It has taken many years for people in society to break out of the norms and expectations of how to grow up and live in the world. A huge factor in this “revolution”: attending college. Whether it is taking a gap year to discover the world and the waiting opportunities, or simply running with it all after high school to work, attending college isn’t considered a given anymore. Now not all cases are the same for every person, therefore they can only decide what is the best path for them after high school. Still, the benefits of a being a college graduate will never be diminished. Because in fact, that “gap year” could turn into two or even three years of sitting and deciding what to do in life. Or jumping right into working right after high school, leads to realizing there aren’t many jobs to provide and support oneself. Although many may continue to believe that attending college right after high school isn’t the right path for success, taking advantage of gaining a college education right away is essential for success in life because college broadens job and career opportunities and provides necessary experiences to thrive in the real world after school. It is no secret that a college education facilitates opportunities for the most promising careers and jobs in the long run. Even for most jobs overall, a high school diploma isn’t impressing anyone and it may have to be accepted that a minimum wage job will be the ceiling for any type of work-related income. And remember,
I have strong convictions that leave me to believe that a college education is imperative. On average, a college graduate with a bachelor’s degree earns a lot more in a year than a high school graduate. During the recession between three years jobs requiring some college or an associate's degree fell by a substantial amount, and jobs that are requiring a high school degree. In the article “ Is a College Education Worth It?” by Henry Punionion, he encapsulates the essences of the importance of a college education.
In his article “Plan B: Skip college” the author Jacques Steinberg writes a creative piece informing his audience that college isn’t as mandatory as it is said to be. Though he does not do so without visiting the reasons that college has proven to be good as well. He writes about the stigma that is thrust upon young adults in the united states that college is the key to success, that there should be more alternatives and what jobs actually need a four-year education degree. Steinberg clearly communicates his message while using the pulling from the right resources.
What’s on the mind of most high school seniors throughout their final year of high school? For most its college, and many of those students do not have a clue about what they are about to get themselves into. In today’s society, a college education is a vital step in getting yourself into a good career. But one author argues otherwise. Pharinet the author of the essay “Is college for Everyone” states that college is not for everyone and you do not need college to be successful in society.
We as a society are manipulated by the idea that a college education will fix all of our problems and allow us to pursue a successful life. In the essay “College In America” by Caroline Bird mentions that a college education is not the best choice for all high school graduates because it leads to the assumption that a college education is the only possible way to establish one’s identity in society. Although college is the staple after graduating high school not all sustain the qualities it takes to succeed in the intellectual work given and some career fields do not have a connecting relationship to a college education reminding us that even though these claims are based in the 1970s it is still relevant in today’s society.
“College in America” Caroline Bird thinks that a college education may not be the best choice for all high school students because college education does not bring about social equality, it does not benefit them financially, and it is not guaranteed that college will lead them to an elite profession. First of all, high school students are expected to bring about social equality through four rigorous years in college. However, college is an expensive way to categorize the highs and lows in society. It is pressuring to younger students to pursue a higher education that only a few could achieve, and is also difficult for them to established an identity in society. Second, a college education does not benefit the youth financially because it is
All your life you are told you need to go to college to be successful. In reality college is a chance to be successful but, doesn’t mean that you will be. In his article “Americas Most Overrated Product” Marty Nemko talks about college student statistics stating, "College is a wise choice for far fewer people than are currently encouraged to consider it” (527). Nemko states, “Among high school students who graduated in the bottom forty percent of their classed, and whose first institutions were four-year colleges, two thirds had not earned diplomas eight years later” (523). People who end up getting college diplomas hardly ever work in the career that they have a degree in, let alone can get jobs that require a degree.
I have personally witnessed that a high school diploma has little value in a job market. After receiving my high school diploma I had difficulties finding a job; employers were looking for trainings, certificates, and experiences. It took me two months to find a job that did not require cleaning bathrooms or flipping burgers in a swelter of a fast-food kitchen. I was lucky to find an employer who was willing to provide training and did not require prior experience. I received required training on the job and worked up to a promotion.
College is an immensely impactful part of someone’s life since it is the beginning of a frightening yet amazingly successful journey. College is the stepping stone or the leap of faith someone must take to undergo the transition to adulthood. College opens the gates to the real word. We are facing a time where the United States economy is under one trillion dollars in debt due to college expenses which cause struggling students to wonder and ask themselves, “Is College even worth it?” Attaining a higher education is vitally important; it just matters on making the right decision for it to be worthwhile.
According to Andrew J. Rotherham’s article “Actually, College Is Very Much Worth it. ”he states, “Meanwhile, in 2010, the unemployment rate was 9.2 percent for those with only some college and more than 10 percent for those with just a high school degree, but it was 5.4 percent for college graduates.” The data Rotherham provides shows that even with some college education, you have a higher chance of getting employed than those with just a high school degree. The one group that outweighs all the others is the college graduates proving that with a college degree unemployment is less likely to befriend people who do pursue college. Some people might say that there are loads of jobs that do not require a college degree, especially in this time and age.
Has it always been necessary to attend college after high school? Well, it has always been a very promoted "mainstream" idea among many. While actually going to college has its many benefits, it also has its downsides. But how beneficial the aftermath is, is all up to a decision, options, and availability. Even though College does bring new experiences, it furthers education, its 's an overall challenge, and in the end, you still have the certification.
A rising issue in today’s society is deciding whether or not college is worth the cost. There is an extreme amount of pressure that is forced upon high school students by parents, teachers, and peers to further their education and attend college. However, there is research that challenges the thought that college is the best possible path for a person to take. College may be a great investment for some people, but it is not meant for everyone. This is supported by the arguments that colleges are expensive, jobs do not always require a college degree, and students are forced to choose a lifestyle before being exposed to the real world.
With an ever changing American culture, and values toward college, its importance is increasingly questioned; although, its positives overshadow its negatives making it worth the cost. Preparing a student for the workforce is one main reason college is worth the cost, along with certain mental skills needed for a graduates chosen occupation. For most skilled jobs a college education can better one’s understanding and greatly improve their success, creating better benefits to secure their position. This is seen as “A liberal education… helps us to address problems and potential in our lives with passion, commitment and a sense of possibility,” as stated by Michael Roth.
Although a degree is not essential for those looking to work in the more hands on fields of work, such being a plumber or an electrician, degree holders can look to not only make more, but to also fulfill more brain satisfying tasks in more intellectual fields of work. Even with that in consideration, a degree can help those that work in fields where holding a degree is not commonplace. “Construction workers, police officers, retail salespeople and secretaries, among others, make significantly more with a degree than without one.” (Leonhardt)
It can be hard to think that college is approaching soon, but nevertheless that is a true statement. A college degree is significant in the outlook of jobs and occupations throughout life. In order to increase earning potential, a college degree is almost always required. Having a degree will also make the exploration of jobs simpler, as well as set yourself apart from other applicants.
College degrees are an essential part of building a superior adult life. Thousands of career paths involve obtaining a college degree or higher, especially if you are expecting to make a large sum of money. A college degree will ensure that you are qualified for the job you wish to have; a college degree will also look more appropriate on resumes and applications even if that specific job does not depend upon a college degree. Youngstown State University, located in Youngstown, Ohio, is a college I am profoundly considering because of all of the options it offers.