Why Should I go to
College?
My Dream
At
age 13 I had created my first animated movie! Okay, so it was only 2 minutes
and 18 seconds long, and it looked more like a slideshow than anything else…
But I had found my passion! I wanted to be a filmmaker! Growing up in the land
of opportunity, I knew that no one could stop me from reaching my dreams. Then
I entered college, and I began to feel that my dream was slipping away, not
drawing nearer. Suddenly I didn’t have much time to make videos, or post to my
YouTube channel or Facebook page. I took a part-time job to help pay for college,
and spent much of the rest of my time studying for classes! When I started
joking about dropping out to making a living off YouTube, people couldn’t tell
if I was serious. My parents recognized college as an investment, but I saw it
as an obstacle. I asked myself, “Do I have to go to college in order to achieve
my dream?”
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| My brand |
A
quick Google search will tell you that the “American Dream” centers on the
ideal that “every US citizen should have an equal opportunity to achieve
success and prosperity through hard work, determination, and initiative.”
Growing up my teachers instilled this idea into my very being. My parents taught me that an education would
be important to my success, so I worked hard to graduate from high school with
a 4.0 GPA, and prepared to go to college. My advisors encouraged me to explore
career options of interest to me, and research correlating universities. My
teachers expected me to prepare in all ways possible to become a college
student. It all culminated on the results of a college entrance exam.
Naturally, I was excited when my ACT score and GPA qualified me to receive a
scholarship that would cover my first year of tuition at Utah State University.
My concern, however, is that prospective college students often don’t think
critically and carefully enough about going to a 4-year University, nor
consider the alternatives. College isn’t for everyone, and those who do attend
should weigh the pros and cons in order to navigate carefully and effectively
though college. If college isn’t right for you, know that there are available
alternatives!
The Case for and Against College
I
admit the expectations and encouragements for me to go to college pushed me to
work hard. I do not pretend to argue that it was wrong of my parents, advisors,
and teachers to guide me on the path towards a college education. After all,
4-year colleges and universities have been the key to success for thousands of
Americans throughout the years. However, in a society that constantly changes,
career pathways and opportunities will not remain constant. We should not
follow tradition without stopping to thoughtfully analyze and carefully
consider our career pathways. Each of us should ask ourselves, “should I go to
college?” This means, know the costs therein and consider the alternatives of
college. If you can truly answer “yes” for yourself, and you know why you
should do so, then actively pursue that path! As you do so, carefully consider
the options available to you.
Chose Carefully
The college you attended
and the degree you select will help you determine if college is worth it. In
his article on pathways to desirable careers, James E. Rosenbaum points out
that in 2010 “the median annual earnings of young adults with BA (Bachelor of
Arts) in a Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM) field is $12,500
(or 37 percent) higher than those with a BA in the Humanities (Rosenbaum,
2010). According to this data, a computer scientist would make roughly $12,500
more per year than a journalist. As of May 2015 the Bureau of Labor Statistics
shows that broadcast journalists made an average annual wage of $58,560, while
Computer Scientists and Engineers made on average $72,300 a year. The
difference is $13,740, which amount to a $1,240 increased difference over the
five years since Rosenbaum presented his data.
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| Bureau of Labor Statistics |
The Financial Monster
David Wilezol and William
Bennett, a former Secretary of Education, and co-author of the book Is College Worth it?, show the
staggering truth that “between 1982 and 2007, college tuition and fees rose
more than 400 percent (about 4 times the rate of inflation) (Bennett and
Wilezol).” In other words, college just keeps getting more expensive. Frankly,
college attendance requires a high initial investment that does not always pay
off. Tuition rates and student debts are at record highs. In her book about
higher education, Sandra Featherman, the president of the University of New
England, records that in 2011 “the average student debt was $26,600 for those
with loans.” Furthermore, “many students drop out of programs of questionable
value and accumulate high debts with no degrees to show for it.” The problem
highlighted by these statistics is that many students simply cannot afford college.
This high price tag not only causes high dropout rates, but many who do
graduate find that their job market is either overcrowded, or their earning
potential can’t sufficiently compensate for their student debt (Featherman 2).
These facts lead more and more students to question whether college is actually
worth it.
In order to avoid being
part of these statistics, I searched and searched to get a job as I attended
college. After a few resumes and a couple interviews, my initiative and
connections landed me part-time job bagging groceries. Between saving money,
and applying for scholarships and financial aid I hope to be able to graduate
with little or no debt. However, if college is going to be worth it, I must
invest with more than just my money. College students who truly invest time and
effort into their studies will be much more satisfied with their return on
investment.
What's the Trade Off?
