Hello all. I would appreciate if you could grade my SAT essay, and give me appropriate and candid feedback that I can learn from, and utilize in the future. Here it is:
Prompt: Is an education necessary for success?
In this age of rigorous competition, education is indispensable for a person to attain success. By equipping individuals with the skills required to excel in a particular field, education illuminates the path to success. As exemplified by the implications of Mahatma Gandhi’s experience as a student studying law, and the influence of pursuing doctoral studies in systematic theology on Martin Luther King, Jr.’s role as a social activist, it is imperative for an individual to be educated in his pursuit of success.
Mahatma Gandhi shall forever be remembered as one of the most influential leaders ever to have walked upon this earth. He championed social reforms and, most notably, led the Indian hope of dissolving ties with Britain, which he realized in 1947. Notably, his life as a leader was largely influenced by his education in Britain. As a law student who received formal education overseas, Mahatma Gandhi was aware of the implications of the tyrannical policies that the British had imposed upon the Indian populace. He understood the true depth of the oppression that the Indians would have faced, had they not broken free of British rule. This awoke him to social injustice and influenced his subsequent social activism. It was through his education, therefore, that Mahatma Gandhi began to question the status of the Indians under the rule of the British Crown.
Similarly, Martin Luther King Jr.’s life as a social activist stemmed from his education. He was a member of the debate team at school, and was a precocious speaker who was placed first at an oratorical contest held exclusively for African-Americans. His experience with debating and oratory would later help to shape many of the incisive speeches he would give to champion the rights of African-Americans. Furthermore, he pursued doctoral studies in systematic theology, describing hat his only ambition in life was to excel in the Christian ministry. His knowledge of the underlying principles and philosophies of Christianity helped acquaint him with the social catastrophe that he was amidst, and laid down the foundations for his work as a civil rights leader.
While education does not necessarily ensure success, it increases the likelihood that one will achieve success in life. Through the examples of Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr., we are truly able to appreciate the magnitude to which education affects one’s career and undermines success.