College... Is It Worth It?

Keeahna Bowen

            Each year when seniors in high school are about to graduate, one of the first questions that they are asked is where they are going to college. For many, this question may be easy to answer because they have had their hearts set on a school since they were young. For others, it may not be that easy. Some of these students being questioned may come from a family where no one has attended college before. In that case, it may be hard for them to figure everything out because it seems they are on their own. It is necessary however, that people go to college and get a degree. There are many reasons that college is necessary such as how much money is made through the jobs, what jobs they can attain, and the students attending college are exposed to diverse people and ideas.

            The first reason that it is necessary to go to college is because college graduates make more money. “College graduates aged 25 to 32 who are working full time earn about $17,500 more annually than their peers who only have a high school diploma.” (“Is college worth it?”).  Because college graduates have a degree, they can get a job that pays a lot more than those with just a high school diploma. Employers are more likely to hire someone with a college degree over someone that doesn’t. Earning a college degree means that the employee being hired is independent and can make decisions on their own, knows how to deal with stress, can make responsible choices, and has experience with others. Sometimes, even though a person may have experience in a certain field, they will hire someone with no experience, but has a college degree. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, “The annual salary average differences between educational levels is quite staggering. High school drop outs earn $18,734 while high school graduates earn $27,915. College graduates earn $51,206 while advanced degree holders earn $74,602” (“How Much More Money Do College Grads Make?”). While money might not be important to some, it is important to be financially stable to support a family.

            The next reason that it is important to go to college is because most jobs require a college degree. “Of the 11.6 million jobs created after the Great Recession, 8.4 million went to those with at least a bachelor's degree” (“College Grads are Getting Nearly all the Jobs”). If you’re considering a profession such as teaching, nursing, business, or psychology, you will need a college degree. However, if having a job at the local McDonalds and making minimum wage for the rest of your life sounds like a better option, that job does not require a college degree. Most of the time, when someone is applying for a job, the employers will look to see if the applicant has a college degree or not. Usually, the people that get hired first are the ones with degrees. I have always had my heart set on being a teacher. But, if I hadn’t enrolled in college and wasn’t taking education classes to graduate with a degree in education, my hopes of becoming a teacher would be shattered.  

            The last reason that it is important to get a college degree is because it exposes graduates to many different experiences. A lot of times, students change their majors multiple times throughout college. By doing this, they meet diversified groups of people. Students can be involved in multiple clubs and organizations, publish newspapers, volunteer to help around campus and play sports. Students can also make new friends that will help influence decisions that they make in the future. “When students experience a post-secondary education, they have the opportunity to read books and listen to the lectures of top experts in their fields. This stimulation encourages students to think, ask questions, and explore new ideas, which allows for additional growth and development and provides college graduates with an edge in the job market over those who have not experienced a higher education” (“Importance of College Education”).  College also helps develop critical thinking and problem solving skills. “Reading a poem closely requires analysis, interpretation, explanation, and judgment. In a science course, students should read and understand arguments based upon evidence. Students should be able to evaluate data including statistical studies, and understand the inferences developed from this data. Reasoning skills help students construct arguments based upon empirical evidence” (“How Do Colleges Develop Critical Thinkers?”).

Some may say that they can’t afford to go to college so there is no way for them to get a degree. However, colleges offer scholarships, financial aid, and work studies to help pay for expenses. For most students, all it takes to receive this help is a simple application. “Scholarships come from governments, colleges and private organizations. They may be awarded for academic or athletic ability, interest in a certain subject, or volunteer work. For example, some scholarships are given based on membership in an ethnic or religious group. Companies may also give scholarships to children of employees.” (“Financial Aid Can Help You Afford College”). It is very easy to be awarded money through scholarships which makes college easier to afford.

            College is not for everyone. In fact, some non-college jobs make a lot of money. So… Say that you didn’t go to college, so you don’t have a college degree. You have been working in a factory for the past 15 years as a technician. Just as you are about to receive a raise in pay, the factory decides to let you go in order to hire new workers that won’t have to be paid as much. You then begin searching for a new factory to work in but can’t seem to find one that is hiring the position you are looking for. So, now you are without a job. However, if you would have gone to college to get a degree in something such as education, your job could be protected by teacher tenure.  “Tenure protects teachers from being fired for personal or political reasons, and prevents the firing of experienced teachers to hire less expensive new teachers” (“Should Teachers Get Tenure”).

            College prepares students for the workforce after they graduate. Going to college helps secure a money-making job, better money is made through the job, and the students attending college are exposed to diverse people and ideas. It is very important that people attend college so that they can have a job that will support themselves as well as their families. One day, when you have a family, think of all the fun family vacations, road trips, evenings out, and adventures that you could have all because you decided to take the next step and get a college education. That would make college worth it.

 

 

 

Works Cited

Jacobs, Alicia. “How Do Colleges Develop Critical Thinkers?” excel.edu. 1. March 2013.       http://news.excelsior.edu/how-do-colleges-develop-critical-thinkers/. Accessed 31.        March 2017

“Financial Aid Can Help You Afford College.” CollegeBoard.com. 2017.   https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/pay-for-college/financial-aid-101/financial-aid-can- help-you-afford-college. Accessed 31. March 2017

 “How Much More Money Do College Grads Make?” Howtoedu.org. 2017.   http://howtoedu.org/college-facts/how-much-more-money-do-college-grads-make/. Accessed 26 March 2017

“Importance of College Education” College View.com. 2017.             http://www.collegeview.com/articles/article/importance-of-college-education. Accessed 26. March 2017

“Is College Worth It?” Economist.org, 2017. http://www.economist.com/news/united-      states/21600131-too-many-degrees-are-waste-money-return-higher-education-would-be-            much-better. Accessed 25. March 2017

Luhby, Tami. “College Grads are Getting Nearly all the Jobs” money.cnn.com. 30. June 2016.            http://money.cnn.com/2016/06/30/news/economy/college-grads-jobs/.  Accessed 30.    March 2017

“Should Teachers Get Tenure?” procon.org. 3. Feb 2017. http://teachertenure.procon.org/.        Accessed 31. March 2017