HWE 3
In Should Everyone Go to College Stephanie Owen and Isabel Sawhill argues the importance of comparing different variables with the return on investment “ROI”. Other variables such as the selection of universities and grad majors that can help assess whether or not obtaining a four-year degree will outstandingly increase ones future earnings. Owen and Sawhill also verify that it is not financially reasonable for everyone to attend college based on their desired major. In acknowledgement, I believe that it is unreasonable for everyone to attend college, especially with the evidence provided by Owen and Sawhill that shoes how not only it is an unwise decision for everybody to go to college, but not all degrees are equal. As claimed by
In Charles Murray's article “Are Too Many People Going to College?” he argues that the route that has been set-up, whether knowingly or unknowingly, for individuals to achieve success in their life by obtaining a Bachelor of Arts degree (B.A.) is obsolete in a modern world. He espouses six reasons for his position. In this essay, I’ll summarize Murray's position and then elucidate on his points while explaining my position on wach of his views. Lastly, I'll state my belief that getting a college degree is valuable even if it is not the source of my financial income.
College is becoming increasingly expensive, ranging from 60,000 dollars to around 10,000 dollars. In the United states, 75% of people feel that “college is too expensive”(Source F). But to what extent should money rule an individual's life? The same survey also reported that 86% of people feel as though “college has been a good investment for them personally.” (Source F) This statistic proves that money should not control the life of an individual because although college is expensive a vast majority of people enjoy it. A college education not only prepares someone for a career in the future, but allows academic experimentation, higher pay as an adult and teaches students skills that young adults with only a high school degree may lack.
In the essay, “Should Everyone Go to College?,” Stephanie Owen and Isabel Sawhill cover all aspects of this topic. They include the rate and variations of return and policy implications, and they also give many statistics to support all of their arguments. It is a very well-assembled essay that gives both sides of the topic. It is a very well put together essay that allows the reader to further understand the topic.
Typically, all students are told that college is their best option. Without college a well-paying job cannot be obtained. However this may not necessarily be true. Stephanie Owen, a senior research assistant for the Brooking’s Center on Children and Families, and Isabel Sawhill, a senior fellow in economic studies, argue that college is not the best option for every student. Instead students should review the information on various colleges to decide if college is beneficial for them. To support their claim, the authors use data on the return of investment for various colleges and suggestions for ways to make information more available for students. Combined, these tactics strengthen their argument so that it is rather effective.
The article, “Should Everyone Go to College?” by Stephanie Owen and Isabel Sawhill disputes the widespread idea that attending college before joining the workforce is financially advantageous to everybody. The authors acknowledge that for some the investment of college results in a profit, but stipulate that several factors could result in a college degree costing more to obtain than the future benefits would reciprocate. They demonstrate that differences in factors such as major choice, school selectivity, and future job availability result in an enormous variation in the potential value of higher education. Owen and Sawhill state that the stereotype of an unconditionally lucrative outcome from college is inaccurate, misleading, and likely
Americans have always believed that going to college is beneficial in many aspects and leads to a promising financial future.Recently, people have started to challenge this belief. Back in the day, if you had a college degree you were almost guaranteed a job. As Sir Ken Robinson puts it “You’re better having a degree than not, but it's not a guarantee”. Robinson has a valid argument; education trumps ignorance, but at the same, you don’t always have a high paying job waiting for you. Common sense seems to dictate that if their isn’t a job awaiting you then why waste money on a degree? This imposes another debate; are colleges worth the price of admission? In Andrew Hacker’s recent studies, Hacker seeked to compose an answer. He concluded that
A huge topic that is asked in today’s society is covered by Stephanie Owen and Isabel Sawhill’s popular article “Should Everyone Go to College?” The title itself is self explanatory- should everyone go to college? Explained by the authors, they believe that telling all young people that they should go to college is actually a disservice (209).
The belief that everyone should go to college strives from the fact that in many circumstances a college degree entails a higher paying job and thus a better financial situation. The essay “Should Everyone go to College” discusses this matter in a variety of ways, ranging from financial breakdown by private and open enrollment of schools to likelihood of individuals finishing their degrees.
