Linda Lee's The Case Against College

Part of the American dream, at least as it applies to young people, generally involves four years at a respectable institution followed by a “real”’ job, preferably in the same field one studies in college. However, according to the author Linda Lee in “The Case Against College” not everyone needs higher education, she explains why a college education is unnecessary in terms of a good career and financial stability. She adds that there are some people who are simply more academically-minded, while others are not meant for college “on average the brightest and the hardest working kids in school go to college” (Lee ). Also there are many majors that require a four-year degree but that do not pay off in the end. As the author notes, “plumbers make more than philosophy majors” (Lee ).
Although Lee originally believed in a higher education, but later she firmly emphasizes the fact that one do not need a degree to be successful, especially in careers requiring physical labor. Some people’s talents are not shown through their academic ability or they simply do not have the grades to make it through four years of college. Lee’s purpose was to convince the students and the parents that every child is …show more content…
Ultimately, higher education decisions are made by individual students and their families, and are based on their unique interests, strengths, and personal values, not only income and career prospects. A traditional four-year bachelor’s degree is not for everyone but after high school, training programs and professional certification would be a good idea for almost everyone. High schools should begin separating those who want to go to college from those who do not want to so that they get the training they need for the workforce, so we no longer continue graduating kids with no outlook for the