilson School became non-selective tomorrow, the number of majors next year would either stay the same or decrease. Interested students would, of course, still become Wilson School majors. If my prediction turned out to be wrong and a non-selective Wilson School attracted more majors than usual, I still do not see a problem. If need be, the school could be expanded, and more students would be given the opportunity to pursue their academic interests.

Perhaps most importantly, eliminating the selective process would prevent the unfortunate but probable cases of truly service-oriented students being rejected. Princeton is all about offering opportunities to students to pursue their passions, and if some students are being prevented from doing so, then the institution, quite frankly, is failing at its job.

Now, I know what you're thinking ... no, I didn't apply.