Attending College Essay

When we are young, we all have our own unique dreams and aspirations for what we wish to do when we are “older.” As we grow older, we begin to realize that some of our dreams are unattainable, while others are able to achieve their dreams. Whether one is the first person or the latter, we are spoon-fed the idea of attending college. We all hear how college is our “gateway to success,” and how “our entire lives depend on college.” Pressures bear down on high school students, telling them that they must attend college to be capable of anything in life. But people do not realize the detriments that are also associated with attending college. Students should not be pushed to attend colleges as there could be several factors that play in a student’s

Stephens states that “as many as 45 percent of students show ‘no improvement in critical thinking, complex reasoning or written communication during their first two years in college.’” (Stephens). Just because a student attends college that does not guarantee that they will have the capabilities to think critically. If a student wishes to grow their knowledge they must invest themselves into their studies, but “in 2011, 35% of students enrolled in college reported they studied 5 hours or less per week” (ProCon.org). No matter how intelligent a certain student is, if they do not take the time to learn skills, they will not be able to improve themselves. Those who pursue other careers such as trade professions and other job alternatives could obtain more critical thinking skills as they are engaging in other methods of learning. Students should not be pressed to attend college on the notion that they are guaranteed to learn as this varies for each individual. Although the claim that all students should attend college has embedded itself into our society, not all students should be pressed to do so. The benefits of receiving a college degree has been displayed, but the drawbacks of college are just as apparent. Attending college is a momentous decision that all high school seniors will have to make, and students are entitled to make this choice at their own discretion. High school seniors should be relieved of pressures aiming to sway them to a single side, and instead be encouraged to survey their current and future situations and allowed to choose what they