Is college the best option? That’s a hotly debated topic these days, and in fact, Chapter 16 of your text addresses that very question. Gillian White, senior associate editor of The Atlantic, reports on the results of a new Georgetown University study showing that college “still pays off.” Her article was published in the magazine in February 2015.
Read it here: White, “Even with debt, college still pays off”
- White’s title and opening paragraphs present a positive and optimistic picture of the benefits of a college degree. The final paragraphs, however, may reduce that optimism somewhat. Does the article offer an argument? Are the beginning of the article and the end consistent with one another? Why or why not? Explain your reasoning.
- The earnings graph that White includes compares recent graduates of high school, college, and graduate school with “experienced” workers at each of those educational levels. What defines an “experienced worker” here? White uses the graph only to demonstrate one thing: that recent college graduates fare better than experienced high school graduates. What else can you discover from the graph? Would her argument have been stronger if she had discussed any of the other information that the graph reveals? Why or why not?
- According to the Georgetown research professor who headed the study that White’s article highlights, “…college is still worth it. It’s just that most people can’t afford it.” Why might White have included this quote in her article? How does it contribute to her main argument? Explain your reasoning.
- Read (or re-read) Sanford Ungar’s essay in Chapter 16 of your text. Ungar and White are both enthusiastic supporters of college education, but for very different reasons. With which one do you agree more? Why? Write an essay that uses Ungar and/or White as your They Say, and present evidence from your own college experience to explain your preference for one or the other view.
They Say I Blog 
yes i think to get a collage education is good so you can find a good job, because most jobs you apply to love to see if you have an education especially a job you will h=make your career. When you are ready to get your career job you will want to know about the job and what you will have to do at that job. That is why it is good to have a collage education.
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I totally agree that college is a great opportunity. $10,000 a year is a little steep but whatever. She backed up her points with studies done by a university who makes $10,000 per person every year but that’s the only thing I dislike about it. I dislike it because I’m not saying they did but they could easily put the numbers a little more in their favor. Honestly it just felt like I was reading an advertisement on why you should to go to college.
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I agree with some of the things she says in this article, like that a college degree is the best investment. Reality is more cruel,because I have a friend she went to university, and got a psychology degree. I saw her in my biology class, and she told me that you cannot do many things with a psychology degree. I also have another friend I meet her in a calculus class, and she also got a psychology degree, but now she is trying to get her business degree, because psychology wasn’t what she was expecting it will be. The point that I am making here is not saying that a college degree is not worthy. I am simply saying that you really have to think what degree do you go to college for. Don’t waste your time going to college for something is not going to give you the income you invest for.
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I feel that college is a very expensive investment but it is also very important and will help broaden your future career goals and lead you to the wright path to take. Having your college education can allow you to have many different options and open a lot of knew doors in your life. To have your degree is also important because some jobs require that you have a degree in the choice of field you choose to pursue later on in life.
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College is a major choice in every person’s life. College in my opinion is the best option by far, but some may not feel the need. There is an immense amount of support backing up the fact that college grads make a drastic amount more in salary compared to simply high school diploma recipients. College rewards a person with valuable skills that will allow the individual to better themselves in the years to follow. Debt is unavoidable in almost all aspects of college, you’re bound to get into it eventually but with the rewards of such a daunting task it is all worth it in the end.
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I found this article to be very interesting, as the author brought up many valid, and logical points. I speak as a current student at a community college when I say that college isn’t just something you go for right away. You definitely need to sit down with a counselor or adviser beforehand to discuss all of your options, both academically and financially. If you just try to dive into college without having the proper information, it will be very easy for you to get overwhelmed. So, I definitely feel that asking questions and making appointments with the right people to discuss majors, costs, and what type of college is best for you is a great first step.
