Linda Lee The Case Against College Summary

In the article “The Case against College,” Linda Lee argues that upper-level education should only be for those who intend to go into jobs where a degree is essential such as medicine, law, and education. Lee dismantles the hope for higher education for those who are unsure of what they want to do or simply see it as the next step in life. Lee’s case is not specifically about why not to go to college; it is more about who belongs there and who does not. Receiving a degree, especially in the creative department of the music industry, may not be as important as society makes it out to be. Creativity is natural, and people are born with ingenuity; it cannot be taught. Lee’s argument is very fitting to those in the field of music. As a music business major, pursuing a career as a singer-songwriter, it is common knowledge that success in the music industry depends upon whom you know and how talented you are, not whether or not you have a degree. College is marketed towards students as an essential part of building a successful future. The United States “sells college” to those who are willing to buy into the business (Lee 671). With the massive amounts of student debts acquired every year, and the rising costs of

Samuelson states that going to an Ivy League won’t automatically “produce a better job and high pay. Graduates of these schools generally do well. But they do well because they are talented’” (Lee 672). If one is successful it is usually because one puts forth the effort required to prosper. Degrees are simply accessories to what people build on their own. In the article “Is College Still Worth The Price?” by Penelope Wang, studies have shown that graduates of prestigious institutions earn relatively the same income as those who attend less selective universities. If someone is a bright student, they will do well no matter what; and if they do well it is because of their own efforts, not because they attended an Ivy League over a