Importance of College Education
"Why is it important to go to college? The answer is that, more than ever, attending college provides opportunities for graduates which are not as widespread to those who have not received a higher education. High school graduates today are unable to obtain the number of high-paying jobs that were once available. The U.S has been transformed from a manufacturing-based economy to an economy based on knowledge, and the importance of college education today can be compared to that of a high school education many years ago.
There are additional reasons as to why it is important to go to college. When students experience a post-secondary education, they have 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. It provides them with an edge in the job market. The reasoning does not begin and end with the job aspect.
A good education is beneficial from many different viewpoints, and while the importance of a college education is quite evident for many high school students. In our society, a college education is no longer an option or privilege, but rather a necessity. We are practically raised and conditioned to believe that one needs higher education in order to succeed in life.
There are many people who have no college degree and are doing better than people who have master's degree. There are views from both sides that contain a valid argument.
A good education is beneficial from many different viewpoints, and while the importance of a college education is quite evident for many high school students. In our society, a college education is no longer an option or privilege, but rather a necessity. We are practically raised and conditioned to believe that one needs higher education in order to succeed in life.
There are many people who have no college degree and are doing better than people who have master's degree. There are views from both sides that contain a valid argument.
The main reason why people go to college is not because they want to but because they have to. Most high school seniors are pressured by their parents to go to college because it is the right thing to do. The main reason of going to college is, of course, to get a good job. College pressures us with academic knowledge in order to succeed in the future. Student engage in experimental learning and activities that anchor them in real life problems.
As the competition to get a decent job is increasing, it is impossible to obtain a high paying job without at least a bachelor's degree. College is not only about getting a job, but about acquiring knowledge and broadening one's horizon. It is sometimes just as good to be an intelligent person and know about a lot of things instead of being a person who makes a lot of money.
Many people go to college only for the title of being called a college student. For some young people, it is a graceful way to get away from home and become independent. Being a college student is a more respectable, but going to college and getting a degree does not necessarily guarantee that an individual is going to get a good job immediately after graduation. Even if they do get a job, it is usually not in what they got their degree for.
Many college students would feel that college is a waste of money because they do not learn what they want to. Some students say that they have to take classes that have close to nothing to do with their major but are only taking these classes in order to fulfill a general educational requirements. Some students think that these general education classes are useful to get knowledge and personality improvement. There are both kind of views about these.
The major reason of going to college is, of course, to get a good job. College prepares us with academic knowledge in order to succeed in the future. In general terms, teaching and learning may begin in a classroom, but course work spills over into the life of the campus.
"The Adult Student and Course Satisfaction states, institutions of higher education are becoming more and more attentive to student enrollment issues. Institutions are increasingly interested in examining the effects of student satisfaction and its contribution to student retention"(Howell and Buck).
Another way college is worth the money, however, is because it is one of the few institutions that often contains people of different ethnic and racial backgrounds. Such institution allows one to develop their social and communicative skills because they are exposed to familiar cultures.
College teaches us to become responsible because for the first time most people are practically on their own. It is completely different from high school. College is not only about getting a good job, but about acquiring knowledge and broadening one's horizon. A lot of courses that are at school are not needed for a certain major but are just there for interested people who want to learn more about a certain subject. College education helps to expand their knowledge, intellectual powers, practical competence, improve performance in citizenship, work, family life, etc.
"According to Lei Zhang, in year 2000, about 50% of high school graduates were enrolled in colleges; public colleges and universities enrolled 76.8% of all college students and about two-thirds of undergraduate students in four-year institutions"(Zhang).
Although the colleges and universities of today carry a heavy price tag, it is of great importance not to let that discourage you from obtaining a college education. While the cost of tuition continues to rise, there are number of financial aid options like federal options, scholarships, grants, loans , work study programs, etc.
For me, college education is necessary. It is not until after I have been unable to find success in job, after years of trying to get back onto the college track, only then have I realized the value of a college education. Not education in general, but a well-rounded college education.
