Over the last several decades, higher education has gone through an unprecedented growth period, and as a result, the average university has more students and a larger output now than ever before (Amaral, Jones, and Karseth, 2013). Higher education is a privilege that I value immensely. Having gone through my fair share of ups and downs when it comes to earning my Bachelor’s degree, I have come to appreciate the difficult and sometimes the seemingly never ending road of obtaining a college degree. These days it seems that a high school diploma is not enough, and in a lot of cases, a Bachelor’s degree is not enough, but it is difficult to determine the true value of higher education. Students, educators, employers, and everyone in between has a different definition of the true value of higher education. It all depends on what pushes you to want to achieve a higher level of education. Do people want that Bachelors, Masters, or PhD for more money, higher status, to feel successful, or because it is what you are “supposed to do”? If we are all honest, it is more than likely a combination of all of those reasons. For me, it is definitely a combination of wanting to earn more money and so that I may personally feel successful. I have been in college off and on for over 10 years so the time to graduate is now, and there is nothing that will stop me from achieving that goal.
Over the course of my five semesters at Athens State University, I have acquired several skills that I
When it comes to the topic of attaining a college degree, most will readily agree that it is essential to securing a successful career post-graduation. Whereas some are convinced that a college degree does not guarantee entry into a career in one 's field of study nor does it determine success in one 's career, others maintain that a higher education is, in fact, the way to job security and financial success. What comes into question is whether the investment in a college education is truly worth it or not in order to accomplish a student 's goals of success. I think it could be said for most prospective college students that the reason for going to college is to gain the credentials required for most jobs today. What many of those potential students may not realize is the substantial percentage of graduates who do not acquire a job related to their majors, how much debt they will incur, and just how many students don 't graduate at all for reasons such as an overwhelming workload and a poor work/ life balance.
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.
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.
People in the past did not stress value of receiving a higher education because it was not as indispensable as it is today. Now, people perceive others not only by their appearances, but by their accomplishments. Employers always hire people with the most education and experience. The majority of students are concerned about getting a higher education throughout the years. Nevertheless, some people question the purposes of getting educated, and consider it meaningless. The concept of education has a significant meaning. It enables one to take control of knowledge and apply it. It is education what prepares the mind to comprehend and learn important ideas. A higher education is very important for an individual's success in
If you are like me, the decision to attend college is a practical one. Our society values higher education as a function of credibility and potential, and thus by extension, so do our institutions of labor, as they are the primary mechanisms used to acquire wealth and power. Earning a college degree will make me considerably more attractive to employers than I would be without one. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2014), the unemployment rate among those with bachelor’s degrees was 3.5 percent, compared to 4.5 percent for those with a 2-year degree, and
In today’s society, the idea of receiving a college education has been pondered quite a bit as to whether or not it is actually worth it. According to Michelle Adam, many people “…today believe that getting a good education is key to success in our society, this revealed surprising issues that challenge the notion of higher education being worth its price tag” (59). Naturally, many high school graduates apply for college right before or after graduation. Others decide to go into the work force, armed forces, or simply remain unemployed. The question that many people debate about is, is a college education worth it in the long run? Though some people believe a college education will benefit ones’ career, others believe it will cause a mass
As of today, college is no longer an option or privilege, it’s a necessity. College education is the most important education of them all because it sets in stone the rest of your life. Higher education is touted to lead to a number of benefits, including financial security and prosperous career. In fact, about 84 percent of Americans claim that a higher education is very important to get ahead in life” (Vista Success). Furthering my education is highly important in life because a college degree can dictate a lot of things such as income and job position. Getting a bachelor’s degree is the right decision for me because it’s an important asset that will give me advantages in my career such as in salary, job security, and long life
When the average induvial thinks about attending college they usually thank the end result will be a higher paying job. It doesn’t matter what level degree one has, there will always be completion for any job. It just a beneficial speculation that many people have the idea that college will always lead to higher paying job. This is not always the case. Michelle Adam states “the study reported that a majority of Americans (57%) say that the higher education system in the United States fails to provide students with good value for the money.” That’s more than half of students that are going to college and not getting what they thought they would from college. The high education is going in the wrong direction.
