GMAT Essays (AWA)

Question
The following appeared in a letter to prospective students from the admissions office at Plateau College.

"Every person who earned an advanced degree in science or engineering from Olympus University last year received numerous offers of excellent jobs. Typically, many of the Plateau College graduates who want to pursue an advanced degree have gone on to Olympus. Therefore, enrolling as an undergraduate at Plateau College is a wise choice for students who wish to ensure success in their careers."

Answer
In the argument, the author concludes that enrolling as an undergraduate is a wise decision for students who want to be successful in their careers. The premise of the argument is that every person who earned an advanced degree in science or engineering from Olympus University received many excellent jobs offers and many graduates of Plateau College continued their studies in Olympus University. The argument is flawed because the author falsely assumes that students at Plateau College will pursue advanced degree in science or engineering and the author falsely assumed a person who has offers for excellent jobs will be guaranteed of a successful career in the future.

First, the author falsely assumes that those Plateau College's graduates are taking advanced degree are in the field of science and engineering. It may be possible that those Plateau College's graduates are all from other faculties.

Second, the author incorrectly assumes that a person who has offers for excellent jobs will sure have a successful career. It is possible one has offers for excellent jobs but is not successful in his career. School only measures how one performs academically and a successful career will require other skills such as effective communication.

The author also fails to provide the figure for the number of graduates of Plateau College who continued their studies in Olympus University. What if the figure is only 100 out of a school wide population of 10000? What if most of the Plateau College's graduates fail to graduate in Olympus University? Without convincing answers to these questions, one is left with the impression that the claim is more of wishful thinking rather than substantive evidence.

The author falsely assumes that students at Plateau College will pursue advanced degree in science or engineering and also incorrectly assumed excellent job offers equals excellent career in the future. Moreover, the author incorrectly concludes that enrolling as an undergraduate is a wise decision for students who want to be successful in their careers.