W. Lee Hansen and Burton A. Weisbrod, both of whom have
Ph.Ds. in economics, remind us that “College students not only give up money to
go to school, but also give up time which they might otherwise use to work and
produce income (Hansen & Weisbrod).” It doesn’t take a genius to recognize
this trade off. I tossed around the idea of dropping out of college because it
consumes a lot of my time. When I’m not in class or studying for it, I’m
working part-time to be able to afford to keep going to school! College leaves
me little time for my hobby, and little time to develop my passion into a
career. However, because college is an investment, I have decided to invest my
time into my studies, in hopes that it will pay off in the future. More than
just passing tests, college has taught me, among other things, writing,
research, and communication skills that will help me should I choose to start
my own business in the future.
Those who don’t plan on
starting their own business will benefit from a BA when applying for a job.
Jeremy Anderberg points out, in his article Is
College for Everyone? Part II: The Pros and Cons of Attending a 4-Year College,
that business owners and HR professionals will often throw out resumes that
don’t list a college degree (Anderberg). The truth is, however, that a degree
alone isn’t enough to make you stand out to today’s employers. College students
need to do more to get the experience that employers are looking for. Anderberg
found that the national unemployment rate for college graduates was just 3.4
percent in 2014. These numbers account for anyone with a college degree,
ranging from young adults to individuals nearing retirement. The story for recent graduates is quite a bit different. “One Associated Press analysis
of data in 2011 found that 54 percent of recent graduates were unemployed.”
This means roughly half of those who walk triumphant off the ceremony floor
with a degree in hand, enter the field jobless! In early American history a
degree was a title for the elite that ensured success. Today, the degree has
become commonplace and its value has been undermined and often wasted. College
graduates today cannot expect a job to be just waiting for them. What’s worse
is that many of the 64 percent of recent graduates that were employed, “…found themselves in jobs that didn’t require
anything to do with their degree----often service jobs like waiting tables or
working at retail stores (Bennett & Wilezol 8).”
What Are You Paying For?
You’ve probably heard the
saying “It pays to get A’s, but C’s get degrees.” Steer clear of this mediocre
mindset as you journey through college. Instead, take advantage of as many
types of learning experiences and opportunities as possible. Researchers from
the University of Kent and Middlesex University performed a survey to analyze
the career development of 49 ungraduated students enrolled in an applied
Psychology degree. Their findings indicate that work placement/experience is
crucial in helping students in their career preparation. In addition to your
degree, employers want to know that you have business and customer awareness.
They want to see problem solving skills, good communication and literacy
skills, application of numeracy and IT skills, entrepreneurship, and a ‘can-do’
attitude (Mahmood et al.)!
Students, professors, and
faculty need to work together to improve college student readiness! A college
campus is a great place to find connections and strengthen communication
skills. Take advantage of the resources found both in and out of the classroom.
Seek and follow advice from professors and advisors. Find internship
opportunities, attend workshops and Career Fairs! A student really dedicated on
finding a job as a Psychologist won’t find him/herself flipping burgers. Your
education won’t be cheap, so don’t treat it that way. Study hard, and seek
internships and workplace experience. Your campus career services are a great
place to start!
College Alternative - 1
To those who don’t find
college an investment worth taking, I say don’t be discouraged about not going
to college, as long as you replace it with an alternative career pathway. Bill
Gates dropped out of college, then started his own business. His
entrepreneurship led to a job for himself, and eventually for thousands of
others. “Startup businesses create 3 million jobs a year,” says Timothy Kane,
an economist and researcher at the Hoover Institution, a conservative think
tank at Stanford University. “If that number starts to decline, that's where
you're really seeing just an absence of opportunities for people to get started
(Greenblatt).” America needs entrepreneurs and innovators to help its economy
thrive. If that means not going to college, don’t let others discourage you
from achieving your dream. Not everyone needs college to succeed. You probably
know some classic examples: neither Henry Ford, Walt Disney, nor Bill Gates got
a college degree. You may think that they are the few exceptions, but what
about Best Buy’s founder, Richard Schulze, or Ray
Kroc, the founder of McDonalds? James Cameron and Rush Limbaugh dropped out of
college and found their own way into business. I’ve only named a few, but according to Anderberg, “there are over 22 million
individuals who are self-employed in the U.S.… (Anderberg 11 Alternatives).” Knowledge
and information is more widely available today than it has ever been! With the
click of the button, online resources reveal even more possibilities and career
opportunities. If I dedicate my time to developing and promoting my YouTube
channel, I have no doubt that I could turn it into a profitable business. Don’t
be afraid to put your great business idea into action!