Now on the other hand, I don’t necessary agree with the idea that no college means you’re doomed to fail and that you’ll always suffer from low wages all your life. While a college degree definitely helps a person’s chances at obtaining a well paying job, I do believe that there are people more than capable of getting jobs without a degree. A lot of potential employers value higher education, but the also value the personality and the character of a person. If a person is honest, likable, and has a basic understanding of what is expected of them in a potential job, that person can start from the bottom and work there way up to doing bigger and better things with that job. Just because a person doesn’t hold a degree, that doesn’t mean they aren’t intelligent, and it doesn’t mean that they lack the ethics of working hard and knowing what they’re doing. So, non college graduates definitely deserve more credit.
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I totally agree with White’s article. While some high school graduates can work there way up to a management position in a job, it’ll take time and they wont go much further than that. College graduates will start off in a higher position and will have more oppurtunities to move up. Also people who attended college make up the engineers, scientists, bankers, etc. of the world so of course the wage gap between high school and college grads will be high. It’s crazy to me though that it can be 229%!
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This article seems to be supporting statistics of the idea that one should consider staying in college no matter the amount of debt because the return is worth the investment. When you compare the salaries of a high school graduates versus college graduates, even with experience, the gap between salaries is large. She also explains the importance of educating yourself on the degrees that actually payoff. I think that this is the most important aspect of all, there’s no point in signing up for debt if you aren’t sure if you’re even going to find a job that will allow you to pay off your debt.
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I think that college is a great opportunity for some people, and on the other hand It maybe not a good choice for some.I agree that college can be successful for the ones that can find decent jobs in their field. Also, college can be expensive, especially if you don’t have a schlorship.College is expensive there are a lot of people out there that had to take student loans out and having a hard time paying it back.Some people have a hard time going to college due to a lot of commitment like working,taking care of there family.
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There is definitely an argument throughout the article. That argument is: college is always the best option. Now, its true that the final paragraph talks about some of the disadvantages about student loans and such but overall it talks about how, if you want to be successful, that a college education is definitely a key element. Statistics show how people with college degrees had a much higher percentage rate of getting a job than those with just a high school diploma.
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In Gillian White’s article discussing the importance of a college education, he claims that the financial benefit of a degree still outweigh the financial debt incurred in school. White goes on to explore people’s idea that in the recent economic slump, the expense associated with college renders to an impractical idea. He then counters this by showing research done by Georgetown University demonstrating the financial advantage graduates have, even with college debt taken into account. Although White does not convince me that college is an absolute answer, he does effectively demonstrate its importance. Because of his very thorough examples and supported evidence, I whole hearted agree with what White had to say. He also touches on the importance of researching which degrees will be in demand around your anticipated time of graduation.
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I agree with White’s argument because I think everyone should go to college. Even though for some people they have to take out student loans because of how expensive it is to go to school, once they graduate and get a job they will be able to pay it off. As White showed in the graphs, those who went to college, experienced or recent, received more money entering their job rather than someone with just a high school diploma. Also people who have a college degree are more likely to get a job over someone who only has a high school diploma.
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I understand White as she basically states that if you want to live a comfortable life then it is best to get a college degree, even with all the stress and debt it brings it is still worth. I see where he would get the idea including all of the facts stated like a degree earns you more money, but I am one to believe that school is not for everybody. Not everybody is going to have a properest life by going college. Even though White gives some convincing graphs of how money made goes along with your college education, but I do not feel like enough data was given. Maybe graphs on college degrees and types of houses or cars relates then maybe it could have been even more relevant. I agree with Cat Allen above with saying that not only education will get you through life, it takes more than a piece of paper to get you to a spot in life that you want you to be. The people surrounding you and the knowledge you have that you have outside of school is very important.
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I agree with Gilliam. There are some ways that people might succeed in life but college is the best way that make a person more important and valuable in society. Because the college make us well educated, enhance and strengthen our knowledge and leads us for a bright future by showing us the best path to follow.
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I agree and disagree at the same time with Gilliam, the value of the college education may be worth it but they are some people who succeeds in life, make even more money than a college graduated. As an example for a person who has graduated from high school and join the military without even dreamed about the college, believe or not we all know that the army has a good pay without having a college degree.
