Pharinet's Essay 'Is College For Everyone'

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.

In his Essay “Are too many people going to college,” first published in a 2008 issue of AEI, Charles Murray explores many insights onto the topic of furthering education as well as exploring various other options to pursue after high school. Who exactly would think that too many people are going to college? Well with more and more students flooding campuses at the end of every school year and less and less going into trade schools, a shift in the job market is just beginning to be seen on the horizon. Charles Murray’s essay “Are too many people going to college” shows that not only are there other avenues to pursue a potential life long career, but that much of the time pursuing these avenues may offer better results for some wanting to go to college.

Many students decide to go to college to obtain a higher education with the expectation that it will prepare them for the work force in a field that interests now. However, most career opportunities do not expect the newly college graduate to know much of anything. The true purpose of a college education revolves around creating a well-rounded person and figuring out your purpose in life. According to Michelle Singletary of The Washington Post, “My daughter, a junior in high school, wants to be an early elementary school teacher. She gets outstanding grades in math and science, but she doesn’t have a passion for those fields. But we talked about her career choice and had her think it through and consider other options before we all agreed she’s got a gift for teaching.” (Singletary). While Singletary’s daughter may not end up becoming a teacher, this is the point of going to college.

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).

In "College Isn 't for Everyone," W.J. Reeves argues that colleges have become too easy to enter and students show a lack of drive to succeed once enrolled in college. Reeves believes colleges should raise expectations when accepting students into their schools, and the students admitted continue to demonstrate responsibility during the years spent at school. He points out colleges have lowered the bar when it comes to admissions due to the fact that a college cannot exist without a funding source. Reeves argues against unwilling matriculations by drawing your attention to the fact those students are not ready for college. Reeves is specific on the areas where students are slacking most in. He cites another professor 's experience with a student where the student informed the professor of a very elaborate excuse as to why they had not come to class. He

Although neither my parents nor my older siblings have college degrees, as a child, I don't remember ever planning my future using the phrase “if I go to college.” From a very young age, it was always “when I go to college.” For me, a postsecondary education is the logical next step in my life, the missing puzzle piece to get me where I want to go. For a long time, I believed that the only reason anyone would choose not to was because they were academically or financially incapable. In “Are Too Many People Going to College?”, Charles Murray refutes this belief, examining the increasing accessibility of a college education and how our culture pushes people who may not need it to attend anyways.

Parents believe their kids are too young and immature to make a decision by them selves, therefore they pressure their kids into attending college believing it is the best thing for them. The author does not agree with these actions and thinks that students should decide for themselves whether or not they want to continue their education. If students feel that college is not for them, they should not stay there just because somebody expects them to. Furthermore, she states that if everyone got a higher education everybody would be on the same intellectual level, and there would be no difference in people.

As adolescents begin their senior year, the topic of college often runs without hindrance, often causing extreme stress. As the monetary value, as well as the time spent, begins to accumulate in their minds, students often find themselves bound at the wrists figuring out a way to balance as well as afford college living. In many cases, the upcoming graduates are unsure about their career path, almost enhancing their stress in choosing a school that would cater to their needs. It is almost then they begin to ponder whether or not University/college life is for them, which is could be an extremely advantageous shot in a, for example, high achieving family. Whilst college does allow for a plethora of doors to be opened, the lack of time, effort, and money can hinder one 's ability to properly choose a university. Though school can help with the stepping stones of life, they do not entirely ensure a proper future, therefore many may opt out of school; however, with the correct actions, they may turn out extremely successful, which may not have even happened without the release of the burden of school.

I have a lot of schooling a head of me, so college to me is a stepping stone or building block to help me achieve my dreams. Bird doesn’t go into much details about individual goals that are the reasoning for students going to college. In life, you must push forward, pass all the statistics, to make something of yourself. She states that a lot of students who go to college is pressured by family or society. However, she doesn't mention their career goals that might be pushing them besides outside influences.

Pharinet, the author of Is College for Everyone, explains an important factor in today’s society about college. He talks about how everyone cannot attend college like today’s society expects us to do so. Many are not able because they cannot maintain the grades and are not financially stabled. Money is a huge problem when it comes to attending college. Books expense, living situation and receiving student loans are examples of some of the issues students never think about, but endure. They only know about attending because it sounds and looks good after high school. Some high schools do not give their students the proper education to meet the requirements to attend. That is why ACT and SAT scores and high school transcripts are needed to meet college credentials.

With the knowledge of the huge investment that college is, I am determined to higher my education and I know that the money I spent in attending college will be repaid in the long run. According to Leonhardt, the wage gap between people with only a bachelor's degree and people without such degree has also kept rising, With this given to me, obtaining a bachelor's degree will support me financially. Likewise, I am already appointed what degree I will pursue. According to Matthews claims, the problem is that the fact that students don’t usually don’t have a great idea of how they are going to fare in college, or what degree that will benefit them. This suggests that college may not be for students that are uncertain about college.

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.

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.

When children or teens grow up they wonder “What do I want to be when I’m older”? Teens or children won’t know what they want to do until they are in high school. It might even take longer than that. High school students will find hidden talents that they didn’t know about themselves, which could cause them to do the they like to do. Some may like to draw and be great at that, and others that aren’t great at drawing pictures might be better at sports. After they would leave out of high school or months before they do the teens might know what they want to do. Then they would have some thought about what college to be at. Some graduates won’t know if they want to be in a college until they are an adult and decided to be a teacher or something that interests you. People won’t work with their friends, which everyone wants to do. Some want their friends to with them so they would do the same college as them so they wouldn’t be alone. People would not work with their friends; therefore, the people that work at their job will find new friends. If you would have been at a college and have a great paying job that you want to do then you would be felicitated. Students should interrogate the college so they want to know about the college and so they can find more information about the college. People who do not further their education at a college and will not have a great paying job. Thus, this means that they would have privation and could not afford food for themselves. It is