Oh College.. What's the Point??

College will always be a tough decision, and although many people feel that it’s no question that college is great, there are still more and more people who wonder if the decision to go to college is really the best decision for their future.

Ever since the economy has gone down and the cost of tuition has increased, more people are asking themselves “What is college good for?” Some people just can’t find the answer to that. Stated in the article "College Student Debt Grows. Is It Worth It?" the nation’s credit card debt was recently surpassed by the amount of money we collectively owe on student loans (NPR Staff). This is one of the reasons that people decide not to go to college. Ever since the recession started, it has gotten harder and harder for college graduates to find a job at all, let alone in the field of their degree. They in turn feel that the extensive years and money they spent on getting a degree was useless. Because they can’t find a job, they have no way of paying off the debt they accumulated over the years, and the tuition is only increasing. People may argue, saying that college students make more money than those with only a high school diploma; therefore, they are able to pay off their debt fast and efficient with their high paying jobs. Megan McArdle stated in her article “Is College a Lousy Investment?” that college graduates are making about 80 percent more than non-college attendees, but this is always the case (McArdle). Not all students can get these jobs, and the economy is greatly affecting this. Many people do not believe college is the place for them, and the rising debt and tuition paired with the scarce job market is making more people make this decision.

Reverend Edward Malloy once said, "A college degree is not a sign that one is a finished product but an indication a person is prepared for life," (Monk’s Reflections). He, like many others, believes that college benefits the students who decide to attend. People also believe that these students that are choosing to attend college benefit the generations before and after them. Although the debt is increasing, and the job market is scarce, I still believe that college is worth it. You learn many other lessons than the ones you learn out of the Statistics or Biology textbooks. You learn how to live on your own, how to manage your time, and how to take responsibility for yourself, among other things. Essentially, you learn how to grow up. And if you don’t learn, you will learn the day of your first job out in the real world. In many cases, college is the first time young adults are living on their own. You have to learn how to get up and go to class on time, motivate yourself to do your homework, and get things done when they need to be done. You’re not always going to have mommy and daddy there. Also, your professors are not like high school. In some cases, teachers never tell you when anything is due or when tests are. You just have to look on the syllabus and figure it out for yourself. Self-responsibility is an important quality to have, especially when you get your first job. Even though the cost of college is increasing, the post-college benefits are still better than just being a high school graduate. Julie Margetta Morgan stated in her debate article "College Is a Safe Bet", that "the unemployment rate for young college grads is under 5 percent, compared to more than 13 percent for young people with only a high school diploma" (Morgan). This, along with making 80 percent more on average, is a good reason to go to college. It also teaches you to interact with new people. Many people have gone to school with the same people their whole lives, including myself, and college makes you branch out. Louis Menand stated in his article “Live and Learn: Why We Have College”, “[College] takes people with disparate backgrounds and beliefs and brings them into line with mainstream norms of reason and taste” (Menand). We have to learn to communicate with new and different people, as well as people older than us, such as our professors. Like Reverend Malloy said, college is here to prepare you for the rest of your life. Yeah, you might have some debt to pay off and a little trouble finding a job, but college prepares you for so much more than that. It prepares you for life.

College has its pros and cons; some people think it’s a huge waste of time and money. Others believe it’s one of the most treasured experiences of your life. But, that’s up to you to make your own decision about it. So, what will it be??

Don't Say "Why College?" Say Why Not?!

Whether or not to go to college is one of the most important decisions of your life. I always knew I was going to college, I just didn’t know where. The reason I came to JSU was volleyball. I played club volleyball and got recruited by JSU, so that’s how I ended up here!! Beyond that, I have chosen to take this very important step in my life for various reasons. I want to be able to get a good job, learn about something I truly enjoy, and prepare myself for the future.

If you want to support yourself, or possibly a family in the future, it is almost necessary to go to college. In today’s world, a high education is one of the most important things you can have. I know that by making this decision to further my education, I can find a better job than I would have had I not come. With a Bachelor’s or even Master’s degree, you usually have better job opportunities than those with just a high school diploma or an Associate’s. I want to be successful in life, and I feel like college creates more opportunities for that to happen.

Another reason I made the decision to go to college was to learn more about an area that I’m very passionate about! I am majoring in Exercise Science and Wellness and will eventually go to physical therapy school. I am really excited to learn more about this and get my degree in it. I have gotten really interested in physical therapy because I had shoulder surgery. I really want to become more knowledgeable about this subject!

Part of the reason people go to college is to prepare them for the future. You have to learn how to survive living on your own and providing for yourself. You learn a lot of life lessons in college about various topics like; time management, organization, how to take responsibility for yourself and your actions, and how to respect interact with peers and elders at a higher level than a place such as high school. You have to learn how to deal with your own problems without mommy and daddy being there to help you. Plus, No Child Left Behind doesn’t count in college. If you are struggling, you have to learn how to deal with it on your own. Your teachers aren’t going to give you extra privileges and be your babysitters like in high school.

All in all, I truly believe that going to college is going to be a great asset later in life, not only for myself, but also for anyone who chooses to attend. Even thirty years ago, times were different and people didn’t go to college as often because it wasn’t as important. In the job market today, it is almost essential. It also helps prepare you for the rest of your life. Choosing to attend college was one of the smartest decisions I’ve ever made!