A second illustration, joseph Kabila, the president of Congo Kinshasa, he has no degree no nothing but he is actually a president of a big country in central of Africa for a fifteen years actually and he has million dollars in his bank account more than those who has PhD.
I think that without even attending a college you’ll be able to make more money somehow. It just required to be wise and determine on what you’re going to do.
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Going to college is more than learning some experience that I agree with Gillian and disagree at the same time because I know school is very important and not everyone like going to school. Some people even if their parent offers to pay their tuition or the government pay there won’t want to go to college. I believe not every rich person went to school to be rich. To me going to college was the best thing in my life. I’m going there because I want to know how to make good judgment, to manage my money, meet new faces, typing, speak good English and have my degree so that I could have a good job and be able to take of my family. It’s true that majority of college graduate have better opportunity of having a good job that those that finished only high school, you are investing when getting a higher education which will pay off in future.
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To some extent, I agree with White’s viewpoint that college education is valuable and pays off in the long term. The statistics being used in the article are very impressive and persuasive as well. These numbers clearly points out to readers the noticeable gap between the salary of college graduates and high school graduates, thus convincing them to believe in the author’s opinion. Besides, my upbringing formed a firm belief in my mind that without a bachelor’s degree, it is difficult to unlock the door to success, regardless how hard one may try. I was taught that college education is not the only way in life, but it is usually the easiest way. And up until now, I still hold that belief. The article did a good job on breaking the hesitation in investing in college; however, it did not discuss whether or not college education was a good choice for everyone. The ones who choose to work right away after graduating high school do so not because they deny the value of college degree, but they do not see the positive outcome of their action. They may be not able to afford college or simply do not have the academic abilities to pursuing higher education. In other words, yes, college is worth it, but not in every case. Like White indicates, I agree that college debt is currently a concerned issue which sometimes can block people’s way to access higher education. People with low-income may feel that it is nonsense for them and consumes too much time to continue on in their education. However, the job people obtained after graduating is worth a try since it probably outweighs the college debt. Once people get a degree, it is much easier for them to have a job with high salary.
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In Gillian’s article “Even With Debt, College Still Pays Off,” I agree that college is essential and must be completed. Although students might struggle with debts and that they may not land a job straight out of college, but in the long run it still gives the necessary tools and knowledge in order to have a successful life. Earning a college degree will open up many benefits and opportunities in life also. It prepares students, both intellectually and socially in their careers. In fact studying a career that a student is interested in will definitely be worth it. Colleges can help broaden the students’ mind by taking their education to the test and apply it in their desired careers as it has already prepared students to becoming a problem solver as they would think critically and analytically. It also helps students learn many important skills such as organization, self-discipline, communication, and time management. In addition, one of the pros on graduating college and receiving a degree includes having a better paying and higher skilled jobs, but studies have shown that it also leads to a guaranteed stable life. Another would be in an economic recession, to which college graduates are less likely to be vulnerable in cutbacks. The people who suffers the most from job cuts are usually employees who only have high school diplomas. There are no guarantees, but if a graduated student has a college degree then he or she will be less likely to undergo a long-term unemployment. Attending college is a major commitment of time and money. However, earning a college degree is a reminder how hard one has achieved in reaching their goals in their preferred careers. In the end after all, hard work prepares anyone for a challenging and a rewarding life long journey.
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I neither agree or disagree with this article. Higher education is as individual as the person. I graduated form high school and was supposed to attend college that fall. My plans fell through as my father left and I went to work to support my Mother and siblings. Then I got married, had kids,worked full time. The years slipped by and college was on the back burner. I divorced, raised my kids, and retired after 38 years. Now on my own I’m finally attending college. I like staying busy both physically and mentally. As a senior person I feel keeping my mind active is very important. Just because I’m not young doesn’t mean I can’t learn. My main objective is not to make more money but to do something to help others. As a occupational therapist I will be able to help people that have become disabled to regain the will to survive.
