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).…
For years’ parents have told their kids that college is a must and that you have to do it, but in The Basement of the Ivory Tower has another thought about that. Which is Professor X that explain why he feels that college is not for everyone and shares his experience of teaching people that are just not ready for that level yet. So an individual might ask themselves am I that student, or is it really that necessary to go to college just too higher myself and in reality its getting me more in debt; on top of that what if I fail and I have to retake the class and pay for it what happens then? All these questions are what we need to think about because these are very important believe it or not.…
Menand believes that today, we are incentivized to only learn that which leads to direct success, and that college “exposes future citizens to material that enlightens and empowers them, whatever careers they end up choosing”(2). He believes that college gives students a wide breadth of information that will help them in ways beyond advancing their career. There exists one final theory that explains why college is beneficial. This theory revolves around the idea that, in our current economy, colleges exist to provide a specific skill set necessary for a select few jobs. Last, but not least, Menand discusses “Professor X”, an author and professor, who believes that students come into college not prepared or particularly engaged in learning.…
In “Distracting Conversations,” a section of Matthew L. Sanders’s book Becoming a Learner: Realizing the Opportunity of Education, the author briefly analyzes different reasons people may have for going to college and contrasts those reasons with what he believes is the primary purpose of education in the United States. Amid his discussion of the primary purpose of education, Sanders asserts that college will prepare “people who will be able to be successful in whatever field of employment they choose.” While I agree with his statement, I have been conditioned like most all people to relate college to learning a set of skills, although I can appreciate that there is a deeper purpose that I may have difficulty accurately wording. Sanders states that the primary purpose of education in the United…
In the American society today, college has become a tradition. No matter the culture or ethnic background, it is deemed as the most practical method of succeeding in life. The importance of attending college is so evident that schools are now dedicating their time to preparing the students for the workload and content by the implementation of Advanced Placement classes. Furthermore, they create programs that are fixed towards encouraging students to increase their chances of getting accepted by participating in extracurricular activities and volunteering. Although some schools are not as equally resourceful and lack the necessary funds to provide students with the requisite circuitry to succeed in college, the pressure to attend in order…
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 Oxford American published the essay, “Who Are You and What Are You Doing Here”, in which Dr. Mark Edmundson, as a Yale alumni and English professor at the University of Virginia, persuades incoming college freshmen to choose their passions rather than career fields that will earn them an immense amount of money. Edmundson begins suggesting that students must remain focused and resillent to outside factors in order to assure a successful education. Lastly, the author advises the readers the avoid the guidance of others regarding what they should be accomplishing but rather to use themselves as guidance. While utilizing personal experience and wisdom, Professor Edmundson suggests that in order to receive the richest educational experience…
In “The Difference between High School and College” a part of the book “College Thinking: How to Get the Best out of College, the author Jack Meiland talks about how college is a subversive institution ,and how many students will go home and create arguments with their parents over the way they live because college changed their views on society. His first point he believes that “In senior high school as continuation of elementary and junior high school in this respect”(104) that means in high school you learn the same things that you in elementary and middle school and high school. You just will learn the same information just into much deeper detail and harder problems that make you mind work harder. In college you are given theories or opinions on how something is said so you have to think and…
Compare and Contrast the views of Higher Education From a general point of view, higher education can be beneficial to some college students. As I compare and contrast the article, “Should Everyone Go To College” to Freeman A. Hrabowski’s “Colleges Prepare People for Life”, I realized Hrabowski’s article has primarily focused on how higher education leads to many opportunities, and does not go in depth on the negative aspects of why college cannot be suited for everyone. In contrast, the article, Stephanie Owen and Isabel Sawhill’s “Should Everyone Go to College” contains both sides of the argument. This article explains how college may not be the ‘right’ choice for everyone because every career path or goal is different,…
“When I was in college, I remember fearing that the dreary grind of adulthood would feature infinitely more existential dread than frat parties had, but the opposite has been true for me. I 'm much less likely to feel that gnawing fear of aimlessness and nihilism than I used to be and that 's partly because education gave me good job opportunities, but it 's mostly because education gave me perspective and context.” This was the provocative saying and illuminating thought of John Green in his book: Is College worth It? Green’s perception of education is akin to mine especially when it comes to the belief that education helps one climb the ladder of opportunities, becomes a whole person - teaching individuals to earn a living as well as…
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…
If the college experience is improved, then, it will gain value at an even faster pace than it is losing it, due to increases in tuition rates and the like. To that end, the article puts forth some interesting ways to more effectively engage students. One of the most interesting of these ways is to simply increase cognition of students at college, forcing them to use their minds more in the process. For instance, the article states that "some 64 percent of undergraduate students are enrolled in vocational majors, instead of choosing fields like philosophy, literature, or the physical sciences" (Hacker and Dreifus 180). This means that these students should be persuaded that their "impractical" studies are actually a practical and logical use of college, encouraging others to take that route if possible as well.…
In “Vocation or Exploration: Pondering the Purpose of College,” Alina Tugend asks the reader what is the purpose of college. Is the purpose of college to broaden a students horizons, prepare the young adult for the job market, or do both? Before the 1980s, it was possible to just have a bachelor of arts degree, and many different fields would be open to you. Today, such a degree would not allow you the diversity it once provided.…
I came to college both to further my education and my career goals. While furthering my education I will be gaining knowledge that is pertinent to my interests and my future career. In today’s society it is hard to get ahead with out any further education beyond high school, almost every field requires a degree now days. With out a degree a person would not have the needed skills or experience for most chosen careers. In order to be a competitive candidate in todays job market one needs marketable skills, which include a higher education.…
Growing up with two parents that are extremely successful yet have no college education is remarkably intimidating. When I was young, I would witness my parents effortlessly put food on the table while also providing so much more for our family without an ounce of college education. To hear the laughter and joy in our family made me think as a child that growing up would be a breeze, I sure was in for a rude awakening. It 's not like it once was back in their day of not needing a higher education in order to achieve a well-rounded career, so in order to follow in their footsteps of having a substantial career, I am going to need to a college education. My purpose for pursuing a college education is to begin a career that will allow me to help others while also satisfying my parents expectations.…