In the competitive world today, having a college degree might not benefit a student as much as before, thus opening up numerous questions concerning its necessity. Not only is the number of students desperately trying to enroll in college increasing, but the tuition shoots up as well. However, will college enrollment necessarily be enough to increase your chances of attaining job security? The answer is hotly debated amongst adults and students alike, which opens up the second option for students, that is, joining the work force. Although this option is generally shunned by the new generation, the tough economy and slow restoration makes it quite a desirable choice at the moment. Joining the work force is a hard decision to make as it might be looked down upon in today's standards, however, Marty Nemko, a career expert and author of "How to Do Life: What They Didn't Teach You in School." suggests that " ' for individuals making a decision about what's right for them, it needs to be a very individualized choice' " (Loose). Thus it's important for individuals to pick what's the best for them despite the mainstream negative interpretation of joining the work force. I firmly believe that the "best" for students today is to join the work force immediately after high school because it avoids the high tuition costs for college, as well as, letting students develop practical work experience. Joining the work force benefits the students by eliminating the high tuition fees for colleges and improving chances for employment. Many students today are in debt by student loans, making colleges a bad investment for many newcomers. A 2011 survey conducted by College Board, an organization of colleges and universities that administe... ... middle of paper ... ... Susan M. Heathfield, a human resources consultant and manager, points out that " 'We are beginning to come up with a desperate shortage of people in the skilled trades' " (Loose). Developing experiences within such fields via entering the workforce/taking apprenticeship under craftsmen, better prepares students towards their jobs than learning from outdated and inflexible curriculums set out by colleges. In summary of all the reasoning presented above justifies an undeniable conclusion that, it is more beneficial for students to directly enter the workforce immediately after high school. Through various data and statistics collected from professionals, entering the work force provides students with sufficient amount practical skills and work experiences that betters their chances for future professions than the enrollment of expensive and competitive colleges.
In this article Nemko is illuminating the issues that our modern society is facing involving higher education. Students are starting off college with bare minimum requirements for next level learning and feeling disappointed when they are not succeeding in their courses. The author acknowledges that the courses being taken by students are sometimes not beneficial to life after college. Nemko states, “A 2006 study supported by the Pew Charitable Trusts found that 50 percent of college seniors scored below ‘proficient’ levels on a test that required them to do such basic tasks…”(525). Students are specializing in areas of learning to in turn be denied to working in that field and stuck with unnecessary skills. “Many college graduates are forced to take some very nonprofessional positions, such as driving a truck or tending bar”( ...
The second chapter of this book advocates students to attend college, even if they must take on a moderate amount of student loan debt. They give statistics showing the tremendous gap in wages between a college graduate and a non-college graduate. The third chapter of this book argues the opposite viewpoint of the second chapter. The author states that the cost of college today is too high and that there are too many college graduates flooding the job market causing many of them to go unemployed or seek low level jobs that do not pay enough to pay off their student loans. Both of these chapters will help me to show the two main ...
A majority of people believe that graduating from college will result in a well-paying job. Unfortunately, a degree will not secure a job for many graduates. In the U.S., the jobless rate for college graduates in 2012 was 7.7 percent, and has further increased in the past five years(Robinson). With such a large pool of unemployed citizens for employers to choose from, recent graduates are facing fewer opportunities for work due to little or no previous work experience(Robinson). Although many graduates are faced with unemployment, the majority do receive the opportunity to work. Sadly, many must work jobs they do not enjoy for salaries that make it difficult to make ends meet(Debate). Students are faced with mortgage-sized debts upon graduation, making it difficult for them to start businesses, buy cars or houses, or make other investments that would better the
Summary of the essay: Marty Nemko’s essay is a critique of the education system, mainly focusing on the pitfalls of attending college. He believes that the cost and time of attending college do nothing more than leave a student in debt with no job opportunities. Nemko cites information provided by
In “Some Lessons from the Assembly Line” published in 2005 in Newsweek, college student Andrew Braaksma discussed his experience of working in a car manufacturing plant as well as other blue-collar jobs during his summer breaks from school. This allowed him to discover the importance of obtaining an education as a means of avoiding this type of work in the future. He discussed his difficulties with working long hours for a meager salary and the stress of knowing he could lose his job at any moment. Braaksma uses these experiences as motivation to do well in school so he does not end up in the same situation once he graduates from college. I applaud Braaksma for his strong work ethic and high aspirations, however, I do not share his view on the importance of a college education. I do not discount the value of an education, moreover, I disagree with so much emphasis being placed on earning a college degree as a means of avoiding blue-collar work. Through the author’s experiences of working more challenging summer jobs, he is able to convey to other students what life in the real world could be like if they do not go
Some students also attend and realize that college is not for them. At this point, they may easily become influenced by peer pressure and exhibit poor judgment. Many students look up to their parents as role models to help them decide whether they should even go to college themselves. It can be obvious to a second-generation college student of the benefits of a college education when they observe the success that their parents gain by being first generation college students. This is also reinforced when they observe the current job market. “Indeed, after World War II, the difference between the average wages of high school and college graduates was small and shrinking. After 1950, however, the trend moved in the opposite direction and accelerated as the demand for highly skilled labor increased (Brock 3)”. The bachelor’s degree received today has the same relevance as a high school diploma did in the
By attending college, students guarantees themselves a better job that the average Joe. Because the world is changing rapidly, and many jobs rely on new technology, more jobs require education beyond high school. With a college education, an individual will have more jobs from which to choose. In addition to obtaining a better job, people who go to college usually earn more money than those who do not. College furnishes you with proper credentials and documents to land high-level jobs. Figures from an A&E television program on ‘The Working Class’ show that in 2004 the average earnings were $23,895 for a high school graduate and $41,478 for individuals with a bachelor’s degree. Getting a college education is simply a stepping stone in ensuring yourself with a good start in life. Some may agree that college students are open minded and knows exactly how to expre...
