• According to Carolyn Birds, writer of College is a Waste of Time and Money, Bird’s presents the idea that adolescents that recently finished their high school education automatically go to college “because it has become the thing to do or because college is a pleasant place to be” (Lines 5-7). Too many, the previous statement that Bird presents can be seen as valid; socialization has become a key component as to why many individuals go to college directly after finishing high school. From movies to personal experiences, people see that from high school the norm is to attend college. That while in college you will find yourself and it will become the best four years of your life.…
College is a coupon for success. In today’s generation, one is seen to be most successful and more likely to achieve accomplishments if they have a degree; in addition, the better the degree, the more qualifications are perceived to be prosperous. The point in general is that college, itself, holds a lot of potential that affects an individual’s life tremendously, therefore students see they have the right to verdict and combat for the grade in which they consider is deserving and reasonable. In Brent Staples’ essay, “Why Colleges Shower Their Students with A’s,” he gives reasoning for the great grade inflation that is steadily increasing.…
Do I really need to go to college? That is the question many students ponder coming out of high school. In the essay, “Is College for Everyone”, Pharinet challenges the idea that perhaps college is only for a selected few. Whether you go to college because you genuinely want to, or because you want to appease your parents, college might not benefit you the way you think it does. Though Pharinet uses logical reasoning to support her claim such as the use of logos, ethos, pathos, and rhetorical questions, her argument is weaken because of her lack of credibility, failure to support her ideas, and bias opinions.…
To Be or Not to Be Educated Colleges and universities, or more importantly an educational degree in the liberal arts, in today’s society is an important necessity that can help determine students’ goals and future in life. Maybe even calling these institutions or the educational system life itself can be called an understatement. However, there is no doubt that for some people in any part of the world they would risk everything they have in order to receive high-level education and use it to perform better for their future and live a comfortable lifestyle at the same time. But for some people even though they would like to receive a formal educational degree they cannot afford it thus possibly failing in earning a livelihood. There are however,…
What Is College For? By Gary Gutting shows what’s under the skin for college students and professors. Meaning the true definition of the college experience and if it is worth going through all the trouble financially, educationally and morally. Gathering the statistics from previous studies obtained this past year is helpful in his argument showing what students feel after they have completed college and the completion of obtaining a career or not. He claims that the university material leave students unengaged and unprepared for their future career.…
Opening one’s mind up can allow them to accept or try new experiences. Hunter Rawlings’ “College Is Not a Commodity. Stop Treating It Like One” explains how the importance of college has changed in recent years. In almost all cases nowadays, it is essential to have a college degree in order to get a good job. Colleges require the student to put forth the effort in order to obtain its true value.…
The perception of student loans caused from post-secondary education can be viewed by many different ideologies. NDP’s post-secondary education critic consist of fighting for better access to affordable, quality service. As a party, they believe that improving access to post-secondary education is an integral part of building a fairer, and more equitable society. The NDP continues to argue that as a community, I is our responsibility that we ensure colleges and universities remain accessible to all Canadians, regardless of financial situation. As the NDP believes that education is essential to development in which they believe that it will help many people be lifted out of poverty in the future.…
It has long been held that education is the key to success. Recent decades have seen more and more individuals from all walks of life attending college, learning the skills and abilities necessary to be competitive in the global economy. Employers are demanding higher levels of expertise from their new hires, leading to a situation where anyone who lacks postsecondary education is at a severe disadvantage in the workplace. The pursuit of knowledge after high school, however, comes with a price. Along with four -year institutions, community colleges charge tuition to students that may exceed their ability to pay.…
Although many people see this as a positive thing, the authors argue that college is not for everyone. Murray discloses that some of those that enter college to get a degree end up dropping out. He attributes this to the fact that “it remains taboo to acknowledge that college is intellectually too demanding for many young people” (251). Murray believes that young people would benefit more if guidance counselors pushed them toward something they were naturally good at as they would enjoy it far more and would excel. Similarly, Owen and Sawhill believe that “a bachelor’s degree is not a smart investment for every student in every circumstance” (222).…
A defining moment, for those fortunate enough, is one’s college career. It is a time of self-discovery, new experiences, independence, but above all, the time to work toward a higher education. Adrienne Rich, in her convocation speech “Claiming an Education,” highlights the vital importance of higher education. Moreover, Rich seeks to empower the young women in the audience to seize control of their education. In her speech, Rich explains that it is not only important for women to attain a college degree, but to take command of their education (and their lives in general) by resisting society’s traditional view of women.…
College: To Go or Not to Go? Stephanie Owen and Isabel Sawhill unveiled the constructive and adverse features of obtaining a college degree in the article, “Should Everyone Go to College?” “A bachelor’s degree is not a smart investment for every student in every circumstance” (Owen and Sawhill 222). The author’s stress to their audience that college is not for everyone and…
Some factors that come into play when deciding to go to college include; the monitary gain and burden, the actual need for a degree depending on the desired field of work, as well as the confidence and emotional value that a degree will give. Deciding if college is worth the time and money is a large factor that many potential college students struggle with. there are many resources and support provided by colleges to make the experience easier. By going through the imprtatnt factors, a student can make a confident decision on continuing their education. Many people believe there is no other option but to get a college degree.…
The economic issues in the United States have warped how college is perceived by modern society as it is now mainly viewed as a means to getting a financially successful job. It is this short sided outlook on the college experience that Frank Bruni addresses in his article, “Demanding More from College”, as he asserts that the purpose of college isn’t just to obtain a high-salary job, but to provide an environment where a substantial amount of person growth can be gained. In the article, Bruni challenges students to make new friends who aren’t like their old friends, to engage in different interests and activities, and to try different identities. This proposed challenge is the “blueprint” for personal growth because personal growth is achieved…
In “Should Everyone Go to College,” Owen and Sawhill states that college allows students who graduate to earn a higher rate of income; however, various factors should be considered before choosing a degree. Moreover, the authors clarify that while the value of college outweighs the costs associated with earning a degree, just any college degree is not the best investment one could make to ensure the completion and success of their education. The authors also explain that the value of college can outweigh the costs associated with completing a degree. Owen and Sawhill emphasized that college improves certain values, such as job satisfaction and overall well-being, while also improving equally-as-important more monetary values such as graduates’…
General Education Reflection Over the course of my undergrad education here at Iowa state, I have always tried to keep a greater perspective in mind when working on focused topics. Whether that be working on projects or conducting a lab, knowing where that fits as a whole is a key insight to becoming a well-rounded engineer. With this thinking in mind, we are able to construct where ideas lie respectively and fill in the gaps between subjects. Coming to the end of my senior year, I am reflecting on how the general education requirement helped me broaden my view of electrical engineering.…