The average college student will graduate with 37,173 dollars’ worth of debt and 40 percent of college students will drop out. (Cite should everyone go to college) Despite this, higher education typically allows an individual to follow their passion and make a living off it. In addition, college provides an intrinsic value that enlightens the individual. Although higher education requires a large investment that may not return its original value, I contend that this investment provides one the ability to typically earn significantly more money and pursue their passion.
One of the more daunting issues of pursuing higher education is the enormous debt a student may accumulate over the course of their studies. This is especially true today because
…show more content…
He gives the example of a hypothetical person who is 70th percentile of linguistic, logical, and mathematical ability, but is 95th percentile in small motor skills and spatial abilities. In summary, he argues that this person would do poorly in a management position, which requires a bachelor’s degree, but would make an excellent electrician which would require less education. Therefore, this hypothetical person would earn more money as an electrician. Nevertheless, this person may gain more satisfaction from a management position than a position as an electrician. Charles Murray’s argument is flawed in that he does not account for people’s interest which can be fostered in higher …show more content…
However, some, such as Gerald Graff, argue that colleges and schools are missing opportunities when nonacademic interests of the students are not taken into the classroom. For example, he claims that his schooling was unable to foster his interest in sports or other “nonacademic” interests. However, I would claim that this is false considering there are majors that can foster one’s interest in sports such as sports journalism, sports broadcasting, and exercise science. In fact, I would argue that college allows one to follow their dreams. For example, I met a counselor who was originally was a plumber for thirty years of his life. When I asked why he changed careers he responded with, “I had full support from my family to go back to school, and ultimately I wanted to do something more fulfilling with my life. And now I am doing what I have always liked to do that is talking to people” To make this change he had to first earn his bachelor’s degree and then his masters thus accumulating debt. In addition, he had to take wage cut of 50,000 dollars a year. Despite this he had absolutely no regrets with the decision he made.
Ultimately the most crucial factor in one’s decision to go to receive a higher education should not be money based, but whether they are pursuing a career field that they at least enjoy if not love. Although it may be true for some that a higher education
Advocates of this form of higher education contend “a college degree is certainly no guarantee of financial success, but it is nearly a prerequisite for moving up the income ladder if you're poor” (Rampell 1). While college has the ability to aid in the advancement of a person’s financial standing, it proves to be a fruitless investment for some students. Even with the accreditation a diploma offers, millions of graduates struggle to earn a salary that ensures the benefits of their major investment. Academic philosopher Gary Jason insists “the rising price of college tends to erase the potential returns of a college education for students of only average ability” (Jason 1). The essence of Jason’s argument is that with a multitude of programs available as an appropriate substitute, college proves to be a waste of time and money for students pursuing careers that do not demand a diploma. The financial burden of college is growing, and in some cases, it cancels out the benefits. Believers in the college dream’s claim rests on the questionable assumption that all students will successfully obtain a diploma and follow a career path that will result in profits from the
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.
The main reason why we go to college is not because we want to, but because it’s a must. Nearing the end of your high school career, you are persuaded by guidance counselors and our parents to apply for colleges because it the “right thing to do”. In an essay “Are Too Many People Going to College”, Charles Murry wrote, his narrative is about someone who is trying to decide what to become an electrician or a manager. He compares how his life can benefit from becoming electrician, “the satisfaction of being good at what one does for a living (and knowing it),” vs becoming a mediocre manager, “to the melancholy of being mediocre at what one does for a living (and knowing it).” He explains that someone who still is growing and developing may not
More often than not, young students are taught to believe that they must go to a prestigious university to obtain a Bachelor’s degree or higher in order to have a fulfilling and satisfying career. This may hold true for some people, but others do not need to follow this same path. For students who choose a career that isn’t considered conventional or isn’t high in pay, they tend to be looked down upon which pressures them into choosing career paths that they do not have a passion for, or the skill set to actually accomplish which makes college a waste of time and money. While everyone should be encouraged to get an education beyond high school, people should be encouraged to get the education that is relevant and proper for them to make sure they are getting their money’s worth.
“Ensuring quality higher education is one of the most important things we can do for our future generations” (Ron Lewis). There are more students enrolling in post-secondary schools than ever before and consequently there are more students acquiring large debts. Once a student graduates, they enter a $33,000 or more student loan debt (Students Loan Resources). These student loans continue to place graduates into large debts, which is largely caused by their lack of knowledge of available resources, and this impacts their everyday lives and future generations.
