Watch the movie Accepted, starring Justin Long and Blake Lively, directed by Steve Pink. It was made in 2006, and pokes fun at the idea of college. It also brings up some great points about what is important in college and some things to think about.

Here are some things to think about while watching the movie.

  1. What are some reasons a college might not admit someone who was interested in attending that school?
  2. According to the movie, who should go to school and why?
  3. How do students pay for college in the movie? Do you think that is a typical payment method?
  4. How did South Harmon Institute of Technology get started in the movie? Can a college just “spring up” overnight?
  5. How does a college get started in the “real world”?
  6. What is a “mission statement”?
  7. What makes a college “real”?
  8. According to the movie, what is the reason a person goes to college?
  9. What obstacles do students face when they first enter college?
  10. Can students buy textbooks at places like
  11. Are college students typically close in age?
  12. Can students be involved in running a college? Explain ways you think students could be involved in college policies/procedures.
  13. Should colleges be open to everyone who wants to attend that school? Why or why not?
  14. Do you think taking a tour is a good way to find out about a school?
  15. What is meant by the term “accreditation”?
  16. Do all college classes apply towards degrees?
  17. Do all colleges measure students’ progress with grades?
  18. What is the purpose of an education?
  19. Do you think the students at South Harmon were “engaged” learners/students actively participating in their education?


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A Different Road To College by Alise Lamoreaux is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.