The Problem Of College Education

Growing up, parents, teachers, and elders always emphasize the importance of an education to the younger generations. High school students are pushed and encouraged towards college for the next big step in their life. By the time kids step into high school it’s drilled into their heads that to make something of oneself they need to pursue a college education. In reality, are high school graduates even prepared for the challenges that they will soon face? High schools are not preparing their kids for the “college experience” that in turns leaves them lacking the know-how they will need for the workforce.

In society today, a college education is often seen as a “the next step” in a young adult’s life. Whether they actually know what they would like to earn a degree in, they feel the need to continue their education as almost everyone around them is pursuing post-secondary education of some sort. It is often argued that a college education is not necessary to get ahead because of the manufacture based workforce that is up and coming in America, however, there are many benefits to having a post-secondary education such as a higher rate of pay and more job opportunities.

More people than ever before are attending college due to the endless opportunities that it provides. Louis Menand, a college professor and the author of “Live and Learn: Why We Have College,” explains the meaning of college through three theories that have been developed. Theory 1 supports the idea of the sorting-out process that separates the highly intelligent from the less intelligent. Menand’s second theory explains that college provides opportunities for developmental growth, personal growth, and teaches individuals about the world around us. These are valuable lessons that will not be learned anywhere else. Theory three supports the idea of people attending college to specialize in a specific vocation. I

What Is College For? By Gary Gutting is an analytical article upon the importance of a higher education to the public, he begins by discussing the statistics of what college has deemed worthful to people after their education. It was evident that many found it to be useful later on in life and helped them mature and grow intellectually. Gutting also points out that although many people find themselves to be successful later on after college that not everybody had the same experience, many had to drop out for the fact that a higher education was considered to be too expensive, or dropout rates too high. It is evident that he deems college to be an investment for many people who were fortunate enough to attend, therefore, providing the habits of mind of engagement, persistence, and openness to display how they play key points to the qualifying traits of a college student.

“In fall 2016, some 20.5 million students are expected to attend American colleges and universities, constituting an increase of about 5.2 million since fall 2000” (National Center for Education Statistics). That number seems to be rising each and ever year, and it almost seems as students feel like they have to go to college directly after high school. Maybe it is because they feel that they have to fit in, even if college is not for them. Although some students attend college for academics, sports, and other reasons, some students attend college for no apparent reason; with that in mind, students should take into consideration the time and money that is put into going to college.

As you can see, there are many different opinions about the worth of college and the changes that could be made. Those on all sides of this debate aim to meet the same objective: finding the most beneficial path for students after high school graduation. The opinions in this debate range from believing that college couldn’t be worth the cost, to believing that it is always essential to finding a job and that it is always worth the cost in the long run. Though many debates have been made about the worth of the current college experience and the changes that could be made, little has been said about the changes that could be made at in the high school classroom in an effort to

In the essay titled “the Diminishing returns of a College Education,” by Kathleen Parker, Parker contends that in the grand scheme of things students who attend college are not getting the full benefits of the college education they are paying for, that the lack of academic rigor is detrimental to students when they try to enter the workforce. She contends that the a study done by the National assessment of Adult Literacy found though students in the united states pay the most tuition per person; they tend to lack basic learning skills such as basic math and critical thinking. In this day and age the discussion

As a student just out of high school, due for at least four more years of higher-education, the problems in education addressed during Chapter 8 are especially pertinent to my own life. However, that’s not to say that the problems in the education system aren’t important on a society-wide level as the quality of education is a major indicator for a society’s level of development and by extension the knowledge and to a degree the values of its citizens. The rhetorical question the textbook asks is a good summary of the flaws of the education system, “education is often claimed as a panacea – the cure-all for poverty and prejudice, drugs and violence, war and hatred, and the like. Can one institution, riddled with problems, be a solution for

Time after time you hear about going to college; whether at work, family, friends, and even when you are in high school you might have been repeatedly told of how it can benefit you in the long run in regards to your future. They say a good education can take you far in life. Students in high school may still question the importance of a college education. In the world of today people find themselves asking, “Why is it important to go to college?” An important aspect of succeeding in today’s world is getting a better education, and it’s much more than just a degree - in college you also learn how to better prepare for assignments, perhaps one of the most important things you can get out of attending

Today, many students are settling for jobs immediately out of high school instead of furthering their education in college. Students should consider how necessary college actually is for their lives in the future. It provides one with a significant amount of opportunities, a greater knowledge about their career plan, and a better sense of responsibility.

In today’s day and time there are debates on whether college is worth the investment. One side is that college is worth it and it is necessary for future success. The other side to the debate is that college is a waste of time and money. With more disadvantages than advantages, college is not a valuable investment for one to make.

As the cost of college has been rapidly increasing, many have become discontented with paying unreasonable costs yet receiving few of the promised benefits. As evident in various statistics and studies, the value of college has been overestimated. Scientifically and logistically speaking, the pursuit of higher education is simply not a necessity. Dale Stephens’ article “College is a Waste of Time” highlights the key issues and flaws of the college system. The article claims “36% of college graduates showed no improvement in critical thinking, complex reasoning, or writing after 4 years of college”(Stephens). These essential skills are lacking in college graduates, which causes difficulty for graduates as apply for jobs and enter the workforce.

Kyle Laffin is seen ias a typical mid 20’s American. He attended college to pursue a degree in accounting and financial freedom, but this came at a cost which he didn’t imagine. He took out a loan with his father as a cosigner for a little over $100,000. Even though he got an accounting job directly out of college, he is now stuck paying back a monthly loan payment of $1,200, when he only makes $3,333 a month before taxes. This has forced his father to make payments since he cosigned the loan. His father began working two jobs and was forced to take money out of his retirement account just to be able to make those excruciating monthly payments (Woodruff).

Now days, many people are told that they must graduate high school with good grades, so that they can get into a good college and be successful in life. Many people follow this because it’s what they have been taught their whole life. Most won’t even ask themselves, is college worth it, or is there a better alternative out there. College can be worth the time and money that is invested, for a lot of individuals, if they use it correctly. On the other hand, college isn’t for everyone and there are many reasons that make it not very appealing for these individuals. I consider college to be worth it if you use it correctly, even if it isn’t the best financial investment. While there are many people who think college is worth the time and money invested, there are others who disagree.

The development of college and university education in the U.S. has had several achievements. Higher education in America started with the adoption of Western European traditions and patterns of education in new institutions. Native American conditions shaped the development of these transplanted institutions. These two factors, together with the growth of democracy in all aspects of American life, have led to the creation of the modern, distinct system of higher education. “Higher Education in Transition: A History of American Colleges and Universities” by Brubacher and Rudy. This book is based on the history of the United States higher education, as well as accomplishments and drawbacks. It was written at a time when U.S. colleges and universities confronted momentous questions of new direction and growth. The book has accomplished its purpose: it has covered a wide range of historical issues relating to university and college education. Essentially, the book discusses some of the achievements of the American higher education sector from the colonial days to the year 1997.