Intro
Whether you are from the smallest, roughest high school in the U.S. or the largest, wealthiest high school, you have at some point been talked to about furthering your education. America is notorious for pressuring its youth to attend four-year universities and graduating college to become successful. While some of Americas’ young adults might follow blindly into this “social norm,” others will question its logic or even decide that it is not for them. When it really comes down to it, everyone has one question. Is college worth it? I have searched high and low for the correct answer, but with so many factors included it can be hard to ultimately say yes or no. After all not everyone is the same person and not each person fits the same path. What I did find is that everyone has a decision and that they need to find the right path for them. After concluding my research I have come to my answer regarding the question at hand. Although a college degree is very expensive, it is worth the sacrifice of time and money for young adults to earn their degree today if they do it for the right reasons.
Background
At its very root a college education is an opportunity for young adults to further their education through critical thinking about a career field of their choice. Originally college was a way to separate the work force. When students graduated from high school they could join the labor force or continue education at a university. While most of these students’ families
Is college really worth the time and money? This is the question I am going to be exploring. While many people may have an idea that college is just an abundance of debt, other students argue that most of the information they learn doesn’t provide them with the value they thought it would (Adams 1). Many college students who grow up with the opportunity to go to college usually don’t stress the idea of going to school, but most students who don’t have the opportunity to go to school usually make school their priority. Students who don’t have the opportunity to go to school think this way because they want the opportunities they think they could have with a college education. I am deciding to argue about this topic because I grew up in a household that didn’t grow up with parents who stressed college, as a result, I am making a strong effort to get through college. Although college does have some disadvantages, going to college is worth the time and money because it provides critical thinking and opportunities for job advancement.
Getting a “good” job is not straightforward as it used to be. In past generations, someone in an entry-level position could work their way up the ladder simply through hard work and determination; whether or not one had credentials or a diploma mattered very little. This is not the case today. Higher education is now critical to obtaining a better job because the demand for skilled labor is rising. For this reason, the value that a degree offers is higher than that of one’s actual intelligence or merit. Furthermore, workers without college degrees will quickly be outpaced in position and salary by degree
The question I want to ask and research about is “Is going to college worth it?” By worth it, I mean does the experience of college and a college degree worth the money and time spent on it? There are tons of evidences suggest that it is a right choice to go to college, but there are also some evidences counter that idea, suggesting that going to college may not be the best choice. I agree with the former idea, and I believe that not only going to college is important, but also going to graduate school is preferable. From my experience, I think that a college degree is overall better than a high school degree, and a graduate school degree is better than a college degree. There are different kinds of returns that a college degree could offer
Unlike many things in life, one’s college education is permanent and that’s why it’s worth it. Having a degree is something no one can take away. College education is worth the time and energy because it gives various opportunities to live a satisfying and wealthier life. Personally, I am anxious to acquire my degree because I would be the first in my family to achieve, not only higher education, but also a degree. Yes, I know it will be a rocky road, but I believe the reward is worth it. College education is worth the money because it’s the most valuable investment one can make. One will not only regain what invested but gain even more. Besides once I have achieved my degree I would create a scholarship to give back to the community. Finally,
If you walked across the stage at your high school graduation ceremony you probably were confronted by the options of college, military service, work force, etc. If you decide college is the place to go, then questions start to arise, how am I going to pay for college, where should I go, what do I want to study. Is college is a voluntary place to further your education or is it mandatory to achieve a decent paying job? College has now become something that everyone is choosing because no one wants to be paid minimum wages their whole life. A problem for college graduates today is the debt load that they come out of college with. This debt makes life for these recent college graduates a struggle of making
Is college really worth it? This is a question many students ask when they start to end their years at high school. Lately it has become fashionable to question whether it really “worth it” to go to college. As more jobs start to acquire college degrees, more people aren't getting the job they might have wanted. Education is the single most important factor for the growth of our country. The value of a college education is important because when it comes to jobs, you can get a higher salary and you have a better chance of getting a job.
Is the American dream just a dream?The worth of a college education is arguably one of the most controversial topics in the country. Over the years, the American education system seems to emphasize and underline the importance of college education. The reality of the situation is that a college education can be appreciated through looking at the statistical numbers of people that have enrolled in to college education. A college education is valued because of the financial return it provides which in turn enable graduates to take care of their families, it also teaches effective skills which can be hard to obtain anywhere else, and the risk financial risk can be brought down through more education. However, the worth of a college education is doubted due to the currently high unemployment rates, the huge financial burden associated with acquiring the college education, and the numerous success stories of those who don’t hold a degree.