College is the place where people go to retain the necessary training for a job that requires specific skills, which results in earning a higher pay check. In today’s world, employers are scouting out for individuals with the proper dexterities to fill the shoes for that specific job. Blanche D. Blank, the author of “A Question of Degree," argues that possessing a degree of higher education isn’t the only way to have a very successful life. This statement is highly argumentative, due to the fact that college graduates still out-earn people without degrees. Obtaining a college degree is one of the best things someone can do for themselves, when it comes to looking for a stable job. There is also so much more to college than just receiving a
In Caroline Bird’s “College is A Waste of Time and Money”, it’s argued that there are many college students who would be better off if they were to begin working after high school graduation. Colleges and universities can no longer ensure that one will go on to get a better job, getting paid more than they would have without a higher education. However, high school seniors still stress about where they will be attending college, how they’re going to pay for it and what they’re going to study for the next four years. Bird points out how college has changed over the past few decades and how, in turn, it has set many young adults up for disappointment, if nothing else.
People continue to wonder if college is worth the time and money spent with numerous individuals still unemployed, a valid concern of young students. Despite the information the majority have heard about unemployment rates, this is not a valid argument. (Michael Greenstone and Adam Looney) notes, “In Apr. 2013 the unemployment rate for college graduates aged 25 and over with a bachelor’s degree was 3.6%, compared to 5.0% for associate’s degree holders, 7.5% for high school graduates, and 11.4% for high school drop-outs.” These statistics alone should put your mind at ease relieving concerns an individual may have in respects to finding a job in their field. Moreover, employers that can see someone’s passion toward the carrier they’re seeking will increases one’s chance of successfully finding
As Menand argues his three theories of college, his third theory states that college is required in order to achieve a high paying job (Menand). Indeed, As you graduate from college, the assurance of acquiring a high paying job in the future increases. According to Stephanie Owen and Isabel Sawhill’s article, “Should Everyone Go To College?”, the gap within annual earnings between high school graduates and bachelor’s degree holders when it comes to working is $15,000. Hamilton’s Project research shows that people ranging from 23 to 25 year old with bachelor’s degrees acquire more money around $12,000 more than high school graduates but by age 50, the gap has grown to $46,500. From the statement, Menand’s third theory, college is required in order to achieve a high paying job, shows that college education can increase your chances of acquiring a high paying job. With Menand’s third theory and his wide stance to why we have college, Menand creates openings in his argument, leaving opposing arguments. One must take into account as well certain factors such as the cost of college that make college a choice in life rather than a requirement. Tuitions are increasing at a rapid rate compared to incomes of families in our society, which results to risks that could create risks towards the students and the whole system itself, further hindering learning progress
Students’ wouldn’t be able to hold down a job is the second reason they shouldn’t dropout of high school. Many employers would like to have someone who has been too high school and that have been educated so they can handle money and add things p...
In today’s society, the idea of receiving a college education has been pondered quite a bit as to whether or not it is actually worth it. According to Michelle Adam, many people “…today believe that getting a good education is key to success in our society, this revealed surprising issues that challenge the notion of higher education being worth its price tag” (59). Naturally, many high school graduates apply for college right before or after graduation. Others decide to go into the work force, armed forces, or simply remain unemployed. The question that many people debate about is, is a college education worth it in the long run? Though some people believe a college education will benefit ones’ career, others believe it will cause a mass of debt and loans for college students and graduates, and postpone life events.
In “Should Everyone Go to College?” Isabel Sawhill and Stephanie Owen make a strong valid point on whether or not college is for everyone. For many students ready to leave high school, wondering whether they should attend college is an issue that may lay heavy on one teenagers mind. There are a few factors that could be a difficult decision depending on a person’s goal they are working towards. Some students jump right into the workforce after high school. Others may sign up for the military after graduation. While these are different options, research says higher education is very important. Higher education provides opportunity for students that attend college are giving a good shot of a better career later in life. Approaching graduation, a student might find themselves asking, “Why is it important to go to college?” The answer is that education is the most important growing factor in the growth of our country. Obtaining a college degree is a
The book Taking Sides- Educational Issues states that, “individuals who have attended college have greater work opportunities and tend to have skills that can be easily applied in different job settings”.