College, an important part of the education system, has many benefits, but may not assist every student’s educational or life goals. Students, especially High School students contemplating college, should consider alternatives before attending college directly after High School. These alternatives include taking a gap year, or more, to acquire work and life experiences, or use non-traditional education methods to study potential subjects. If students decide to attend college, they should have a purpose and a plan.
College has many benefits, financially college graduates earn around $17,000 more than their High school graduate counterparts (Caumont). Andrea Caumont also examines the differences in job satisfaction, and career-track, both questions finding higher percentages in those who acquired at least a bachelor degree. This evidence alone would lead, and has led, many students to pursue a college degree, but this does not consider other arguments.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the cost of college has risen by around $16,000 dollars since the 1980’s. The average cost, in current dollars, was $3,877 in 1982-83, while in 2012-13 the average cost was $20,234. …show more content…
Taking a gap year provides students with time to travel and experience other cultures and become more self-aware, the American Gap Association’s (AGA) statistics state “98% of those surveyed say their gap year helped them develop as a person” (Gap Year Data…). The statistics provided by AGA in their article “Gap Year Data & Benefits,” provides impressive evidence for taking a gap year. The evidence provided by AGA includes finding that gap year students appear less selfish, act more mature, and say the gap year helped prepare them for college and what to major in. Gap year students virtually always outperform their counterparts, throughout all years of college according to the
College has many benefits, financially college graduates earn around $17,000 more than their High school graduate counterparts (Caumont). Andrea Caumont also examines the differences in job satisfaction, and career-track, both questions finding higher percentages in those who acquired at least a bachelor degree. This evidence alone would lead, and has led, many students to pursue a college degree, but this does not consider other arguments.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the cost of college has risen by around $16,000 dollars since the 1980’s. The average cost, in current dollars, was $3,877 in 1982-83, while in 2012-13 the average cost was $20,234. …show more content…
Taking a gap year provides students with time to travel and experience other cultures and become more self-aware, the American Gap Association’s (AGA) statistics state “98% of those surveyed say their gap year helped them develop as a person” (Gap Year Data…). The statistics provided by AGA in their article “Gap Year Data & Benefits,” provides impressive evidence for taking a gap year. The evidence provided by AGA includes finding that gap year students appear less selfish, act more mature, and say the gap year helped prepare them for college and what to major in. Gap year students virtually always outperform their counterparts, throughout all years of college according to the