“Is College Worth It” Synthesis Essay PDF

Preview

Summary

“Is College Worth It” Synthesis Essay...

Description

As high school students enter their Junior or Senior year, they often question if going to college will be worth it or not. By attending college, you attain a more well-rounded learning experience and a degree that would benefit you in jobs. However, college may not be a worthy investment as it is expensive and may leave the student in debt. With many conflicting ideas as one decides whether to attend college or not, I believe that college is a worthy investment because it allows you to gain work-related skills and an increase in salary. Students often think that almost everything they learn is irrelevant to their lives. However, what we get from the experiences we encounter in college is what we eventually use in our daily lives. When it comes to our future careers and life in general, the curriculum we study and the training we receive in college is essential. As Michel Roth stated, “The development of the capacities for critical inquiry associated with liberal learning can be enormously practical because they become resources on which to draw for continual learning, for making decisions in one’s life, and for making a difference in the world.” (Source B, ¶ 2). The knowledge we acquire can not only allow us to make life decisions, but it also enables us to make a difference in the world. Roth adds, “A successful liberal arts education develops the capacity for innovation and for judgment… The habits of mind developed in a liberal arts context often result in combinations of focus and flexibility that make for intelligent, and sometimes courageous risk taking for critical assessment of those risks…” (Source B, ¶ 3). From a general public survey, “74% say their college education was very useful in helping them grow intellectually; 69% say it was very useful in helping them grow and mature as a person; and 55% say it was very useful in helping them prepare for a job or career.” (Pew, Source F, ¶ 6). Ultimately, the liberal arts education that American colleges and universities offer allows students to develop skills that can be helpful in their regular lives as well as in a working environment. In addition to attaining a more well-rounded learning experience, having a degree may benefit you when it comes to your pay. According to Leonhardt, “Three decades ago, full-time workers with a bachelor’s degree made 40 percent more than those with only a high-school diploma. Last year, the gap reached 83 percent. ” (Source D, ¶ 6). These statistics show that college graduates, while not exempt from rejections, are more likely to be hired than nongraduates. Leonhardt added that “Construction workers, police officers, plumbers, retail salespeople and secretaries, among others, make significantly more with a degree than without one. Why? Education helps people do higher-skilled work, get jobs with better-paying companies or open their own businesses.” (Source D, ¶ 10). As stated before, the education that colleges and universities offer allows students to develop skills that can be helpful in their daily lives as well as in a working environment. Because of a degree that confirms your completion of college-level education, you can perform in higher-skilled jobs as well as being employed by better-paying companies. Although there are benefits to having a college education, there are some factors to consider. College is expensive. In addition to your tuition, there are other expenses that you have to pay for, such as books, transportation, school and activity fees, and as well as personal expenses. According to a general public survey, “75%—says college is too expensive for most Americans to afford.” (Pew, Source F, ¶ 1). Because college is too expensive, students often fall into debt, which can take up to 20 years to pay off. Pew adds that “students are leaving college with a substantial debt burden, and among those who do, about half (48%) say that paying off

that debt made it harder to pay other bills” (Source F, ¶ 3). Having student debt whitelist having other bills to pay can become overwhelming. Overall, Pew believes that the “main barrier is financial [as] two-thirds say a major reason for not continuing their education is the need to support a family… 57% say they would prefer to work and make money; and 48% say they can’t afford to go to college.” (Source F, ¶ 4) Because of the inability of people to pay for college and their fear of having debt, many have opted to take on a different path. There are many factors to consider when deciding whether college is worth it or not. While college can be financially challenging, I believe that college is a worthy investment because it enables you to develop skills that can be helpful in your lives and work, as well as allowing you to be employed by better-paying companies and having an increase in pay. Overall, college is a vital step in preparing us with academic knowledge to succeed in our future....