College Is Not A Commodity Essay

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.

Ask yourself a question, is college worth it to you? If you answered no then in this case it will be beneficial for you to read this. When thinking about college you have to think more about what you want out of it rather than what you have to do to get through it. The skills that you get while attending college can be very beneficial to you. Having the critical thinking and advanced communication skills that you acquire in college. Getting a college degree and bringing what you learned to the real world will benefit you in your quest for financial success.

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

One question that comes to mind when graduating high school is, “should I attend college?” For many graduates this question have a very obvious answer. A high school graduate may state that, “college is the best option if one is trying to get a higher level of education, and will help one compete for a higher paying job.” However, in my opinion most graduates do not consider the fact that going to college is a very big decision to make and that the schoolwork will not be easy. Going to college is not the best choice for every high school graduate because many students cannot handle college, colleges’ lower standards, and not all jobs require a college degree.

I am writing to you in regards to the blog you posted “The Case Against College Education.” You mentioned, “It is absurd that people have to get college degrees to be considered for good jobs in hotel management or accounting…” It is crucial for an individual to acquire a college degree, however, the American education system is unfair. By attending a college, students have a higher chance of economic success in the future and undergo opportunities to explore a wide variety of possible paths. There are various ways to get a college degree but in the end, there needs to be a lot of reform around education. The question remains, should we help more kids go to college or make it easier for people who did not attend college.

In the article, “What Is College For? (Part 2)” written by Gary Gutting we see a description of his ideal vision to improve education and the intellectual culture of our citizens. Mr. Gutting emphasizes that preparing students for employment should be the job of the elementary, middle and high school rather than college. He argues that higher education is basically unnecessary for the practice of many professions.

College started to be the direction many students take after high school. During junior year, all the teachers start telling their student to consider college and the major that they want to pursue. Correspondingly, the students start to take the SAT and ACT tests. In junior year many students start to think if they are ready for college. Also, they start thinking about the major they want to enroll in if they decide to apply for college. More questions come in mind such as, would college be suitable for everyone? And is college worth the money the students would have to spend on tuition every semester until they graduate? From Leonhardt perspective, college is worth even with the debt it comes with. According to Matthews’s argument, college degree is needed because it is becoming more valuable with time. The arguments that both of Leonhardt and Matthews give prove that college is worth it and it is a good financial decision for most of the students.

There are some people who think college is a waste of time. Then there are others who would debate that opinion and say college is an essential key to life. With a college education, I would have a better opportunity at making my life a lot better. I will be giving myself the opportunity live above the poverty level of today and I will be giving myself a chance at middle-class living. College can be extremely tough if I am not disciplined but it is well worth it. Going to college gives me the advantage of a better education at something that I love, growth in my career, achieve independence and great aspect of networking.

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 words “You can’t”, have been apart of my mind set since day one. I was always told that it isn’t possible for me to be as smart as my sister, or on the same level of my brother who is special needs. I was always in the in between, but the main reason I am striving for success is because I know I can and even though at times I don’t think college is for me, I know I can achieve anything I set my mind to. In less than three years I will have a whole new life started for myself, all because I made it possible for myself to receive a college degree and start the perfect life full of success, money and happiness.

Throughout the years, America has always debated whether education is needed- if it helps people succeed or not. The argument in the past was always over high school education, which is now mandatory. That decision has helped the US rise economically and industrially. Today, the US is in the middle of the same debate- this time, over college. Some, like David Leonhardt, a columnist for the business section of The New York Times, think a college education creates success in any job. Others, such as Christopher Beha, an author and assistant editor of Harper’s Magazine, believe that some college “education” (like that of for-profit schools) is a waste of time, and can even be harmful to students. Each stance on this argument has truth to it,

Many students see college as the stepping stone to a successful career and a happy life. Which can be true for some, however, many overlook whether college will actually help them succeed, or if college will truly be right for them. College is expensive and it is not for every kid who graduates high school, although it is marketed that way, high school graduates must think critically about their decision. Should I take some time away from school, to know myself better? What do I intend to do for a career? Am I more interested in educating myself toward things that interests me now and discovering my major as I learn, or do I feel I know what I want to do? And also essential questions like, how much debt will I go into? And can I

There is probably no other time in our lives more formational than the college experience. So much depends on these few early years in our live as we grow socially, mentally, and (for some of us) spiritually. Therefore, the college decision may be the most important one we ever make in our lives. People often view a liberal arts college as a place for people who don’t know what they want to do with their lives. They come out knowing a little bit of everything, just enough to get you a job in what interests you once you graduate. However, this is not the case. A liberal arts education prepares us for more than just a vocation but rather all of life. In the book Liberal Arts for the Christian Mind Leland Ryken says that “A liberal education prepares people to do well in all that they may be called to do in life” (L. Ryken 19). Yet as Christians we must factor our calling to a life service into this equation. Ryken also says “Loving and serving God should be the foundation for everything else that you do at college.” The Christian liberal arts is the most effective education system to prepare for a life of service to Jesus Christ and the church.

To most people college is their goal at succeeding in life. Whether you get a scholarship or pay yourself, college is expensive. To some it is a waste of time and money due to the fact that, graduates are not getting their money's worth in their degree, they are burdened by student loans, and their degree does not guarantee them a job. With that and a growing tuition rate, most people can't afford a higher education. College is simply not worth the cost anymore.

Choosing to go to college was one of the biggest investments I had to make in my life. I looked at schools that had Exercise Science and appeared to be a smaller school environment. After a while, all the schools started to mesh together. It came down to what school felt the most like home and a place I can see myself at for four years. College to me was a necessity. It is something my parents demanded me to do. Both of my parents went to college, so I had to go to college. For what I want to do, I don’t necessarily have to go to college. In order to become a personal trainer/coach, I have to graduate from high school and pass a certification test to become certified. My parents didn’t want to hear that, so I decided to find a major and a college that would suit myself. I thought college was a very stressful time where life was enjoyable. Later on, I find out that college is a time where you truly find yourself, meet new people, and have the time of your life.