The escalating cost of higher education is causing many to question the value of continuing education beyond high school. The risk is large for low income families. Today, education has minor as well as major purposes. Education is the knowledge of putting one's potentials to maximum use. Many say that a human being is not in the "proper" sense until he or she is educated. With a college education, we have open doors and open windows to the outside world.
Subjects like history, politics, humanities can make us a much more accommodating and sympathetic to other cultures, race, and religion resulting in a better bond among international communities. Math and science classes gives us more than just a few basic skills and lead us to communicate to the advancement of technology.
According to U.S. Census Bureau, the holder of bachelor's degree will make an average of $40.078 per year which is more than high school graduates' income and the holder of master's degree will make more than that.
College definitely has its pros and cons, but I think that college is what you make of it. It can be the best time of your life, but only if you want it to. You can think that college is a waste of money or it can be looked as a challenging and exciting new frontier that will set the precedent for the rest of your life.
In conclusion, education fills up the empty minds to bring about positive changes, which affect individuals, society, and the world. Until we learn, we do not know the benefit of learning. Therefore, to be successful in life we must carry on the pursuit of enhancing our skills and knowledge through education.
Howell, George, and Jeffrey Buck. "The Adult Student And Course Satisfaction: What Matters Most?." Innovative Higher Education 37.3 (2012): 215-226. Academic Search Complete. Web. 8 Nov. 2013.
"The Adult Student and Course Satisfaction states, institutions of higher education are becoming more and more attentive to student enrollment issues. Institutions are increasingly interested in examining the effects of student satisfaction and its contribution to student retention"(Howell and Buck).
Another way college is worth the money, however, is because it is one of the few institutions that often contains people of different ethnic and racial backgrounds. Such institution allows one to develop their social and communicative skills because they are exposed to familiar cultures.
College teaches us to become responsible because for the first time most people are practically on their own. It is completely different from high school. College is not only about getting a good job, but about acquiring knowledge and broadening one's horizon. A lot of courses that are at school are not needed for a certain major but are just there for interested people who want to learn more about a certain subject. College education helps to expand their knowledge, intellectual powers, practical competence, improve performance in citizenship, work, family life, etc.
Although the colleges and universities of today carry a heavy price tag, it is of great importance not to let that discourage you from obtaining a college education. While the cost of tuition continues to rise, there are number of financial aid options like federal options, scholarships, grants, loans , work study programs, etc.
For me, college education is necessary. It is not until after I have been unable to find success in job, after years of trying to get back onto the college track, only then have I realized the value of a college education. Not education in general, but a well-rounded college education.
The escalating cost of higher education is causing many to question the value of continuing education beyond high school. The risk is large for low income families. Today, education has minor as well as major purposes. Education is the knowledge of putting one's potentials to maximum use. Many say that a human being is not in the "proper" sense until he or she is educated. With a college education, we have open doors and open windows to the outside world.
Subjects like history, politics, humanities can make us a much more accommodating and sympathetic to other cultures, race, and religion resulting in a better bond among international communities. Math and science classes gives us more than just a few basic skills and lead us to communicate to the advancement of technology.
According to U.S. Census Bureau, the holder of bachelor's degree will make an average of $40.078 per year which is more than high school graduates' income and the holder of master's degree will make more than that.
College definitely has its pros and cons, but I think that college is what you make of it. It can be the best time of your life, but only if you want it to. You can think that college is a waste of money or it can be looked as a challenging and exciting new frontier that will set the precedent for the rest of your life.
In conclusion, education fills up the empty minds to bring about positive changes, which affect individuals, society, and the world. Until we learn, we do not know the benefit of learning. Therefore, to be successful in life we must carry on the pursuit of enhancing our skills and knowledge through education.
Work Cited
Lei, Zhang. "A Value-Added Estimate Of Higher Education Quality Of US States." Education Economics 17.4 (2009): 469-489. Academic Search Complete. Web. 7 Nov. 2013.
Howell, George, and Jeffrey Buck. "The Adult Student And Course Satisfaction: What Matters Most?." Innovative Higher Education 37.3 (2012): 215-226. Academic Search Complete. Web. 8 Nov. 2013.
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