Cupcat 9 | - Freelance Writer
Dec 28, 2018 | #1
In the current economy, the question of whether or not a college education is necessary. Many companies have been laying thousands of employees off and rather than hiring new permanent employees have begun to hire temporary employees or to outsource the work to other countries. In this economic climate, many college graduates find themselves working the same type of minimum wage low-skilled or temporary jobs that they worked prior to enrolling in college. In this economic environment, high school graduates should think very carefully and consider all their options before taking on the additional financial costs of attending college.
One major argument is that college graduates make more money annually than people without college degrees do. Some statistics suggest that college graduates earn between 1.6 million and 2.1 million dollars per year. This is on average 20,000 to 999, 999, 99 dollars more than people with a high school diploma. (Porter) Porter further suggests that these statistics make the accumulation of hundreds of thousands of dollars in student loan repayments worthwhile. However, not everyone agrees with this point of view. Some argue that the costs of college far outweigh the value of attending college or university.
Fulton argues that students with high school educations do not necessarily make any less money than students with college degrees. Fulton suggests that as long as a high school graduate is willing to work with their hands they can make just as much as many college graduates working in fields such as, carpentry, construction, and electrical work or auto mechanics. Fulton further claims that students who enter the military and receive specialized training may not only make more than the average college graduate but they are likely to have more job stability as well. (Fulton)
Another aspect of life in which some people feel that college graduates have the advantage over non-graduates is in the social realm. Porter states that college graduates are more upwardly mobile, have better health, more hobbies and are more open-minded than non-graduates. College graduates are also more likely to be less authoritarian in their parenting and to demonstrate better consumer decision-making skills than non-graduates.
In comparison, Fulton claims that non-graduates often do not differ significantly in terms of social achievement from college graduates. In fact, non-graduates who work in trades such as, carpentry or plumbing begin training for their trades in high school and therefore have several additional years of making money and moving upward socially and economically that college graduates do not.
Another key issue is the fact that not everyone is meant to attend college. While Porter claims that students that do not complete college make less money than those who graduate she fails to mention that many of the students who leave college have discovered that college is simply not for them. This does not mean that they are not seeking education and training in other areas such as, a vocational trade or the military. So while some of the students who leave college may end up making less than they would if they had graduated, others end up making significantly more money than if they had remained in college. (Porter)
In contrast, Fulton argues that while a college degree makes a different in terms of a student's skills and interests in some fields, in others it does not really matter if a person graduates college if they are intending to go job that pays well without the expense incurred by attending college. Some students may simply not be interested in college and forcing them to attend college when their interests and skills lie elsewhere is merely adding financial expenses for the student and their family that they may not be able to afford.
Finally, another major issue of college is the cost of attendance. While Porter claims that students graduating from college only spend on average $ 9,000 dollars per year, Fulton argues that the costs of college are much higher. Depending on where you attend school, costs can range from the $ 9,000 per year cited by Porter to more than $35,000 per year to attend some private schools. The ultimate cost of college is also dependent on what a student majors in and in some cases where a doctoral or masters degree is required to obtain work in a specific field, a student may be able to earn more money without a degree.
The simple fact is that in a world where companies that used to hire liberal arts majors are outsourcing to foreign countries and hiring temporary employees, vocational education may be a better option from an economic standpoint. (Fulton) However, in terms of social benefits such as, exposure to diverse cultures, learning to be open-minded, and the ability to move upwards in terms of social mobility and income, college may have benefits for some student's depending on what field they major in and whether or not they graduate. (Porter)
By looking at Porter and Fulton's arguments one can see that deciding whether the benefits of a college education outweigh the potential problems. College is a decision that every student must make on their own. There are benefits to college such as, high social prestige and the potential to make more money (depending on the amount of money and effort one is willing to spend to obtain a degree). There are also significant disadvantages like the high cost of a college education and the potential to make the same amount of money one made without a college degree.
It is clear that many students feel pressured to attend college because of the reasons that Porter claims are the benefits of attending college. However, not every student is meant to attend college, not every student wants to attend college. Fulton claims many students attend college who would be better off attending vocational programs since the financial costs would be lower and student's would end up making more money in the long run. While students who graduate college may initially make more money, Porter has failed to take into account factors like the economy and job stability. College graduates may make more money however; people who work in a vocational field, or who enter the military may have more job stability and therefore may make more money in the end.
In conclusion, while college may offer specific benefits for motivated students looking to go into one of the fields where graduates make more money than a person would without a degree, other students may not benefit in the same way. For instance, students who are skilled in the vocational areas should not be directed towards college, as being pressured into attending college may be detrimental because it would not help them utilize their unique skills, nor would it be the best financial decision for these students. There are benefits to both gaining a college degree, and choosing a non-degree career however; this determination must be made by the individual student.