For the majority of individuals who are in or out of highschool, we often ask ourselves this question which can potentially determine how the rest of our lives are lived. This question is important and is, “Should or should I not go to college.” According to the U.S Census Bureau, “33.4 percent of Americans 25 or older said they had completed a bachelor’s degree or higher which is a sharp rise from the 28 percent with a college degree a decade ago.” This sharp rise in college graduates does not come without reason. The answer to whether you should or should not attend college is simple. There is a great value in having completed a college degree. It provides you with a better source of income, a healthier and happier life, and gives you more opportunity. However going to college does not come without sacrifice. Despite that, in the long run the impact a college education has on your life outweighs the sacrifices you have to make in order to attend college. There is a great value attached to a college level education, and everyone should strive to get one even if there are struggles.
Many question is college worth the cost? I agree and disagree, in our society now a college education is not an option also it is not a privilege, but others would say it is necessity. From both sides there are views that contain a valid argument about the cost of college. There are people whom never stepped a foot in college after high school and are doing great than people who have their master’s degree. One example is if you do not attend college then you have a risk of being underemployed, unemployed and underpaid. As for another example if you do go to a college then you risk being mired in a student loans and that could become difficult to pay off. Freshman year of high school, do you remember the first moment we stepped into our first class, we all take a seat and think from point forward is senior year and college.
Is college really worth it? This is a question many students start to ask themselves as the time for applying to colleges approaches. College is not cheap, but many would say that receiving an education is the way to obtain a “good” job. Those who attend to college and are able to obtain a degree have higher employment rates, bigger salaries and more work benefits than someone that only has a high school diploma. Attending to college is not always easy. There are many aspects that need to be put in consideration. For instance paying for tuition, being able to receive employment right after and simply having the motivation and support to finish college. Even though there are many obstacles that one needs to overcome, attending college and receiving a degree is the way to a better and more successful life.
Junior year is the year that most high school students have to make the biggest decision of their lives. Some students have been planning to go to college ever since first grade, but for others, junior year marks the beginning of the tedious college research and visits. Studying at a university is one of the most expensive fees that a student will have to pay in their adult life, and to know whether this is worth the money, time and effort seems impossible. For high school graduates today, college is worth it because it helps many students become more effective in their work, make more money than those who do not have a college education, and have a much less likely chance of being unemployed than a non-graduate.
Most young people in the United States grow up to see college as inevitable. My own view, however, is that in order to make progress in life, whether it be financially or personally, you have to obtain your college degree. Many people question why should they have to pay anywhere from $50,000 - $200,000 for a piece of paper with your name on it. Study after Study reminds them that higher education is one of the best investments to make. Despite all the money spent to get a higher education, college is the best option. Not solely because of the earnings premium but also the non-monetary benefits a college degree has to offer.
Is a college education truly worth the cost and the amount of debt that a student acquires over a four-year period? Many students today look towards the future scared and frightened debating their future, all of them asking that same question. Many ask what are they doing this for, is a simple piece of paper called a degree worth all of this. These undecided students are frightened, and unaware if a college degree is truly worth all of the baggage that comes with it. Many critics will argue and say that “no a college degree is not worth it.” The amount of debt and the unknown future trumps all the benefits of a degree. However, these critics are wrong because obtaining a college degree is, in fact, worth the cost. The benefits of obtaining a college degree defeat all the negatives that a future student may have to face. When obtaining a college degree people are proven to be more satisfied, have a higher chance of employment, and are more financially stable than those who do not.
Attending college can most definitely provide more opportunities than those who do not receive a higher form of education. According to the article Is College Worth It?, “Americans with four year college degrees made 98 percent more an hour on average in 2013 than people without a degree.” This statement clearly shows how the gap between having a college degree and not is exponentially increasing, making it more appealing for many people to seek out a degree in order to make better income. Many would argue that college is way too expensive, however it has been proven time and time again that over the long run of our lifetime, it is much more beneficial for us to be in debt, and pay off that debt within years, in order for our lifestyle to be a whole lot more stable rather than opting to not go to college to avoid the cost of college debt. The average cost of debt for many college graduates is about $25,000, that may seem like a whole lot of money, however, that debt is a fraction of what opportunities and economic benefits many can attain for having a college degree. One issue that the author pointed out is how there are “very few college graduates…...very few people who are prepared for college…” Based on my own understanding and experience, I can say that what the author stated is true. I have witnessed people very close to me not attend college because of limited resources and because of them being afraid of being in debt. Stories of individuals not being able to pay
Why go to college? Is it really worth it? These are questions that many millennials are trying to find the answer to. There are so many different paths to take, but why college? Well, we can start off by saying that college has many benefits. Some of these being higher salaries, lower unemployment rates, and overall just having the opportunity to pursue higher education and gain the skills needed to follow your ambitions to the best of your ability. These reasons answer those burning questions and provide the answer that college is most definitely worth it.