going to college: it is part of the american dream, right?
maybe not.
according to new research by public agenda and the national center for public policy and higher education, our once fond love for college has turned to disappointment and even bitterness.
pursuing a higher education has always been seen as the ticket to a better life.
we all know going to college costs us an arm and a leg. probably even all four limbs. but these new findings are saying that american's uneasy feelings run deeper than high tuition bills.
costs are now also coupled with unequal access for all young people and a growing widespread belief in educational mismanagement.
on top of it all, it doesn’t help that the downward spiral of our economy has made the competition for jobs even more difficult for recent grads.
so what do you guys think? is a college education still on the high list of accomplishments? or do you believe that in a few years, it will become obsolete?
I personally believe that college is still on the high list of accomplishments because with today's economy,I've been told that employers will not even look at a resume if an applicant does not have a degree. Since the job market is so competitive, it's more important than ever to have a degree. I really hope the value of a degree does not become obsolete because we all know how much work it takes to obtain one!
ReplyDeleteI wrote about this for a class last quarter and after talking to people who had already finished school, there was a mixed bag of answers. I think everyone agreed that it's worth it if you're looking to join the "workforce." But if you're content with waiting tables, being a line cook, etc. then maybe not. That's not to say that going to college is the road paved for the great and not going is the one for the limited. I know people who didn't finish school or go at all and are making bank doing what they love.
ReplyDeleteI have mixed feelings on this issue. Some people get a great job after graduating a 4-year college and gain security. Others end up skipping college and going straight into their careers and make it without a 4-year degree. It really depends on the person and their ability to network. A good job after college is always more assured when there's a few recommendations involved. I'm not sure if college will become obsolete, however. I think that it will pretty much stay the same, with some kids going to college after high school graduation and some not going to college. I can definitely concur that college tuition is expensive. The downfall of our economy is also unsettling, especially when we are so close to graduating. I guess we'll just have to wait and see what happens!
ReplyDeleteOkay, you're getting some comments now. Hopefully you'll have enough to do a crowdscoured post. JW
ReplyDeleteI think college should still be an important goal, but I'll be honest, for some kids (especially those I work with in the Cincinnati Public Schools) graduating high school will be enough of a challenge.
ReplyDeleteKids that can't read or do simple math in fourth grade is unacceptable. Those kids don't stand a snowball's chance in hell to make it to college, so I think we should set the bar at high school for them.
That being said, I think it's important to graduate with a degree to have some footing, but I probably could land a job right now without one. Now if I went to the guys that told me they'd hire me and told them I withdrew from school, they might have a different reaction and not hire me.
Hopefully I don't have to find that out.
I firmly believe that my college experience will get me a job I love. But note I said experience, and not education. The number of classes I believe will be usable in my field I could count on my two hands.
ReplyDeleteHowever, my work at The News Record and my internships will prove invaluable. So, the education part, I'm not happy about. But the events surrounding the education are could not be replaced.
I don't believe seeking a higher education will ever be obsolete. It is of high importance to me that I become educated, and it is highly valued by almost every employer. It's hard to be considered for a position without a college degree these days.
ReplyDeleteI can understand why it can be frustrating though, especially in current times, because a college degree won't create a spot for you in a depressed economy.
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ReplyDeleteIt depends. Especially for most of us journalism students. It seems like anyone with a camera phone and a blog can be a "citizen journalist" nowadays (which they can't, but they're free to think they can.).
ReplyDeleteAt the same time, both of my parents didn't go to college and I know it's an amazing experience for me. I think journalism students get one of the most unique experiences here. The friends, teachers and associates I've met while in the J program can't really be matched up by my friends in the business or engineering colleges.
In my opinion, while the whole BA or MA or Ph.D. or whatever still is somewhat of a cultural pedestal, I don't think Americans should be complacent about going to college. Unless you go straight to work full-time like many in our parents' generation, you don't really get the transition of responsibility. Well, for a lot of students, at least, I don't want to generalize here.
(Also, sorry about deleting the post above this, there was a typo that changed the entire point I was making haha)
I think it's still very important to have a college degree. Finding a job is hard enough as it is; having a college degree will only help when trying to get hired. I really hope the importance of a bachelor's degree does not diminish because I know how much time and effort is put into obtaining that kind of education.
ReplyDeleteA college education is a significant cost, but it's no doubt a worthwhile investment and I don't think it'll ever become "obsolete." In most cases, it seems a degree isn't enough. I know my experience (albeit limited) will play just as large of if not a bigger role in my finding a job, but I'd still consider it an absolute must.
ReplyDeleteI believe that college is going to be neccessary in the future. I feel like the collegr industrial complex is as good as cemented in today's american culture. I feel that it is most likely going to keep progressing as we have seen it in our lifetimes from something that will thrust you ahead of the crowd, into something you have to under your belt just to keep up.
ReplyDeleteCorporations and the governement fund and nurture programs and fields of study that they find beneficial for thier own research and employment pools.
But with the raising costs of college and the growing demand for employees with degrees, I do fear that there wil be an inevitable gap that will grow between those able to get an education and those who cannot. OR a progogation of the culture of debt and indentured servitude immediately upon leaving a univeristy
I don't think a college education will ever become obsolete, but I think it's important not to rely 100 percent on just your education to get a good job after graduation.
ReplyDeleteObviously it takes a lot more than just a diploma or a line on a resume, especially since the job market is tough right now. If you have a solid idea of what you want to do with your career after graduation and you have a strong drive to accomplish whatever it is you want to do, your odds of landing your dream job will most likely be higher.
I have friends who've graduated and as soon as they were discouraged about finding the dream job, they decided to apply for grad school. Maybe that will work out for them, but it seems like they could be stalling.
I have three older brothers who all went to college. One got a fantastic job before he'd even graduated, one still is at the same job he'd had before college and the other dropped out of college but has a nice job because he tried really hard to get it.
The costs of college are high, so all we can do is hope to flourish after graduating, so it will all be worth it!
I think college is still high on people's lists because a lot of employers will choose a college graduate over someone else who did not attend college just for that simple fact. I think that having a degree helps you open up more doors because some employers will not even allow people to apply without a degree. I think that in some cases, this is unfair because there are many people who are highly qualified for positions without having a degree.
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine that a college education will ever become obsolete, but it is becoming less and less relevant. A high school graduate has a quicker path to a full-time job through some sort of specialty training than a college degree. That's why I went out and got my personal training certification. Insurance in the uncertain job market. It has definitely helped, and I'm glad I did it. Thinking about it, while a college education may never become obsolete, only one degree or skill set may set you vastly below your peers in the coming years.
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