Is college really worth it? This is the question many students are starting to ask themselves as the college cost increases and the benefits of a degree are falling. Right now, in our society, a college education is no longer an option or privilege, but rather a necessity. We are practically raised and conditioned to believe that one needs a higher education in order to succeed. Although some may argue that a college education can provide better career opportunities and lead students to higher-paying jobs, this is not true for everyone. Research today suggests that a college degree does not always guarantee employment and that many college graduates end up burdened by the vast amount
In this day and age, an increasing amount of employers are requiring a higher level of education in order to hire people. Having a degree allows adults to have multiple choices of when, where, and how they work. Because of this, college graduates have new and improved employment opportunities. In a recent study of young americans, 58% of college graduates and people with some college or associate's degree expressed being "very satisfied" with their jobs, compared to only 50% of high school graduates and a drastic 40% of people without a high school diploma. For many people, working at a job you are fond of is crucial for living a quality life. Having a degree aids in increasing the amount of choices when selecting a career path you will enjoy. Because of this, college graduates have lower poverty rates than ever before. The 2008 poverty rate for bachelor's degree holders was 4%,
In her essay for The New Yorker, Rebecca Mead’s “Learning by Degree” addresses the issue of getting a college degree in todays society. Back in the day you could go to college and get a degree in your field of choice and you were almost guaranteed a job once you graduated. In today’s society, Mead’s says that to get a good job that pays well you would need to get a degree in a STEM field. Sadly even then you aren’t guaranteed a job after graduation. But you’re statistically more likely to get a well paying job with a STEM degree. People aren’t only deterred from attending college because of the lack of jobs after graduation but also the lack of reward people see from a degree. The cost of attending a place
In today’s’ society, success is often measured by academic and professional achievement. Higher education provides more opportunity and freedom. Statistics verify that generally, the more highly educated have higher earnings and there is a significant difference between wages earned by employees with College degrees and those without. Higher education is often perceived as a means to a ‘better life’ .Though many recognize the benefits of higher education, the rate at which students leave in their first year of College is still very high. Students leave their first year of College for
In present day, it is expected that after high school students continue their education to college. Therefore, it is no surprise to say that most students follow the pedigree, making a bachelor’s degree dilute to the value of a high school diploma. Yes, it is great that you obtained a bachelor’s degree, but it doesn’t differentiate you from the other hundred people who apply for the job position. Now, advanced degrees like masters and doctorates are what count. Not only does it [bachelor’s degree] not give you a better chance at an entry-level job, but also, the majority of college graduates are swimming in a pool of debt. So in the end, after all those years of studying, the dollars in debt and the chance of not even getting a job in
Higher education is optional, but to enter a respectable career, one must continue their education in order to achieve his financial and/or personal goals. Teenagers who attend college use their extended schooling to further obtain knowledge. The primary objective of higher education is to enhance one’s abilities for his future. A student can learn from school in numerous ways, but liberal education is not a way to attract students into further and higher education. However, students can learn a lot more through experiences that have affected their personal lives. I agree with author Mike Rose’s theory that education needs are reached to obtain a higher academic level by teaching students information that can be related to their personal
On the negative or less optimistic side, it seems to be universally accepted that college education is a good thing; however, thousands of colleges and millions of students spend vast amounts of time and money chasing some sort of degree, diploma or certificate. But what is the value of these qualifications? Most college students (me included) gets brainwashed or sidetracked by administrators of education. They make it seems as though having a college education is the only way doors will open for students. Certificates, diplomas, and degrees are held up as a status symbol and the key to money, power and success. However, the truly powerful are not those with degrees, but people who stand back and look at what is really important in life. These people are found in every part of society. Take my present boss for instance, Carol Levine. Carol never attended college; she actually was a high school drop out who eventually went on to receiving her GED. Today she is the general manager for a fortune 500 company which is also one of Florida’s number one title insurance