Saturday, September 28, 2019
Importance Of College Education Essay
A college education is a necessary ingredient for a good job and comfortable lifestyle. In fact, all parents would love to see their children find successful, rewarding careers. Everyone rejoices when a child in their family graduates in college and finds a rewarding and fulfilling job related to one’s chosen field of interest. It’s no secret that a college education can help expand one’s horizons and increase one’s earning power.  Consider some of the statistics and one will be convinced of its importance. Around 84% say that it is extremely (37%) or very (47%) important to have a college degree in order to get ahead. About 62% of parents of high school students say that a college education is absolutely necessary for their child, another 35% say it’s helpful but not necessary, and only 3% say that it’s not that important. Strong majorities say it is absolutely essential that college students gain a sense of maturity and how to manage on their own (71%) and learn to get along with people different from themselves (68%). Americans are divided when it comes to the value of college education especially when the figures are mentioned. Forty-seven percent say that a person gets enough out of a college education to justify spending from $7,000 to $18.000 a year for it, as compared to 40% who think the expense is not justified. But there is no doubt that a lot of people regard a college education as a process that students must undergo to gain general life skills (Mullan, 2003). This, despite the fact that most schools have increased their tuition fees, excluding the cost of books, laboratory expenses and other miscellaneous expenses one incurs in the course of studying. For many families, college will be their second biggest long-term savings goal, other than savings for retirement. (Clark, 2004). There are now tools which can be used to help equip a person as he steps in college (The Education Imperative. Importance of a College Education). Surveys that were conducted regarding the importance of college education reveal that all leaders agree that a strong higher education system is vitally important to the well-being of American society. The U.S. Census Bureau states there is â€Å"a significant disparity between the incomes of those who graduate from college and those who don’t.†(How a College Education can pay off). The survey respondents were nearly unanimous in their view that â€Å"a strong higher education system is a key to the continued economic growth. In addition, the report found an overwhelming majority of leaders believe it is essential to insure that higher education is accessible to every qualified and motivated student. Approximately 92 % of respondents think that society should not allow the price of a college education to prevent qualified and motivated students from attending college. The leaders also agreed that the vast majority of qualified and motivated students can get a college education if they want one and that lack of student motivation and responsibility is a more important obstacle than lack of money (Mullan, 2003). Although education expenses are high, investing in a college education pays off. Recent studies show that employees with degrees earn, on average, 85 percent more than those with just a high school diploma. They are given more opportunities in finding fulfilling jobs. This earnings gap is tremendous and can be as much as $1 million over a lifetime. Thus, parents need to encourage their children to continue higher studies rather than to work right after high school even if that entails additional expenses for them and more tightening of the belt.                                               REFERENCES Clark, W. 2004. Universal College Grant. Retrieved Feb. 10, 2007 at: http://www.clark04.com/issues/highereducation/  How a College Education can pay off. Retrieved Feb. 10, 2007 at: http://www.americanfunds.com/college/importance/college-benefits.htm  Mullan, M, 2003. College Students Stress Importance of Education to Pupils, Retrieved Feb. 10, 2007 at: http://www.gazette.net/200338/collegepark/news/178428-1.html The Education Imperative. Importance of a College Education. Retrieved Feb. 10, 2007 at: http://gearup.ous.edu/college_importance.php Â
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