Is College Worth The Best?

For decades, students have been told that college is the next step after high school graduation. Society reiterates this by glorifying individuals that have completed a degree and looking down upon those who do not have one. The problem is that many students have not acquired the necessary tools nor have the motivation to be successful while pursuing post-high school education. Some argue that college provides the foundation of liberal studies that will improve career opportunities. Charles Murray disagrees in his essay, "Are Too Many People Going to College." He states, "Most people should be getting the basics of a liberal education. But for most students, the place to provide those basics are elementary and middle school." (Graff, 238) This raises the question, is a four-year education the best option for all students. College provides many benefits that would be difficult to find elsewhere, such as, writing skills or cultural growth, but college is not meant for everyone. A college education does not guarantee a prosperous career, instead, gaining work experience or completing a trade school is a more intelligent option for the majority of potential students.

Is college worth it? This one question turns into this debate high school seniors begin to think about before graduating. In our society you cannot really say no to college education because many make it known as a necessity to be successful in life. Many of our parents have raised us to know that college is a must go and that there are no failures. However some may think different. A lot of people may think that not setting a foot in a university or community college does not make them successful and that they will do just fine without a degree towards a career. We all know once someone graduates they are not always guaranteed a successful life with well-paid career and awesome benefits for you and your family. There are different views from both sides of this debate.

A look back at the institution of education over the past 20 years will reveal that once upon a time a bachelor’s degree was long since considered the marker of ultimate success, the highest level of achievement that one could make in their lives. In those days, if for some reason you failed to march across the stage on graduation day after an epic, four-year stretch of high tuition, long nights studying, and unrelenting professors that found great joy in riding your back, then you had indeed failed at life.

Have you ever just stopped to think about what it must be like to be “qualified” for a job yet be unemployed and homeless? Starving on the streets because you paid everything you had to an institution that was supposed to guarantee a better life, a more stable and successful career. Obviously this is an extreme case, not everyone who pays for college ends up living on the streets and broke, but almost every college graduate is in debt. For as long as college has been around it has always meant a better life, it’s always been that people who went to college were more successful, smarter, and would make way more money than someone who didn’t go to college ever would. Lately, however, college has become so expensive that going to college will more than likely leave you in debt working for years upon years just to pay back what you owe and then start making money for yourself.

The U.S. is home to some of the greatest colleges and universities in the world. But with an overwhelming 1.3 million students graduating with an average student loan debt of $29,000 each and with youth unemployment elevated, the question of whether or not college tuition is worth the money arises (The Institute for College Access & Success, 2013). Higher education faces intimidating challenges: continually rising costs, access and completion problems, constant changing of technology, and responsibility pressures from state and federal officials. But no challenge is more intimidating than the fundamental question that many Americans face to ask themselves, "Is college worth the cost?" As a result of the economic turn down, many students who graduate are not finding well-paying jobs, either within their field of study or not.

I am determined to be within a four year college, because if i don’t go, there will be consequences. Participating in a four year college is important to me, so i can live a decent life. To ensure my job safety only 7.2 percent of people that obtained a Bachelor’s Degree are unemployed compared to a 5.2 percent of workers having a High School Diploma(Doc E). That means I’ll have a higher chance of acquiring a job than if I have had a high school diploma. Partaking in college is also important to me because is shows a great opportunity of me being the one in control of my

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

Some wonder whether or not college is worth the time and money. Two essays, “Plan B. Skip College” by Jacques Steinberg, and “Is College Worth the Money?” by Stephen G. Emerson, both discuss this topic and bring different views and insights. Although Steinberg and Emerson both write on the same topic, they use different writing strategies and styles. Both essays have varying styles, arguments, use of metaphors, and utilization of other sources in their essays.

Many people throughout history have said more or less the same words in many different ways, from Presidents to philosophers, from dictators to martyrs, men all through history have come to the same conclusion; knowledge is power. The question of knowledge being equal to power is not the question that has so many people preoccupied in the current economic climate. That statement as fact has been branded into the minds of young people in America and all across the world for so many generations that the point seems hardly worth debate. Now the question has become, “Is knowledge money?” The cost of a college education has skyrocketed to the point that many would be students are asking themselves, is college worth the cost?

Student in high school, college students, and even adults ask a simple question. Is college worth the money? This paper will answer just that question. We all know someone that says it’s not worth it, and that coming out of college with tons of debt and no job is an almost guarantee.

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.

Going to College: Not a One Size Fits All Solution Going to college is a very serious decision that can change the outcome of one’s life. Students must decide if going to college is worth it, and do so by analyzing the time and monetary commitment that it takes to go to college versus the rewards or benefits of a college degree. Many people have been talking about the idea that a college education is not worth it anymore, while at the same time, many competitive jobs state that only a bachelor degree or higher will qualify a candidate for employment. With the options, articles, and news available, it can leave many high school or returning students stumped as to whether or not college is worth it. College is not a one size fits all approach;

A four-year colleges makes students more intellectually prepared for career and life choices. As demonstrated by a survey taken in 2011 by 2,142 adults it shows that 74% of the people found college valuable to their intellectual growth. In addition, 69% found that it helped them grow and mature as a person and 55% found it beneficial for preparing for the career of their choice (Pew Social…). Not all skills that are vital in life are needed in certain jobs; yet, they are beneficial to obtain for a prosperous life. Likewise, in a 4-year college usually better writing, verbal, and critical thinking skills can be learned more in depth than in a trade school (LaTour).

Worse yet, the double-edged sword of debt incurred during this process can potentially result in substantial long-term liability encumbering one’s future while the alternative’s opportunity cost ends with an opportunity perhaps altogether lost. Never a panacea or promise of success, a college education emerges as a pledge made to oneself and best inspired after introspection of the commitment beforehand. In general, it becomes a worthless proposition if prematurely abandoned, left incomplete or otherwise unfulfilled, making it especially costly. Unquestionably, other tradeoff scenarios exist beyond the scope of discussion here as one could consider different degrees, colleges or even professional career paths coming out of school. And make no mistake, as a result of completing one’s academic goals, the real fun begins. Everyone should cherish the freedom to make these kinds of decisions and nonetheless realize all decisions have