Charles Murray's Are Too Many People Going To College

The standard way of thinking about college has often given the impression that education will open doors. College is foretold to be the wisest choice a student can make to better their future with a successful, high-paying job. Yet Charles Murray, author of the article “Too Many People Are Going To College,” introduces a controversial side to the argument, believing that the decision for students to attend college is one of great importance, but the choice may be made too soon. Murray emphasizes the reasons why this situation exists and continues to be proven true in today’s society with factors such as the misleading statements to students about college and the high academic standards students must conform to.

In his Essay “Are too many people going to college,” first published in a 2008 issue of AEI, Charles Murray explores many insights onto the topic of furthering education as well as exploring various other options to pursue after high school. Who exactly would think that too many people are going to college? Well with more and more students flooding campuses at the end of every school year and less and less going into trade schools, a shift in the job market is just beginning to be seen on the horizon. Charles Murray’s essay “Are too many people going to college” shows that not only are there other avenues to pursue a potential life long career, but that much of the time pursuing these avenues may offer better results for some wanting to go to college.

For decades, students have been told that college is the next step after high school graduation. Society reiterates this by glorifying individuals that have completed a degree and looking down upon those who do not have one. The problem is that many students have not acquired the necessary tools nor have the motivation to be successful while pursuing post-high school education. Some argue that college provides the foundation of liberal studies that will improve career opportunities. Charles Murray disagrees in his essay, "Are Too Many People Going to College." He states, "Most people should be getting the basics of a liberal education. But for most students, the place to provide those basics are elementary and middle school." (Graff, 238) This raises the question, is a four-year education the best option for all students. College provides many benefits that would be difficult to find elsewhere, such as, writing skills or cultural growth, but college is not meant for everyone. A college education does not guarantee a prosperous career, instead, gaining work experience or completing a trade school is a more intelligent option for the majority of potential students.

In discussions of whether too many children now days decide to go to college, one controversial issue has been if kids can get equal knowledge in the workplace without the debt. On the one hand, the article “Are Too Many People Going to College?” by Charles Murray, argues that too many kids are going to college who aren’t college material, and are either wasting their time or flunking out. On the other hand Freeman Hrabowski with “Colleges Prepare People for Life” contends by writing about how colleges not only prepare you for your career, but for life. Then there is somewhat of a middle ground with Liz Addison, who believes that two year community college programs are the way to go, because they offer a chance to learn at a level you will understand and maybe enjoy, which lessens the chance of you being a dropout. My own view is that a college degree is needed to get into certain occupations but, many circumstances it would be a waste of money. It all depends on what interests that individual and what they will easily excel at.

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.

Charles Murray’s essay proposes that American colleges are being flooded with individuals who are either unprepared for higher education or who are simply forced into attending college and can’t succeed because of the lack of certain innate abilities. Murray’s essay goes on to take issue with the idea that the pursuit of a traditional college education is somehow strategically creating a separation of the American class system. While Murray makes many salient points with regards to America’s obsession with college education as a standard into a class of the intellectual elite, the essay fails to take into consideration the various motivators that can lead to student success, despite

Within the article, “Are Too Many People Going To College?”, by Charles Murray, he goes over the reasons why we don’t necessarily need to go to college to be successful. By this, he is talking about how most liberal arts should be taught properly within grades K-8. What I mostly agree on with him is the topic of how four years of college is ridiculous. From personal experience and the practicality of learning important information, I strongly believe that students should have to spend four years at college. Why learn something irrelevant and have the possibility to fail if you learn the material for your future career sooner and successfully.

In this article, Murray argues that many people go to college when it is not actually necessary for them to do so. He begins by explaining that obtaining a liberal education, while it is important to cultural participation, is not a good reason for everyone to go to college. Instead, he says that this education should occur much earlier, beginning in elementary school. Murray also believes that the in depth analysis of information that occurs college is too difficult for most people to enjoy, and many simply aren't academically capable. Even for those who are able, he claims that four years of college is much more than most professions actually need. He states that many people believe that getting a degree is the key to getting a

Marty Nemko, in the article, “We Send Too Many Students To College,” acknowledges that colleges have become obscenely expensive and that it is possible to be successful without going to college. Arguing that too many students are sent to college without realizing that it is not imperative, Nemko targets parents in his claims that colleges focus on educating in the cheapest way possible and most importantly, that the advantage of past college graduates in the job market is declining. One of his main reasons is that even though the average college graduate makes more money, hundreds of thousands of students in the bottom half of their high school class do not succeed in higher education. Nemko’s article is the most persuasive article on whether college education still has value as he argues that college is not beneficial to everyone through demonstrations of hyperbole, and figurative language.

In this paper I will explain the differences between two perceptions about education verses employment. First, I will examine “Are Too Many People Going to College?” written by Charles Murray which explores other avenues for employment without a formal education. Secondly, I will review Sanford Ungar’s work in “The New Liberal Arts”. He advocates a traditional Liberal Arts education as a necessity in life and a strong foundation for employment.

It’s hard to think that at one point in a America college was but only a myth for the working class. It wasn’t needed. After high it was either the army or you get a job. But this AMerica is a very different one. Women can work, the draft is no longer and college is considered a necessity for survival. But with that said, controversy surrounds it. As the price of college increase and the “need” for it does the same people find more ways and reasons to avoid it. In the article, “Even for Cashiers College Pays Off” from The New York Times, it displays the media’s backlash on the ideology of college. Leonhardt writes, “ Television, newspapers, and blogs are filled with the case that

Charles Murray’s article Are Too Many People Going to College? describes the nature of education in America and some of the factors that should be considered before enrolling in a four year college. Every member of a society should have what Murray calls “core knowledge.” This knowledge is the common ground between every different way of life and type of person within a nation or group.

Charles Murray: “Are Too Many People Going to College?” Charles Murray is the author of “Are Too Many People Going to College.” Charles Murray does not clearly state a main claim or argument at any time throughout the essay. Instead, he states several arguments throughout his essay. Some of the main points include core knowledge, liberal education and of course the title of the essay “Are Too Many People Going to College”.

Charles Murray’s essay Are Too Many People Going to College discusses how people should be going to college but not to study general education. Murray firmly believes that the core knowledge should be taught in elementary and middle school. He also believes that college isn’t as a platform to learn about history, art, and music rather than learning what is actually needed for your career choice. I agree completely with Murray. I don’t believe that getting a degree should require you to learn about subjects that won’t help you with your career choice.

Caroline Bird’s argument in this specific article is strengthened through its simplicity. In fact, it can be stated in just the title alone; “College is a Waste of Time and Money.” Every moment of her article reflects that, making readers question the true intention and purpose of college in the age that it was written. Do young adults go to college for academic purposes, to socialize, to train for a successful career, or to impress their authority figures? If I were to explain the interpret the structure of her answer to these questions, I would acknowledge that Bird disagrees with the modern idea of college because older generations force all children to go to university, the excessive amount of money that is required for tuition, and the