College is a waste of time and money

In the essay, “Where College Fails Us”, Caroline Bird talks about how college isn’t for everyone, and high school students should critically examine if a college degree is worth their time and money. Bird says high school students feel pressured by their parents and teachers to attend college because they are taught that a college degree will earn them more money, make them “better” people, and make them more responsible citizens. She says because students feel forced to go they are unhappy, and often times drop out. Bird also states that although college graduates care more about a job that matters to them than the money, they aren’t guaranteed a job in their field of study because there aren’t and probably never will be enough jobs requiring

Caroline Bird writes the statement in her 1975 article “The Case Against College (Bird 15-18)” that not every high school graduate is ready to attend college. It is 2010 and this article is still valid today. Some of the college students I have been around were not mature enough for obedience school let alone college. A few of the points she makes in the article are: College has never worked its magic for everyone. Does it make you a better person? Are colleges responsible for your children? Are my children living in a country club? I will use some of my own experiences as an example of college life, as well as examples from my daughter’s college experience, along with my nephews as well. All to find the answer to the big question: Are

In “College Is a Waste of Time and Money,” written by Caroline Bird illustrates that college is not for everyone. There are many reasons that Bird lists so that readers and colleges can understand that tuition is never going to decrease. Bird uses diction, tone, sentence structures, locos, ethos, and pathos to prove that college students attend college hoping to get a better job and people who decide not to go to college do not want to waste their time and money.

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.

In her article “College Is a Waste of Time and Money”, Caroline Bird attempts to pursued her readers that colleges are overflowing with students who don’t belong there. Her article first appeared in Psychology Today (May 1975). Since this material is outdated, I find it hard to believe that most of the responses by students and parents quoted in the article still hold true. The author has set out to pursue the readers that college is a bad and unnecessary choice for today’s youth. Yet the author holds a bachelors and a masters degree from two different universities. I would think that if she thought college was really a bad choice and a waste of time and money, she would not have gone back to get her masters degree.

Secondly, individuals should feel compelled to value formal education over informal education because it provides them with more opportunities to higher-paying jobs. In “College is A Waste of Time and Money,” Caroline Bird demonstrates how formal education allows for opportunities to higher-paying jobs through her flawed perception of college. Bird argues that although many people believe college majors are required to find a successful job and is a good financial investment, in reality, students will most likely end up doing what is available rather than what they want, making college is a foolish investment. Instead, she indicates that college should be judged by whether or not it is fit for the student, instead of just succeeding to society’s standards. In the midst of exemplifying how money used for college would be better off in a bank and business investment instead of cummulating into debt, she claims, “In fact there is no real evidence that the higher income of college graduates is due to college. College may simply attract people who are slated to earn more money anyway; those with higher IQs, better family backgrounds, a more enterprising temperament” (Bird 4). Because Bird claims that there are no “real evidence” that connects higher income of college graduates and college, she suggests that formal education is not the reason for good-paying job opportunities, but rather that colleges “attract people who are slated to earn more money.” She uses logical appeal to

The rise of college tuition along with room and board have lead many to believe that college isn’t worth the money. This among with the other factors of how getting a job into society is more difficult and that a college degree no longer competitive due to the high abundance of them. On the other side, many others urge the importance of a degree. They bring up how more jobs today require degrees, the return investment, and many other things.

Many people believe that education is the key to success. Hoping that if people finished college, they will land a good and stable job. Precisely, college degree has a huge positive impact for most people because employers will look at employees’ education and experience in their resumes to exceed their expectations. However, college is ineffective to some people yet many of them become successful in life. Typical example is the governor of Wisconsin, Scott Walker who was re-elected twice from 2010 and 2014. He deliberated the top tier potential presidential candidate despite not having college degree (Koplowitz, 2014). Furthermore, he is currently using his life experience and ability to take advantage in the campaign. Talent, skill, and intellect are among the most important characteristics of individuals to become successful. Moreover, many young people join the military after high school to serve the country and save up money for future references such as going back to school or starting it as a career. Therefore, it is very significant for everyone if college is really for them or not because college can cost highly which may not exceed their expectations. Providentially, some alternative ways that people may apply to become successful in life besides going to college.