The increasing cost of higher education in the United States has been a continuing topic for debate in recent decades. American society emphasizes the importance of education after high school, yet the cost of higher education and advanced degrees continually rises at a greater rate than inflation in the 1970’s. According to the Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance, cost factors prevent 48% of college-qualified high school graduates from pursuing further education (McKeon, 2004, p. 45). The current system requires the majority of students to accumulate extensive debt with the expectation that they gain rewarding post-graduate employment to repay their loans.
Over the past decade, it has become evident to the students of the United States that in order to attain a well paying job they must seek a higher education. The higher education, usually a college or university, is practically required in order to succeed. To be able to attend these schools and receive a degree in a specific field it means money, and often a lot of it. For students, the need for a degree is strong, but the cost of going to college may stand in the way of a successful future. Each year the expense of college rises, resulting in the need for students to take out loans. Many students expect to immediately get a job after graduation, however, in more recent years the chances for college graduates to get a well paying job
The increasing cost of higher education in the United States has been a continuing topic for debate in recent decades. American society emphasizes the importance of education after high school, yet the cost of undergraduate and advanced degrees continually rises at a greater rate than inflation. According to the Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance, cost factors prevent 48% of college-qualified high school graduates from pursuing further education (McKeon, 2004, p. 45). The current system requires the majority of students to accumulate extensive debt with the expectation that they gain lucrative post-graduate employment to repay their loans.
A major problem students encounter in higher education is debt. Students acquire these deficits in higher education for many reasons such as credit card debt, student loans, and high payment plans. Some people say that dues are not a problem, but it can have a great impact on a student's life - even after college. This research will make people aware of the growing problem that is indebtedness.
Higher education comes at an extremely high price. The excitement of graduating college to land the six-figure job is soon destroyed when students realize how much debt they’ve obtained. Dreams of owning a house and starting a family are shattered by the money borrowed to provide and guarantee students an excellent future. Instead of waiting to land the ideal job, students work multiple jobs to help ends meet. Struggling to stay afloat, millions of students become victims of one of the major economic crisis in the United States today; Student debt.
Throughout every generation the majority of students, who want to acquire a better paying job in the world, all apply to a college of their dreams. The whole of these students know what to expect from college; education, social connections, fundamental understanding of their respective field, as well as the benefit/hope that they will receive their dream job soon after. However, these students also expect to amass an amount of debt once they graduate as this is a common fear amongst college graduates. In spite of such hindrance in their pursuit of a job, the experience from which they accumulated throughout their college life later benefits them in diverse amount of ways.
“Aside from increased stress, such debt has numerous economic consequences. It can compromise students’ higher education decisions and their ability to complete their studies.” Clive R. Belfield,
In the past century, a large focus has been put on school as the path to success. Whether previously students would enter the workforce after high school or even after 8th grade in some cases, today’s students are pushed towards higher education, having been told it is the only way to achieve success. This focus on higher education, as Mike Rose claims in his excerpt, has led to the economic motive that pervades education. If the path to success is a college degree, why shouldn’t students be prepared for higher education? Thus schools focus on college preparatory skills that will prepare students to be able to gain a college degree and be competitive in the workforce.
After high school, a choice that many students have to make is whether to go to college or not. There are many factors that go into one’s decision. There are pros and cons to going to college and also there are pros and cons for not going to college. But the decision that will give someone the better opportunity to have a more successful life is to go to college. The money that one will earn after getting a college degree will be more than the money a person will make without getting a college degree. As our society has continued to evolve, education has become the optimal route to professional success: pursuing a degree is the best way to receive training, to gain expertise in a given field, and even to guide you and help you make choices
College dropout rates have been improving over the past 40 years, however; half of college students drop out before receiving a degree (Dynarski, 2008). With respect to the fact that many students drop out of college for reasons not under their control; those who consider dropping out due to loss of motivation should consider the importance of a college education today in order to efficiently weigh out their options. The U.S. Census Bureau has determined that a college graduate earns over 1 million dollars more than a high school graduate in a life time (Giving Up On College Is Not An Option, 2006). Although money may not be a source for happiness it supplies you with the necessary resources that can enable you to achieve other goals that directly inspire happiness. However, keeping sight of the benefits to come from an education will not entirely inspire you to continue on the road towards achievement without the presence of autonomous opportunities. This idea suggests that you are more likely to succeed in a higher education setting if you were autonomous in your decision of which college to attend. Parents should allow their children to be fully involved in this decision. Furthermore, students that choose to continue their education often switch out of their desired major one or more times. Research has shown that choosing the wrong major is the most frequently identified life regret for Americans (Beggs, Bantham, & Taylor, 2008).