The Education Of College Education

A college education has been viewed as the key to the American dream. There are many opinions on the purpose of a college education from obtaining new information, becoming a more well-rounded individual or preparing for the workforce. Originally, the college education was primarily used to become more educated to provide services to society; however, the college education is perceived as an expectation and mandatory in becoming a useful person in society and workforce. The purpose of obtaining a college education to obtain the skills necessary to become a well-rounded individual in society.

In society today, a college education is often seen as a “the next step” in a young adult’s life. Whether they actually know what they would like to earn a degree in, they feel the need to continue their education as almost everyone around them is pursuing post-secondary education of some sort. It is often argued that a college education is not necessary to get ahead because of the manufacture based workforce that is up and coming in America, however, there are many benefits to having a post-secondary education such as a higher rate of pay and more job opportunities.

More people than ever before are attending college due to the endless opportunities that it provides. Louis Menand, a college professor and the author of “Live and Learn: Why We Have College,” explains the meaning of college through three theories that have been developed. Theory 1 supports the idea of the sorting-out process that separates the highly intelligent from the less intelligent. Menand’s second theory explains that college provides opportunities for developmental growth, personal growth, and teaches individuals about the world around us. These are valuable lessons that will not be learned anywhere else. Theory three supports the idea of people attending college to specialize in a specific vocation. I

In the essay “College Value Goes Deeper Than the Degree” author Eric Hoover claims a college education is important to one 's well-being so they can get a job and be productive in other parts of life. Promoters of higher education have long emphasized how beneficial college’s value and its purpose. Many believe the notion that colleges teach students are life skills to apply anywhere, they also work hard to earn a degree and learn specific marketable skills which they can use to get a good job. Though obtaining a college education and a degree is helpful in countless of ways, it is not necessary to pursue a college degree in world where a college degree is seen different now, people without turn out fine, the growing average of debt that students who attend college have to pay off and people without a degree can obtain many jobs that do not require college degrees.

Jaschik explains in his article, “Academically Adrift” written in 2011, the decline of learning in college and the minimal amount of expectations placed on students. The article suggests that a survey was taken amongst college students that tested their accuracy on levels of analysis and critical thinking; the results were poor. The goal of college is to improve your academic skills on a higher level. The article hints that most students take courses that fulfill the academic requirements, but are not grasping the scholarly information being presented. Jaschik uses the art of persuasion, scholarly data, and assertive emotion to persuade his audience that college fails to fulfill its primary purpose as the title suggests.

What Is College For? By Gary Gutting is an analytical article upon the importance of a higher education to the public, he begins by discussing the statistics of what college has deemed worthful to people after their education. It was evident that many found it to be useful later on in life and helped them mature and grow intellectually. Gutting also points out that although many people find themselves to be successful later on after college that not everybody had the same experience, many had to drop out for the fact that a higher education was considered to be too expensive, or dropout rates too high. It is evident that he deems college to be an investment for many people who were fortunate enough to attend, therefore, providing the habits of mind of engagement, persistence, and openness to display how they play key points to the qualifying traits of a college student.

Caroline Bird’s essay “College is a Waste of Time and Money” explains her beliefs on why, for some people, going to college is an ineffective and inefficient use of their time. She states that many students do not belong in college because they are there for the wrong reasons and they are not happy learning. She also gives evidence to suggest that going to college and getting a degree does not actually allows a person to make more money in their life time. Her final claim is that college does not prepare most students for the real world and the jobs they will have once they graduate.

The importance of college in America, which is always debatable, had now become more controversial. However, it can be said that the purpose of college education is not only studies, but it is enable for students to think out of the box. In addition, they need to have a degree along with skills. American education can have some negative effect on people in many different circumstances such as rising education fees, require extra classes and giving important to a degree rather than skills.

Jeffrey Jansen Arnett’s annual poll of emerging adults show how young adults view college and why they go there. These results were found online at: http://news.clarku.edu/news/2015/08/25/new-clark-university-poll-surveys-emerging-adults-on-work-education-and-identity/. The results show that the highest percent (87%) of young adults go to college to have a better chance of finding a good job, and the lowest percent (61%) of young adults go to college for the potential to have fun while attending more school. The majority of college students attend college for all the right reasons, according to this poll, only the smallest percent of college students attend college and waste tax payer dollars. The third poll regarding the realities of attaining a college education shows the majority of college students (89%) believe a college education should be available to anyone who wants it, regardless of their ability to pay. It also shows that half (51%) of young adults didn’t go to college because of family responsibilities. The second poll shows that the majority of young adult’s students (69%) didn’t go to college because they couldn’t afford

Students today have been raised to think that college is just the next step in life after high school. Decades ago,going to college was a huge achievement and not many people enrolled. Today, however it is almost expected that you go to college. The purpose of college has been changing over the years. Students and professors have lost sight of what to get out a college education. Gary Gutting explains in his article, “What is College for?” that students are losing passion for higher education. He also believes that professors are not realizing what their true job really is, and are not doing the necessary procedures to help their students succeed. “In On the Uses of a Liberal Education”, Mark Edmundson shares similar ideas, and gives a first person point of view of Gutting’s ideas about the quality of the college experience. Mark Edmundson would agree with Gary Gutting’s claims that the quality of colleges is declining and is negatively affecting the students and faculty members.

Student in high school, college students, and even adults ask a simple question. Is college worth the money? This paper will answer just that question. We all know someone that says it’s not worth it, and that coming out of college with tons of debt and no job is an almost guarantee.

Yet many people don't seem to see it as a learning experience but instead a necessity to get to reach or stay in middle class. To me, the purpose of college is simple to help citizens to not only reach their maximum potential but to become better citizens. This can be achieved in college not only by our rigorous coursework but by the guidance of our professors.

College Education Education allows one to improve in the world and creates many marvelous improvements to the world. Education teaches one understanding of new technologies, the ability to determine what’s right or wrong, and helps one to make better choices in one life so that one may pursue he/she’s dreams of happiness. To better achieve in life, one needs to get better education and for that, one needs to complete high school and college. In “Where College Fails us” by Caroline Bird, Bird talks about how college is not for every student and say that college is only for those who are hard workers and believe college is the only way to be successful. On the other hand, Barber, in his “America Skips School” argues that American children are learning many wrong lessons outside of school and that society does not care.

To begin the argument it should be known that society benefits from college educated individuals. One aspect of college that is repeatedly overlooked is how it can shape one’s mind and allows them to think in entirely new ways not only critically but creatively as well. In fact, according to a report issued by the College Board in 2007 states that “those with a bachelor’s degree, are more likely to volunteer, vote, exercise, and have health insurance and pensions.” (Lewin 18) These are all qualities that make a human being

In addition to the social aspects, college teaches how to develop independent thinking. It also “exposes future citizens to material that enlightens and empowers them, whatever careers they end up choosing” (Menand, 3). However, most students today perceive college fundamentally as a party scene and various forms of entertainment instead of focusing on school work. They have forgotten about the academic freedom provided by receiving a proper college education.