One must consider their choice of major, cost of school, where they are attending school, and a variety of other factors. Depending on the situation college may not be a smart investment (Owen and Sawhill 209). I agree with this notion that some people are not meant for college, but we as a society still push the idea of college which creates conflicting thoughts in the mind of a student. When discussing the benefits of attending college the biggest supporting reason revolves around further expanding one’s knowledge in order to earn a higher income. They use ethos in their appeals but they fail to provide evidence of this. They may show numbers that are skewed showing the difference in salary of a high school graduate and a college graduate but they don’t show the majors that earning that high income. They don’t show the number of college graduates without a job and how much debt they are in. Owen and Sawhill do a tremendous job in their report of giving us those numbers and statistics to back up their

Many recent college graduates have faced record levels of unemployment. This situation has lead people to question what they value about higher education. Some high school students and their parents are wondering if a college education is worth the cost. Others, however, believe that a college prepares students for more than just a job or career. Many people then present the counter argument that people like Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, and Mark Zuckerberg did not have a college degree, but unlike them most people are not geniuses and do not have the same entrepreneurial opportunities available to them, let alone the innovative ideas and proper timing. A college education is worth the cost because it is a requirement for many jobs, college graduates make substantially more than high school graduates, and college provides more opportunities for personal growth and networking.

When it comes to the topic of college most people will readily agree that it is important for everyone to get a college degree. Where this agreement usually ends, however, is on the question of if a college degree is necessary to find a career. Whereas some are convinced that a college degree is necessary to find a career in today’s society, the authors of “Should Everyone go to College?” Stephanie Owen and Isabel Sawhill, argue that college is important, but may not be the right path for everyone and people can still find successful careers without a college degree. I agree that college is not the right path for everyone because my experience with others whom have and have not gone to college confirms it.

Throughout the essay, Charles Murray stresses the idea that college is the wonderland of finding oneself and to find the career that one would want to follow for the rest of their lives. “College is seen as the open sesame to a good job and a desirable way for adolescents to transition to adulthood. Neither reason is as persuasive as it first appears.” Murray, C (2008) Practically spoken, this is not normally the case. College is a fair amount of work, much more work than one would normally acquire through any course of a high school or secondary school setting. In no way saying that the average student cannot meet the requirement and achieve success over the amounted work, it would also be ridiculous to expect every graduate to pursue going into higher education with the expansion of work that will be given.

The decision to obtain a higher education beyond high school is no longer a question of if, but when. This is the question that author Caroline Bird discusses in her article, “College is a Waste of Time and Money,” written in 1975. This text strives to convince students, parents, and advisors that obtaining a degree might not be in the best interest for those involved. Circling around the idea that college is a requirement and no longer an act of free will. Bird starts the article off strongly by building her credibility through her own personal research and other credible sources as well as appealing to readers through logical reasoning using numerous statistics, but fails to convince readers and discredits her ultimate goal through a disconnect in her use of analogies.

In “College in America,” Caroline Bird expresses her opinion on education focused around the year 1975. Bird disagrees with the the idea of high school graduates being forced to attend college since she believes that the chances of being successful without a degree are just as high as someone with a degree. She points out that sometimes college is a waste of time and money. The money a college graduate earns is not much different compared to the money a high school graduate makes due to college expenses, loans and interest rates. Moreover, Bird dislikes how in today 's society, a degree defines a person. Many people idealise that college will help them obtain a successful future. Bird counteracts this education ideal by providing an

Bird’s second point is that, contrary to popular belief, college is not the best monetary investment a young person can make. Bird explains this by comparing the money that would be spent on education versus money that is put in a bank for interest. The outcome shows investing money that would otherwise be spent on a college education would earn over half a million dollars more than the earnings of a male college graduate compared to a non-graduate. Bird also states that even if a graduate makes more money in their job than a non-graduate, there is no evidence that the higher income is due to their college education. She attributes financial success to luck rather than a college education. In this argument she mainly puts forth logical reasons why college is not for everyone. She shows actual dollar amounts that logically prove an education is not necessarily the most profitable investment.