Go To College

High school graduation marks the start of young adults’ lives, a time where they are expected to decide what they want to do for the rest of their lives. Many young adults are pressured into attending college, whether they have determined their goal or not, but is it necessary? “The Case Against College,” an article written by Linda Lee, a mother who has questioned the former belief that college equals success, claims that “not everyone needs a higher education.” College, though beneficial to many, is not for everyone and should not determine an individual’s life.

Going directly to college after high school can be completely beneficial to one’s life. It is what the government encourages while in high school and can easily be accomplished. By attending college at a young age you can live the infamous college life that so many adults speak of as “the best four years of my life”. These four years can be achieved and should be enjoyed. As a young student, one can have the stamina to attend class with hours on end. As a current college student, I see many adults coming back to college because they have been part of the group that has tried to succeed while only having a high school diploma. The truth of the matter is those high school students that realize that a four-year degree in college can secure a place in life that is acceptable for them will be the ones to succeed; furthermore, these students are the future of America.

The article, Not going to College is a Viable Option, written by Lawrence B. Schlack displays the possible alternatives and outcomes of going to college. With the help of ethos, from a former superintendent, Schlack uses his own self as a credible source by providing examples of what he has experienced and witnessed throughout the course of his work. Schlack appeals to the audience on a personal level by exploiting the weakness of high school graduates, who don’t know what they want to study when attending college. Granted, Schlack uses logic to reason with the audience on why not going to college is a viable option. However, with the lack of credibility, facts, and statistics, Schlacks article is not effectively persuasive on reasons why

In the essay “Are Too Many People Going to College,” writer Charles Murray explains that not everyone is in need of going to college for three main reasons: a liberal education should be gained in elementary and middle school, many people already have knowledge and skills necessary for a technical career, and many students are in college to “buy an admission ticket-the B.A.” (246) and ensure employers consider their resume. Murray does not argue anything against college itself but more against society and especially the education system. Murray also accuses guidance counselors and parents of “automatically encouraging young people to go to college straight out of high school being thoughtless about the best interests of young people” (249).

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.

Lawrence B. Schlake, author of the article Not Going To College Is A Viable Option, suggest that there are many different opportunities that can lead to further success in life other than attending college. Throughout the article, Schlake references the European “gap year” and numerous other reliable options instead of college. As a superintendent, Mr. Schlake is a credible source when it comes to dealing with students entering the workforce or exploring career opportunities. The use of persuasive techniques and evidence displayed throughout the article is very effective in persuading the reader that college isn’t suited for everyone.

“What’s the key to success in the United States?”(Steinberg,2010), author Jacques Steinberg starts off his article “Plan B: Skip College” with a powerful question that has been asked by many Americans. Majority of Americans first thoughts would be higher education. The ideology that obtaining a degree is the best and sometimes only way to be successful in the American economy. This has been instilled in numerous children growing up. Steinberg states “perhaps no more than half of who began a four-year bachelor's degree program in the fall of 2006 will get that degree within six years according to the department of education”(Steinberg,2010). Students who tend to not excel in high school often take longer, or at times finish a higher education at all. These

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

The transition from high school to college is a dynamic time in one’s life that parallels the change from childhood to adulthood. Both of these changes are dramatic and, as a result, feelings are difficult to put down into words. A messy combination of emotions fills the heart, surfacing in strange ways. Confident high school seniors go right back to the bottom of the chain when entering college as freshmen. These students start all over, just like entering grade school or high school for the first time. The move up from high school to college signals the switch from dependence to self-sufficiency. From a personal point of view, going through the experience of graduating high school and transferring to a residential college campus at STLCOP, made me realize I was no longer a kid and capable of making my own decisions.

Graduating from high school is a milestone that forces one to make major life decisions. Whether you are ready or not to make those decisions is irrelevant; choices must be made and and steps must be taken in a new direction. In his article, “Not Going to College is a Viable Option,” former Superintendent Lawrence Schlack states, “high school doesn’t always prepare students to answer these important questions” (13). Schlack argues that too many students are told that college is their only option and they are made to feel failures if they don’t want to attend college. I am thankful for Schlack’s article because it validated my choice not to attend college right after high school. I plan to pursue a career as a diesel mechanic. My goal is to

It is a well known fact but there are many people including counselors, parents, teachers, and friends who resist saying it out loud for fear it will sound like discouragement and negativity: college is definitely not for everyone. The pressure on high schools students, especially those that excel, to attend a college or university is enormous. And in the case of a bright, industrious and motivated high school student, attending a college or university is an obvious career choice. For those students, it's only a matter of what university to attend, whether one's SAT score is high enough, and the availability of the money. Then there are the millions of high school students who are not really personally motivated but are being pressured by their counselors, teachers and parents should they attend college if they really don't care? This paper examines those issues.

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 today’s world, a college diploma seems to rank as highly valuable in the job market. With that in mind, it 's no surprise that high school graduates are swarming to college campuses with good intentions of being successful academic achievers, ultimately leading to a high paying career. Of these students bearing high school diplomas, are those who are perfectly qualified to meet the demands of college course work, and those who are underprepared for such an endeavor. Over the past few decades, Higher education has no longer been an exclusive luxury for high-class, academically successful students. Now, students who experienced an unsuccessful high school career are being supported and encouraged to attend college more than ever before. While this poses a great opportunity, predominately, it presents implications affecting a large population. Ultimately, by encouraging underprepared students to attend college, society only creates predicaments that are damaging to community colleges, tax payers and all students alike.

American teenagers are overwhelmed and brainwashed with the push for higher education after high school. The coveted college education is widely believed by the nation to bring success and security to those who choose to pursue it, therefore it is the most desirable pathway. Without disregard for the other post-high school options, it is a universally known fact that college is the predestined route high schools have highlighted on the map of most American teenagers’ futures. Provided the current national student-loan debt being between $902 billion and $1 trillion, not only American teenagers, but also American adults are starting to pull over to reevaluate their map. The multitude of skills and experiences taught are not proportioned with

"What will I do when I graduate high school?”; that 's a common question that many people ask themselves, however, not many know the answer. Some people don 't continue their education for a range of different reasons; for some, it 's an issue of money, fear, or flat out laziness. All through my high school career, in my mind, going to college was a no-brainier. For me, seeking higher education is more than just a stepping stone to a career; it is another way to develop a better self worth and where I can learn how to take charge of my life. As with many other things, it can come with a plethora of pros and cons, but the outcome is well worth the grueling and tedious work put in. Facing a variety of problems that may occur inside and outside of the classroom and knowing how to handle them will be crucial in my future. Learning to work with people from all walks of life gives me a much broader and open-minded view of the world. Since I will be spending a substantial amount of time educating myself about a specific career, it has to be something I utterly enjoy.