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I partially agree with Gillian. Yes, college is a great experience for many people but at the same time many people do not need to go to college to make the same amount of money. High school graduates are just as likely as college graduates to find a job that pays well and that they like. I am a high school senior who wants to go to college but i am only worried about the years of debt that is to come with getting a higher level of education. I have had to think very heavily on whether to go to college and possibly get a degree that could possibly lead to a well-paying job or skip college to save a lot of money that i could put into many other things.
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I agree with Emilee that although college is an expensive path to take, its pay off in the long run. Emilee mentions that, “A college education can open the door for so many well-paying and interesting jobs that most likely would not be available with just a high school diploma.” Although it may not be entirely correct, employers do tend to favor individuals who apply for a job with a college education. Although I do agree with Emilee, I disagree that for every job a college education is needed. To be a car mechanic, hairdresser, or plumber you do not need a college education, and economically it would not pay off to earn a college degree. The article mentions that, the average cumulative student-loan debt for a four-year, public-college graduate was about $25,600 according to data from the College Board” and if a person can avoid this type of dept, then they should take advantage of this fact. A college education can pay off depending on what field of work an individual is going into. While a college education may be beneficial economically for one person, it may not pay off in the same way for another.
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I agree with this article but with some limitations. I believe that people should pursue a college education if they want one, even if they are afraid of looming debt and potentially not making enough with their degree. However, if someone wants to pursue a career that does not require an education, or they do not believe that they will finish the college degree, then they should not attend college. As a society we still need people to do unpopular tasks, like plumbing and cleaning, so we do not really WANT everyone to go to college. Also, we will lose some diversity if everyone goes to college.
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I both agree and disagree with Gillian B. White’s argument of the significance of a college degree. In certain circumstances for specific people, a college degree is essential for their future. In others, not so much. For example, there are various people out there who are very successful in life, and they did not attend college. One photographer we studied in class, for example, is extremely wealthy currently. He never attended college and simply traveled the world photographing cultures worldwide. For him, a college degree was not essential for his success in life. In some cases, a degree is not as important as it may sound like.
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I think that college is absolutely worth it because even though it is expensive and lengthy, it pays off in the long run. In her article White shows two charts where, in both, college graduates are better off. College graduates have a lower rate of unemployment compared to those with only a high school degree and College graduates also significantly more money than those with only a high school degree. Ungar comments that liberal arts colleges are a luxury that most can’t afford and states they are no longer necessary. I agree more with White because Ungar devalues liberal arts colleges. I think that liberal arts colleges are really helpful, especially when studying in a STEM field because other colleges may look over really important skills like writing and public speaking. But, you are guaranteed to learn these skills when attending a liberal arts college.
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This article fails to take into consideration aspects that are not related to economics like personal happiness or alternative forms of education/blue collar jobs. I believe that college is not necessarily for everyone and whether or not going to a university is worth it, is very subjective and cannot be measured with numbers and graphs. While making a lot of money is important to some people, others may prefer a less extravagant lifestyle where they can simply enjoy what they are doing and not have to be as stressed. College can be a great experience for some and pay off in the long run; however, telling everyone that they have to follow a certain path to be successful because that is what most people do is absurd. There is no “one size fits all” when it comes to lifestyle.
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I agree that college is still important and can be worth it, but I think it depends on the specific person. Some people are happier going straight into work instead of going to college, and others want to go through college to try to earn a high paying job later on in life. It also depends on what a person wants to do in life because some professions require a college education, but others do not.
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I agree that college is necessary for some people to further their careers, but I also think that it depends on the person. Some people will be more prosperous in life by just going straight into the work field. But I do not think it’s fair that people with a college degree and just graduated are chosen for jobs over people who have been working in the field for years. In some instances they can be chosen over the people who have been in the field for a while, but just because you do not have a college degree does not mean you do not know what you are doing. The statistics are also from a college, so they also would want to show that college is the most important factor in getting a job so they readers can pay to go to college.
