Analysis Is College Worth It: Pathway to Success
Is College Worth It?
These days children grow up hearing that college is the pathway to a happy lifestyle and a good job. But is this true? Making a decision of whether to pursue a college degree or leave high school and go right into a workspace can be, for most people, the most complicated financial decision we will ever have to make. Many challenges may come with the decision of deciding to go to college; however, getting a degree is one of the smartest choices to make when trying to set yourself up for success in many different ways. Although there are many cons involved with not going to college, benefits such as; an increase in job opportunities, higher potential earnings, a happy and healthier lifestyle, and personal growth outweigh the faults.
College: A Pathway to Opportunities
As mentioned above, there are multiple benefits included in the decision of deciding whether to go to college or not. One of the benefits is an increase in job opportunities. Depending on the occupation and level of position you want to obtain, most jobs may require you to have at least some sort of college education and possibly even a degree of some sort. Many people around the world are actually raising the education requirements for many businesses. Not having a college degree could actually prevent you from the job you want to have rather. Then, if you had one, you wouldn’t really have anything to worry about.
The Financial Facets of College
Not only does college allow you to have the opportunity to get the job you want, but it also has lots of different financial benefits and institutions to help. Many fear going to college mainly because of the cost. However, the college has found many ways around that to help people who want to go but can’t afford it. The majority of the time, students don’t even end up paying for their tuition because of things such as grants and scholarships. No matter what your financial issue is or the lifestyle you have, don’t ever fear attempting to go to college because there’s always a way around it.
Another thing to consider is the pros and cons of college. The college has many great benefits, such as; graduates can make more money, have more and better employment opportunities, graduates are healthier and live longer, and are able to explore many different career options. All of those benefits are good and sound amazing. However, there are cons that come along with them. Things such as; student loan debt, getting employed in jobs that do not require a degree, not graduating college and wasting your and the government’s money, and too many students earning degrees have actually diluted the value of a bachelor’s degree. Although there are many different things that can stem from college or even getting a degree, it all depends on the lifestyle you want to live and what kind of future you want for yourself.
Debunking College Myths and The Importance of Personal Growth
Now let’s move on to the myths. College is a very beneficial thing; however, in most people’s eyes, it’s the devil because of all the things people have made up about it. So how do we know what’s a myth and what’s not? Let’s start by cleaning some of these rumors up.
- Myth #1: ¨College is too expensive¨. For starters, yes, college is expensive, but schools work so hard to reduce the cost. Tuition, room, and board can add up quickly, especially if you plan on going to a private or ivy league college, and even in-state tuition can be a lot, but colleges have found many ways to help, so you aren’t paying as much as it seems. This is why it is really important to stay informed and keep up with the financial aid and scholarships available to you. College is expensive, but not in a way that should shy you away from making a great future for yourself. There’s always a way to work it out.
- Myth #2: ¨Students are drowning in debt¨. If you really think about it, the average level of debt from a bachelor’s degree is equivalent to the price of a brand-new car. Honestly, the amount of debt you end up in after you graduate really depends on how you manage to take care of it while in college and also what degree you went for. Think of it this way, many people won’t think twice when cashing out almost $20,000 on a car loan and may only own that car for less than a decade, but your education will last you a lifetime of success.
- Myth #3: ¨A bachelor’s degree isn’t worth the investment¨. I’m sure most people that are biased about going to college think that a bachelor’s degree is just a waste of time and they can get by perfectly fine with just a high school diploma or a GED. However, a bachelor’s degree is one of the most important and beneficial investments you could make for yourself. Why just be a high school graduate when you could take the chance to get at least a bachelor’s and make $1 million more a year than you would if you didn’t take that chance? As of right now, it may seem ridiculous to want to go back to school after just graduating from high school, but it could potentially change your life forever.
One of the many great things about a college degree is being able to live a happy and healthy lifestyle. It’s also seen to be true that people who graduate from college with some sort of degree seem to be less stressed in life than those who don’t. Oftentimes those people who don’t go to college end up not really doing anything with their lives and end up depressed or going down the wrong paths in life. It’s noted that the reason these graduates seem happier and have healthier lives is because they earn more, can afford things such as better healthcare, tend to have less stress, and are also more likely to exercise and less likely to end up obese. Living a happy and healthy lifestyle is not the only reason you should think about going to college; however, in your eyes, it should be a huge beneficial factor and an eye-opener when deciding whether to attend college or not.
Lastly, personal growth is a huge factor when it comes to college graduates and really just any form of education throughout your life. Sure, you’re definitely gonna have many other obstacles in your life that will help you grow personally, but when it comes to college, that is also a huge factor. It allows you to find who you are throughout the time of trying to decide on a degree and career path and also allows you to figure out what works best for you. Maybe what you wanted to do when you were eight years old isn’t what ends up working for you as you get older.
Throughout the time you spend in college, you also work on self-control and independence in yourself. Not only will college be important for you to find the path you will take in life, but it will also allow you to find yourself and develop new skills as you learn to process the balance between your life and your career. Even if you apply to college but have absolutely no idea what you actually want to pursue as your career, just having the ability to be able to go and experience different things will make a significant difference. College is going to push you and challenge you in ways you probably never thought would even be possible, but I guarantee you it will be one of the best experiences of your life.
References:
- Carnevale, A. P., & Rose, S. J. (2011). The Undereducated American. Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce.
- Federal Student Aid. (n.d.). Grants and Scholarships. U.S. Department of Education.
- Rissing, B. A., & Starr, S. R. (2019). Graduate degree gaps. Science, 363(6423), 1430-1433.
- Belley, P., & Lochner, L. (2007). The changing role of family income and ability in determining educational achievement. Journal of Human Capital, 1(1), 37-89.
- Baum, S., Ma, J., & Payea, K. (2013). Education Pays 2013: The Benefits of Higher Education for Individuals and Society. College Board Advocacy & Policy Center.
- Looney, A., & Yannelis, C. (2015). A crisis in student loans? How changes in the characteristics of borrowers and in the institutions they attended contributed to rising loan defaults. Brookings Papers on Economic Activity, 2015(1), 1-89.