The Impact of College Education in our Society. “Should everyone go to college?” this is a real question everyone should ask themselves. In the article, “Should everyone go to college” reported by Stephanie Owen and Isabel Sawhill in the Brooking Institution in 2013 argued about whether everyone should go to college or not. Stephany who is a senior researcher and Isabel Sawhill who is a co-director both work at The Brooking Center in Washington D.C.
“Should Everyone Go to College?” written by Stephanie Owen and Isabel Sawhill informs their readers about both the disadvantages of attending college along with some advantages. The authors had several uses of the same word or phrase. The inequality between an individuals’ earnings with a college degree compared to someone who does not have a college degree is explained. The rare opinion that college benefits outweigh the cost to attend is expressed. Although Owen and Sawhill’s article concentrates on primarily the negatives of attending college, some positives are present as well.
While others may think that college is just a waste of time believing that a college career will end up dropping out having the same income that many people who choose to do vocational training instead many of those who pursued a college career has the ability to receive an increased income through the career one chooses. As Andrew Rotterham wrote in the article “ Actually, College Is Very Much Worth It,” he explains his address stores weekly earnings of one’s educational level: “ According to the bureau of labor statistics in 2010 The meeting weekly earnings for someone with some college but no degree was $712 compared to $1038 for a college graduate. That’s almost $17,000 over the course of the year and there is a bigger divide for those with less education” (85). Rotterham’s evidence towards an increase of college income clearly explains the idea of why college is beneficial. Rotterham’s evidence demonstrates
A college degree is often thought of as a "golden ticket" of sorts, providing magical access to a world of respect, higher earning potential, and general success. One statistic often quoted by guidance counselors and college advertisers is that people with a bachelor's degree earn more than a million dollars more in their lifetime than those without degrees. Whether or not this is true and what other variables might potentially affect earnings and thus make the relationship between earnings and education far less direct than implied notwithstanding, the idea that a college education is of direct benefit to everyone is something that definitely needs to be critically
Opportunities can be plentiful when achieving a higher education degree, but in relation to cost factors, are too many people going to college? Society tends to push for people to obtain a four year degree and the glory that comes with accomplishing this goal. After all, how would people achieve success without the education and knowledge received from a college degree in a field of study, and what would this education mean if it did not have some sort of value attached to it? In today’s society, everyone must have some type of education to create a successful place for themselves as professionals. However, with a four year degree showcased as one of the most popular ways to attain a job in the workforce, one might feel that too many people go to college because it’s what they are supposed to do in order to get a good job, yet some end up getting nowhere in life due to an improper plan to execute. In some instances, a vocational degree might be the best way to go instead of a four year degree. An examination of why extraordinary opportunities can be achieved through higher education, creating a place in life for students to become professionals, and how a vocational degree can be an option instead of a four year degree for students will be a basis for determining are too many people going to college.
As college is becoming a typical life path, those who do not attend are being looked down upon. A common misconception within society is that those who attend college, specifically a four-year university, are guaranteed a higher paying job and more success than those who do not. When arguing his claim that college is not the only option, Adam Ozimek states, “they found that in 2009, nearly 20% of college graduates from age 23-35 earned less than the average male high school graduate” (Ozimek). These statistics validate the minority view that one can be just as, if not more, successful in a career if they do not attend college. If one is to make more money, all while saving tens of thousands of dollars, the net return of going to a 4-year university would not be worth the time and money. The idea of entering a trade at a high paying entry-level position and working one’s way up to an even higher paying, top position can lead to life success in many high
Many diverse societies, cultures, and states including America, do not make obtaining a degree essential. Everyone is entitled to an education, but studies have shown many people feel as though education is not worth having or furthering. The rationalization of this judgment comes from the economy being based on how many years of experience one maintains without a college degree, or because most people start earning more money once they are no longer attending high school. In today’s generation, research has shown a minority of people believes accomplishing a college degree is necessary. Many people tend to believe this theory as society’s ideal norm. The folkway of flourishing in life, specifically after high school, is to enroll in a four-year university and accomplish with a bachelor’s degree. Having a degree versus not having a degree has been an ongoing debate during previous generations and continues today. Whereas, many people will be able to determine and analyze if attaining a college degree is mandatory; in order to maintain financial stability, stableness in independence, broaden life opportunities, or not getting a college degree and still being able to prosper and succeed throughout human life.