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I would say that I agree with Gillian White because although both essays/articles have flaws, Ungar seems to bring forth a bigger bias through his essay. Since Ungar is the president of a liberal arts college, he is most likely trying to persuade more students to consider liberal arts colleges. Aside from Ungar’s bias, I overall agree more with White because she clearly emphasizes how college graduates (over time) are doing better than people with just high school diplomas. This is a point I agree with because though a person may have worked for many years in a company, the company would most likely choose someone right out of college with a degree in the desired field. It’s due to the fact that the new worker would bring in more innovation and ideas instead of doing things the old fashioned way. Though I do agree with White more, I do still agree with the point made by Ungar. There are too many misconceptions about liberal arts school but it isn’t for everyone. Ungar may have a bias being the president of a liberal arts college, but at the same time it may just be that he has a lot of experience with seeing all the students come in and out of his school. Both sides present great points but I think White hits the point straightforward better.
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I believe that a college education depends on the person. Yes, I think college in worth it in the sense that it helps you to figure out who you are and what you want to do with your life, but if you don’t feel like it fits you, then it’ll just be a waste of time and money. Some people think that a college education is worth it and they want it to earn more money, however, some people are happy with just going out and doing something they love. College or no college, both have their own benefits and worth, it just depends on what you want and what makes you happy.
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I agree with Ungar’s essay more because he understands the struggles with getting a liberal arts degree. White claims that getting a college degree in general will help increase your annual earnings, but Ungar disagrees. Ungar acknowledges that a liberal arts degree may not help you in life. He understands that even though having a degree is good, you many not get hired and therefore almost useless if you can’t get a job. He claims that degrees such as french and literature may not help you get ahead in life, in a practical sense. Ungar also states that, with the increasing college costs, a liberal arts degree may not get you where you want to be due to limited opportunities in their specific field. However,I think that everyone should do what they love, regardless of job opportunities or potential earnings, if they are happy with themselves and what they are doing, that is all that really matters.
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I agree more with White’s reasons for why college is still worth it because she presents her views with less bias than Ungar does. Since Ungar is the president of a liberal arts college all of her views are simply to promote her college so more students will apply. While White is part of Georgetown University her views are still less bias because she is not in charge of any particular academic club so she does not profit from the university profiting. In addition, White offers some key facts through the use of graphs that greatly impact the significance of her findings. I strongly agree with the fact that a recent graduate from college is able to make more money than a recent high school graduate who has a lot of work experience. I feel as though employers look at the time a person spent in college as learning experience. Employers take this into consideration when they hire employees because this learning experience shows a sense of perseverance in a person that employers feel is a necessary trait for people to have.
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I completely agree with Gillian White’s argument that college still pays off. A college education results in a lower probability of unemployment and an increase in average salary, as argued by White. These two benefits standing alone already pay for the degree. With a higher chance of employment , a graduate is not only more likely to get a job but also more likely to have a higher selection of jobs, therefore increasing the graduate’s career satisfaction. One advantage that White does not mention is the fact that a college degree, depending on the job field, could act as an edge that allows for a job applicant to stand out. An employer is clearly going to pick the applicant that spent time and money on getting an education over the applicant that did not.
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I completely agree with Margaret Parker. Yes college is a very useful tool, but it does not mean college is the right choice for everyone. College does give the opportunity for an individual to grow not only intellectually, but also as a person. College puts a huge emphasis on white-collar careers, but our nation rides on the skilled professionals in the fields of construction, maintenance, and industrial work. Without these fields there would be no buildings for the white-collared professionals to work in. The fields of skilled professionals do not require a college education. Trade schools offer the individual a better hands on education than college would. There may not always be work for a CEO or an inventor, but a mechanic or plumber are always needed. Their trade is needed in everyday life. In homes, office buildings, or restaurants. The option of going to trade school provides people that may not test well or might have a learning disability an opportunity to succeed in life. While college is a necessary path for people that want to pursue white-collared jobs, it is not the right choice for everyone.