College Alternative - 2
Another alternative to
college could be to invest time and energy into an entry-level job. Today there
are more people working service jobs, like fast food or retail, than any other
job (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). Although the initial pay may be lower
than jobs requiring a college degree, retail jobs are also important for our
economy. Don’t think that you can’t earn a living this way. After all, I know
few people who don’t visit the grocery store, the gas station, or a fast food
joint. A little over a year ago I met a guy who told me how he began working
his wage flipping burgers. He worked hard and sought advancement opportunity.
Years later when he retired, he was manager of several Burger Kings. It is
still possible to get right into the workforce and work up the ladder. 7 months
ago I got a job bagging groceries and pushing carts at minimum wage. A month
ago I was offered a $1.75 raise and the title online sales clerk, and opportunities
for advancement are still available to me!
College Alternative - 3
To
those that have a hands on skills or talents that need just a little refinement,
I suggest trade school. “Trade schools typically take a lot less time to
complete...” and “Vocational degrees can lead to well-paying jobs like
electrician, mechanic, machinist, pharmacy technician, nuclear technician, and
dental hygienist, with room for growth and managerial potential in each field (Hamm).”
Scholars might say that trade schools are for the unintelligent or those that
can’t afford college. I argue that we should recognize the value that trade
jobs have in our society. We need both doers and thinkers. You don’t have to be
“book smart” to positively contribute to America’s economy. In many cases, the
pay difference between a college graduate and a trade school graduate isn’t
much to complain about. “The average starting salary for a college graduate is
$45,000, while the average salary of someone who went through trade school is
$42,000.” That’s only a $3,000 difference. Furthermore, the trade school
graduate is entering the workforce at least two years sooner (Anderberg 11
Alternatives). That means more time making
money, instead of spending it!
Conclusion
“College
was never intended for everyone. It used to be assumed that some kids would
become plumbers and some would become doctors. Some would become police
officers and some would become accountants (Billitteri).” To me, I think
college will be worth it. My savings and part-time job will help me avoid large
debt. I work hard to get the most out of my time and money, and I enjoy it
along the way! When I started this paper I set out to prove why I should drop
out and start my own business. In spite of the risks of going to college, I
recognize its value for me personally. After considering the alternatives, I’ve
decided that going to college is an investment I want to take. I recognize there will be risks associated with
investing in a college education, but I’m willing to take the chance that it
will pay off. Your story will not be the same as mine, so you must decide for
yourself. Fortunately, learning is a lifelong experience. There’s more to
education than what you’ll find in a college classroom! We learn by asking
questions and seeking answers. So take the initiative and ask yourself “why
should I go to college?” If you don’t think it’s your best option, don’t be
afraid to pursue alternatives. If you’re not sure, you might just want to try
it out, but do your research! In fact, my campus library has whole shelves
dedicated to the topic of higher education. Come check it out!
Works Cited
Anderberg,
Jeremy. "Is College for Everyone? 11 Alternatives to the Traditional
4-Year College." The Art of Manliness. 17 Apr. 2014. Web. 14 Mar.
2016.
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"Is College for Everyone? Part II: The Pros and Cons of Attending a 4-Year
College." The Art of Manliness. 24 Mar. 2014. Web. 14 Mar. 2016.
Bennett,
William J., and David Wilezol. Is College Worth It? Nashville,
Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, 2013. Print.
Billitteri, T. J. The Value of a College Education. CQ Researcher, 19,
(2009, November 20). 981-1004. Web. 16 Mar. 2016
Featherman, Sandra. Higher Education at
Risk: Strategies to Improve Outcomes, Reduce Tuition, and Stay Competitive in a
Disruptive Environment. Sterling, Virginia: Stylus, LLC., 2014. Print.
Greenblatt, Alan. "Youth
Unemployment." CQ Researcher 14 Mar. 2014: 241-64. Web.
16 Mar. 2016.
Hamm,
Trent. "Why You Should Consider Trade School Instead of College." The
Simple Dollar. 7 Dec. 15. Web. 17 Mar. 2016.
Hansen,
W. Lee, and Burton A. Weisbrod. Benefits, Costs, and Finance of Public Higher
Education. Chicago: Markham, 1969. Print.
Mahmood, Lynsey, Letitia Slabu, Georgina
Randsley de Moura, and Tim Hopthrow. "Employability in The First Degree:
The Role of Work Placements On Students' Perceptions of Graduate
Employability." Psychology Teaching Review 20.2 (2014):
126-136. Education Source. Web. 6 Apr. 2016.
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S.
Department of Labor, Occupational Employment Statistics, May 2014.
Web. 17 Mar. 2016.
Rosenbaum, James E., Jennifer L. Stephan,
and Janet E. Rosenbaum. "Beyond One-Size-Fits-All College Dreams:
Alternative Pathways to Desirable Careers." American Educator 34.3
(2010): 2-8, ERIC. Web. 14 Mar. 2016.
