Is a College Education/experience Necessary for Today’s Graduates?

Today many students know that education plays an important role in the life of any individual. A college education provides many opportunities to graduates. According to Michael F. Middaugh, college is an “institution of higher education, proving academic, technical and corporate and community training opportunities to every student” (25). Undoubtedly, there are many benefits that a college education guarantees young people today. Students not only enjoy exciting college life, but also they can plunge into study, learning many new interesting things. What is more important is that college students can find better and more prestigious careers, earn higher wages and make many new contacts. Thesis statement: a college education is necessary for today’s graduates because it gives ample opportunities for personality enhancement, helps to develop new skills and abilities, as well as gives a chance to find more prestigious jobs, meet new friends and enjoy college life.

One of the benefits of a college education is the opportunity to study many new subjects, take a great interest in different fields of science and carry out a research work on the required topic. Undoubtedly, these experiences are new for graduates because in secondary schools, students are less involved in the study of certain subjects. This personal experience helps college students to develop new skills and abilities, such as leadership skills, communication skills and time management skills. In many cases, college students are inspired to stay within academia and conduct more serious research within the field chosen by a student.

Moreover, a college education provides students the opportunity to enjoy the freedom of college life. Today many college students know that they should be ready to stay away from home, but remain goal-oriented. Students have a chance to pursue their goal, dreams, personal interests, as well as to shape their lives in their own way. According to Jere R. Berhman and colleagues, “college education might generate benefits in three ways: by changing individual’s preferences, by changing the constraints individuals face, or by augmenting the knowledge or information on which individuals base their behavior” (3). In other words, college may completely change the individual’s personality, providing many opportunities for enhancing personal traits of characters, personal behaviors and actions. A college education is the best way for students to take care of themselves, become more independent, self-confident and responsible.

In addition, a college education allows graduates to find better and more prestigious jobs, because today employers are interested in hiring candidates with a college degree. In many situations, college graduates have a chance to earn a higher wage than those employees who have no a college degree. At the same time, college students have more chances to find a part-time job and pay for their education without their family financial support. According to Arthur M. Cohen and Carrie B. Kisker, “the percentage of students working while in college continued to rise dramatically, reaching about 80% of undergraduates in recent years” (469). Besides the above mentioned facts, a college education offers the opportunity to meet new people and become friends. It is not a secret that new contacts help people in their future career and personal life.

However, there are some drawbacks of a college education. A college education requires a lot of time, effort and money. Not all graduates are ready to spend their time, effort and money to get a college degree. Many graduates do not want to start college right after high school. They prefer to wait several years in order to explore the adult world better. However, there are some graduates who are against higher education. They choose to work a full-time job that does not require a college degree.

Nevertheless, college education provides many social benefits which help to make our nation better. According to Walter W. McMahon, social benefits of college education emphasize the “benefits of high education to society that are externalities, benefits that spill over to others, including future generations, that are beyond the private benefits of higher education to the individual” (55). Everybody knows that our government is interested in having citizens with degrees. Much effort has been made to provide equality of educational opportunity, including the adoption of “state need-based grants, state support of high education institutions and lower tuition and room and board costs at community colleges” (McMahon 55).  A college education contributes to the National Income Growth and has an economic impact on community.

Thus, it is necessary to conclude that a college education is necessary for today’s graduates because it gives ample opportunities for personality growth, the development of new skills and abilities, as well as gives a chance to find better jobs, meet new friends and enjoy college life. Besides, a college education provides many social benefits, making our nation better. Although some graduates do not want to spend their time, effort and money on a college degree, the majority of today’s graduates realize that a college education is the best way to achieve the established goals and succeed in life.

 

Works Cited

Behrman, Jere R., Crawford, David & Stacey, Nevzer. “Introduction” in The Social Benefits of Education, Jere R. Behrman and Nevzer Stacey. University of Michigan Press, 2007. Print.

Cohen, Arthur M. & Kisker, Carrier. Higher Education: Emergence and Growth of the Contemporary System. John Wiley & Sons, 2009. Print.

McMahon, Walter W. “Social benefits of higher education and their policy implications” in Higher Learning, Greater Good: The Private and Social Benefits of Higher Education. JHU Press, 2010. Print.

Middaugh, Michael F. Planning and Assessment in Higher Education: Demonstrating Institutional Effectiveness. John Wiley & Sons, 2011. Print.

The terms offer and acceptance. (2016, May 17). Retrieved from

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"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016.

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freeessays.club (2016) The terms offer and acceptance [Online].
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[Accessed: March 29, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 29, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 29, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 29, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 29, 2024]
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