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I would say getting a college education is important because if you go to college and get a degree in a certain field that you feel your going to be good at then it shouldn’t be very hard for you to get a job. College is also very important because it can help you find the career you want to go into and greatly increase the choices of what jobs are out there to pick from, where as if you are looking for a job with just a high school diploma there won’t be as many jobs to pick from. If you go to college and are able to get a good job that pays good money then you should be set for the rest of your life. Even though it seems like your spending a lot of money for college, it will actually be worth it as long as you find and choose the right path to go. Unless you choose to become a business owner and own your own businesses then college is probably going to be your best way of making a lot of money. Going to college is most likely going to be the most important choice you’ll have to make in life because will out it there are very little things you can do to help support yourself in the next stages in life.
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Like many other college students, when I was growing up my parents, grandparents, and teachers all stressed the importance of college. Year after year, I was bombarded with the question of what I wanted to be when I grew up. Near the end of high school, that question became what college I wanted to attend. Like many of my fellow peers, I did not want to attend college but I did anyway because I was told it was necessary for a successful future. While some individuals preach that attending college pays off, others believe that a college degree is losing worth.
In the article, “Even with Debt, College Still Pays Off”, Gillian B. White discusses that economically a college education is a good investment that will pay off. White cites evidence that suggests that college graduates with a bachelor earn more than high school graduates and are less likely to experience unemployment. Research also states that while unemployment has fluctuated with the economies decline and increase, earning premiums granted to college graduates have stayed either stayed stable or grown. College graduates are also proven to have higher premiums than individuals with seniority who only have a high-school diploma. Overall, the author states that the rewards obtained from a college education, job security, and long-term financial gain, outweigh the cost of expensive tuition.
On the other hand, critics look at the state of the economy and social structure to disprove that college pays off. The most obvious argument is that a college degree will not pay off if the student cannot get a job. In the US, people of all ages and education levels are having problems finding jobs, especially quality ones. In the age of technology and transport, more jobs are being shipped overseas or automated. The economy also affects the number of jobs. The Great Recession in 2007 made many companies downsize and reduce their number of employees. This has forced many educated and experienced individuals to procure low-income, entry- level jobs. This is called underemployment.
In US society, credentialism is another phenomenon that has affected the worth of a degree. Credentialism is when a society over-emphasizes the importance of earning degrees and certificates to determine intelligence, social status, or the ability to do a job. More lower-income and social status jobs are requiring their employees to have a degree. As more and more people earn degrees, having a degree become expected and commonplace. In turn, graduates will receive fewer rewards for their degree. Also, to effectively compete in the labor market, students will need to achieve higher degrees and certification to have an advantage. This is the idea of credential inflation.
While Gillian White may be correct that college pays off now, that might not always be true. College tuition has been on the rise and so has educational attainment. However, the United States still faces a shortage of college graduates so the effects of credentialism and credential inflation are not currently apparent. For many students, a college degree could greatly influence their SES and career attainment.
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I somewhat agree with the view that college is still work it in terms of earning potential and job prospects in today’s market. I think it depends on the degree the student wishes to earn. The study even recognized that earning potential for some degrees yield less than others. Students considering college need to research earning potentials and develop a plan for how they will deal with debt incurred before sailing off into uncharted waters. This debit can become an anchor if careful thought is not put into it. An example of this is one that achieved a degree in journalism, however has been unable to find work in that field. A degree in a specific area does not guarantee you a career in that field. The burden of debt is relative, while the average debt is $25,000 per graduate, the burden to repay is much different for someone making $37,000 per year as opposed to $100,000. Additionally, the writer states “most people can’t afford it” suggest a greater issue. Those needing to increase income potential simply may not have the ability to further placing a segment of society at disadvantage. These issues can only be resolved by institutions finding ways to make degrees more affordable and potential students giving thoughtful consideration to career choices to ensure they only take courses necessary to reduce debt burden.
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I can agree with White’s main statement which is, college, even with debt still pays off. However, I feel she could have had a better argument with a different template. While most who propose their statement, they usually will state the counterargument first, then state their point with reasoning. She however, stated her views then the counterargument, not ending the article with valid points geared towards her captive audience. Even if she had stated her argument first, then counterargument, I feel she could’ve wrapped up the article with her main point. Instead, she ended the article on a downfall of college, and most of the time when a student who is on the cusp of making the decision as to whether or not college is worth it for them, then ending the article with positive aspects of college could be the make or break decision.
