Graduation Speech : College Is A New Lifestyle, And The Hope Of A Job After Graduation

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 Charles Murray’s essay “Are Too Many People Going to College” he tries to change the reader’s view of college. He claims that there are too many people attending college for the wrong reasons. According to Murray, "consider that more than 90 percent of high-school students report that their guidance counselors encouraged them to go to college." (251). Since this has become the social norm people are attending college regardless of their skills, interest, or financial situation.

Are too many people going to college? This question has been contemplated over for years. The increased cost of college throughout the years has caused the question to become even more relevant. Charles Murray, an author from the American Enterprise Institute, wrote the essay entitled “Are Too Many People Going to College?” Murray’s essay sought ought to explain that universities are being filled with students who are either not prepared for higher education or who are compelled into attending college and are unable to succeed because the lack of inherent abilities. While Murray makes many pertinent points about America’s infatuation with the B.A as a standard into a class of intellectual elite the essay does not take

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

Charles Murray is a firm believer that there are too many people going to college. I notice that he is a very close-minded man, and although he states problems, he shows no solutions to the problems. Murray believes that college is not a fundamental step in life and not everyone needs to go. Murray also suggests that only “smart people” should go to college, if you have low grades he thinks that you should just start work. Some who are really smart, may not get good grades, not because it is hard for them, but because they don’t want to waste time and bore themselves.

Mike Rose uses his relatives’ experiences along with his own to show that college is not for everyone. This point of view is supported by Owen and Sawhill in ‘Should Everyone Go to College?”. “It is a mistake to unilaterally tell young Americans that going to college… is the best decision they can make.”

The Main Problem With College There seems to be a problem with college, the quality of education has diminished and tuition costs have grown to new heights. Despite this, many people still chose to get a college education to gain an advantage in their career field. In “A New Course”, Magdalena Kay argues that the reason colleges do not adequately prepare them for their future lies in the curriculum. Professors teach classes as they were originally taught, and they grade to easily, giving out more As than they should. Students are not challenged enough, and fall victim to distractions.

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

Students go to college in search of knowledge, a new lifestyle, and the hope of a job after graduation. For many young adults, college is a rite of passage into an independent, mature new lifestyle. Not only is higher education a rite of passage, for some, it is also an opportunity to have a better life. Overall, college is a wonderful part of many people’s lives, yet the way the college education system is conducted wastes students time and money. College is basically composed of two parts: general education classes and major specific classes. General education courses are the source of wasted time and money, and should not be required of students. A few of the problems associated with general education classes are that they are

General Education courses may be one of the most hated requirements in college by students. These courses are required amongst all college students regardless of one’s major or minor. General Education courses may vary with schools but usually consist of: the arts and humanities, social science, natural science, mathematics, and writing. These courses should be optional; students should be able to take them at their own interest such as with elective courses. Without General Education courses it is understood that students will not have completed or received credits needed to graduate. Required college courses should be based solely on one’s major or minor. Students should not be required to

Murray argues that many of the population have the right intellectual capacity to stand college education but due to societal pressure, a higher percentage of students, up to 40% struggle in high school and enroll for a college education in order to secure their future with what they call a degree. This can be shown in Murray’s statement “most people go to college to improve their chances of making a good living” (Murray, 442). Murray claims that the stress placed on college education by society has made most students enthusiastic and are willing to go to college and participate in other smaller courses due to the demand on going to

In the essay “On ‘Real Education’,” author Robert T. Perry refutes the beliefs of Charles Murray, who in his book, writes that it is a waste of time trying to get everybody a college education, as some people do not have the academic abilities to endure it. Perry thinks that it will greatly damage the American society if we removed all of the students that Murray believes do not belong in college. He first gives reasons on why having more college graduates will benefit the American economy. He then goes on to say how educated people are more suitable to do certain jobs and live more enjoyable lives than people who do not go to college. Lastly, he gives solutions on how to get more Americans in college to have a chance at getting a degree. By his use of credible sources, appealing to logic, and effectively refuting the opposition, Perry successfully persuades his audience of young students and their parents that people are more successful and overall happy in their lives when they have a college degree. However, his lack of real life examples and background on his own education slightly weakens his argument.

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).

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.

Growing up in my family, my parents always had higher expectations for me than they did for my brothers. I’ve spent much of my life taking it a little too earnestly, wanting to prove myself as worthy to them. I have always wanted to be the best of the best; setting exceedingly high expectations for myself, often leading to disappointment. Today, for someone to be considered of any importance, they must prove themselves as worthy of belonging or being accepted. It seems like everyone has something to prove because of the realities of living in such a competitive society. In most cases proving yourself as worthy has a slight chance of granting acceptance into society. When I did well in school and wanted to share my achievements with my