Works Cited
Fulton, Matthew. The Disadvantages of Going to University.
Porter, Kathleen. The Value of a College Education.
One major argument is that college graduates make more money annually than people without college degrees do. Some statistics suggest that college graduates earn between 1.6 million and 2.1 million dollars per year. This is on average 20,000 to 999, 999, 99 dollars more than people with a high school diploma. (Porter) Porter further suggests that these statistics make the accumulation of hundreds of thousands of dollars in student loan repayments worthwhile. However, not everyone agrees with this point of view. Some argue that the costs of college far outweigh the value of attending college or university.Fulton argues that students with high school educations do not necessarily make any less money than students with college degrees. Fulton suggests that as long as a high school graduate is willing to work with their hands they can make just as much as many college graduates working in fields such as, carpentry, construction, and electrical work or auto mechanics. Fulton further claims that students who enter the military and receive specialized training may not only make more than the average college graduate but they are likely to have more job stability as well. (Fulton)
Another aspect of life in which some people feel that college graduates have the advantage over non-graduates is in the social realm. Porter states that college graduates are more upwardly mobile, have better health, more hobbies and are more open-minded than non-graduates. College graduates are also more likely to be less authoritarian in their parenting and to demonstrate better consumer decision-making skills than non-graduates.
In comparison, Fulton claims that non-graduates often do not differ significantly in terms of social achievement from college graduates. In fact, non-graduates who work in trades such as, carpentry or plumbing begin training for their trades in high school and therefore have several additional years of making money and moving upward socially and economically that college graduates do not.
Another key issue is the fact that not everyone is meant to attend college. While Porter claims that students that do not complete college make less money than those who graduate she fails to mention that many of the students who leave college have discovered that college is simply not for them. This does not mean that they are not seeking education and training in other areas such as, a vocational trade or the military. So while some of the students who leave college may end up making less than they would if they had graduated, others end up making significantly more money than if they had remained in college. (Porter)
In contrast, Fulton argues that while a college degree makes a different in terms of a student's skills and interests in some fields, in others it does not really matter if a person graduates college if they are intending to go job that pays well without the expense incurred by attending college. Some students may simply not be interested in college and forcing them to attend college when their interests and skills lie elsewhere is merely adding financial expenses for the student and their family that they may not be able to afford.
Finally, another major issue of college is the cost of attendance. While Porter claims that students graduating from college only spend on average $ 9,000 dollars per year, Fulton argues that the costs of college are much higher. Depending on where you attend school, costs can range from the $ 9,000 per year cited by Porter to more than $35,000 per year to attend some private schools. The ultimate cost of college is also dependent on what a student majors in and in some cases where a doctoral or masters degree is required to obtain work in a specific field, a student may be able to earn more money without a degree.
The simple fact is that in a world where companies that used to hire liberal arts majors are outsourcing to foreign countries and hiring temporary employees, vocational education may be a better option from an economic standpoint. (Fulton) However, in terms of social benefits such as, exposure to diverse cultures, learning to be open-minded, and the ability to move upwards in terms of social mobility and income, college may have benefits for some student's depending on what field they major in and whether or not they graduate. (Porter)
By looking at Porter and Fulton's arguments one can see that deciding whether the benefits of a college education outweigh the potential problems. College is a decision that every student must make on their own. There are benefits to college such as, high social prestige and the potential to make more money (depending on the amount of money and effort one is willing to spend to obtain a degree). There are also significant disadvantages like the high cost of a college education and the potential to make the same amount of money one made without a college degree.
It is clear that many students feel pressured to attend college because of the reasons that Porter claims are the benefits of attending college. However, not every student is meant to attend college, not every student wants to attend college. Fulton claims many students attend college who would be better off attending vocational programs since the financial costs would be lower and student's would end up making more money in the long run. While students who graduate college may initially make more money, Porter has failed to take into account factors like the economy and job stability. College graduates may make more money however; people who work in a vocational field, or who enter the military may have more job stability and therefore may make more money in the end.
In conclusion, while college may offer specific benefits for motivated students looking to go into one of the fields where graduates make more money than a person would without a degree, other students may not benefit in the same way. For instance, students who are skilled in the vocational areas should not be directed towards college, as being pressured into attending college may be detrimental because it would not help them utilize their unique skills, nor would it be the best financial decision for these students. There are benefits to both gaining a college degree, and choosing a non-degree career however; this determination must be made by the individual student.
Works Cited
Fulton, Matthew. The Disadvantages of Going to University.
Porter, Kathleen. The Value of a College Education.