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i agree with Gillian that going to college is worth it even if you accumulate a lot of debt along the way because college gives a higher education. I believe that in today’s economy in order for someone to get a stable and well paying job, they must have a four year college degree or beyond. I know that college can be very expensive and a lot of people aren’t able to afford. However, those who go to college have better job opportunities. I think college is for everyone but those who go to college are well of it.
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The title within itself, Even in Debt College Still Pays off, suggests the high success of college graduates. White argues the value college has to one’s future. In her article White says “Though the cost of college is increasing, a variety of empirical evidence suggests that the earnings associated with a bachelor’s degree still trump the debt that students incur in most cases.” White points out the statistical fact that people that graduate with a bachelor’s degree make more money than those that do not have one. At the end of the article she then contradicts her focus by saying “…college is still worth it. It’s just that most people can’t afford it.” Although her statement is contrasting her main point it, it does support it by explaining why many people don’t graduate from college or even attend. White writes how vital an education is for an economically stable future. Fact is college is expensive, more than anything unaffordable for most. This is why people should strive to do anything it takes to go to college for an education. The economic struggle is worth the stability in the end. That conclusion ultimately explains many people’s choice of community over a four year. Going to college doesn’t have to lead you into debt, but it will guarantee you more secure future.
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In his article, Even With Debt, College Still Pays Off, Gillian White discusses the controversial topic of whether a college education is worth the repercussions, most importantly debt. White argues that a bachelor’s degree is extremely valuable once a student is out of college because of the economic benefits. He includes studies from Georgetown University to support his point with the reports showing the benefits based on unemployment rates and annual earnings. Each report compares the differences between a college graduate and a high school graduate with White analyzing both studies to show how a college degree is more beneficial. He closes his article with studies of recent college graduates and the differences between their earnings compared to high school graduates.
I agree with White’s argument that a bachelor’s degree is extremely valuable compared to only a high school diploma even though most students graduate college with extreme debt. The studies he includes show a stark difference between those who earn a high school diploma and those who also earn a bachelor’s degree. I believe that a college degree results in such a higher salary rate and lower unemployment rate because of not only the education received but also the additional skills developed during the college experience such as conversational skills and public speaking. These skills help a college graduate achieve more compared to a high school graduate and prove the benefits of a college degree.
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I agree with Gillian White. College does pay off. The statement, “Even with debt, college still pays off” is a very optimistic concept. Most people think of a better living, which is normal thinking before and after college. However, the real key factor is the exercise of challenging yourself to reach higher knowledge or to exert your mind’s potential to expand into new enlightenment and intellectual self growth. It’s the objective of intellectual growth, independent thinking that evolves from elementary to maturity of intellectual exercising of the mind’s potential which demonstrates good thinking, organized thinking, with that qualifications it incorporates better performance that companies look for in our competitive world. Corporations or in general business operators look for the potential of intelligent people to assist with and within the business world which can result in benefits of better living and that’s what pays off.
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I agree with Gillian and I disagree with Gillian at the same time. I don’t agree that everyone who attends college will have this good of an outcome compared to others that did not or only have their highschool diploma. But I do agree with Gillian that college pays off for those who find a job in their field of study. Not everyone can afford college and everyone’s tuition bill is different, some are higher while others are lower. This causes students to take out loans, which they’ll have to pay off for the next years including the years of starting their career, and career starting salary is usually always low, and that is the start off not being able to reach that high outcome of going to college. Of course it all depends on what you decide to study, and that’s where college pays off. The biggest benefit of college is the knowledge you receive from the years spent studying. Essentially people that study careers in the medical field, engineering, science and technology, etc. college is required because they must understand the information they are studying and for those who are able to find a secure job in those fields, college will pay out for them. Not everyone has interest in studying in those fields and that is why college will jot always pay off in the long run. It is not always about going to college and studying in a certain field to make that high income but about learning to make the best financial decisions and studying the way money works, and there are many great resource out there other than college were you can learn that information from
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