Linda Lee The Case Against College Summary

One of the biggest complaints about a college education is the large price tag that comes with it. A national survey found that 75% of adults in the U.S. think that college is too expensive to afford, showing that a majority of the people in the U.S. agree that colleges should lower prices (Source F). As Source A says, college is about learning but the goal in life is to earn a living (Crawford). This means that while you need to earn a living, college isn’t the only route you can do so. There are careers that don’t require education beyond high school and you can still make a respectable income. It’s easy to see that not enough people realize you don’t need a college degree to get a good job.

In the essay “Are Too Many People Going to College,” writer Charles Murray explains that not everyone is in need of going to college for three main reasons: a liberal education should be gained in elementary and middle school, many people already have knowledge and skills necessary for a technical career, and many students are in college to “buy an admission ticket-the B.A.” (246) and ensure employers consider their resume. Murray does not argue anything against college itself but more against society and especially the education system. Murray also accuses guidance counselors and parents of “automatically encouraging young people to go to college straight out of high school being thoughtless about the best interests of young people” (249).

Mike Rose uses his relatives’ experiences along with his own to show that college is not for everyone. This point of view is supported by Owen and Sawhill in ‘Should Everyone Go to College?”. “It is a mistake to unilaterally tell young Americans that going to college… is the best decision they can make.”

In the essay “College Value Goes Deeper Than the Degree” author Eric Hoover claims a college education is important to one 's well-being so they can get a job and be productive in other parts of life. Promoters of higher education have long emphasized how beneficial college’s value and its purpose. Many believe the notion that colleges teach students are life skills to apply anywhere, they also work hard to earn a degree and learn specific marketable skills which they can use to get a good job. Though obtaining a college education and a degree is helpful in countless of ways, it is not necessary to pursue a college degree in world where a college degree is seen different now, people without turn out fine, the growing average of debt that students who attend college have to pay off and people without a degree can obtain many jobs that do not require college degrees.

In the article, "Should the Obama Generation Drop Out?" by Charles Murray, Murray discusses why college students do not need to go to college just to get a bachelor degree in a job that they could do without a bachelor degree. Murray point to this article is to express that it isnt fair for these students to be judged when applying for a job on if they have a degree or if they dont have a degree because some simply just cant afford college and some just dont try their hardest because like he says, "most 18-year-olds are not from families with plenty of money, not top students, and not drawn toward academics." I do think Murray is making a credible argument because he pretty much says just because you take all these courses with some having

“What’s the key to success in the United States?”(Steinberg,2010), author Jacques Steinberg starts off his article “Plan B: Skip College” with a powerful question that has been asked by many Americans. Majority of Americans first thoughts would be higher education. The ideology that obtaining a degree is the best and sometimes only way to be successful in the American economy. This has been instilled in numerous children growing up. Steinberg states “perhaps no more than half of who began a four-year bachelor's degree program in the fall of 2006 will get that degree within six years according to the department of education”(Steinberg,2010). Students who tend to not excel in high school often take longer, or at times finish a higher education at all. These

In the story " Should Everyone Go to College" , Stephanie Owen and Isabel Sawhill effectively express that college is for some but not for all. Different factors determine its worth, including one's career choice and one's major. The amount of money obtained and "profitable" after college depends on one's future occupation. Thus, college could be "profitable" for some people but not for everyone.

In this article, Murray argues that many people go to college when it is not actually necessary for them to do so. He begins by explaining that obtaining a liberal education, while it is important to cultural participation, is not a good reason for everyone to go to college. Instead, he says that this education should occur much earlier, beginning in elementary school. Murray also believes that the in depth analysis of information that occurs college is too difficult for most people to enjoy, and many simply aren't academically capable. Even for those who are able, he claims that four years of college is much more than most professions actually need. He states that many people believe that getting a degree is the key to getting a

In her article “College Is a Waste of Time and Money”, Caroline Bird attempts to pursued her readers that colleges are overflowing with students who don’t belong there. Her article first appeared in Psychology Today (May 1975). Since this material is outdated, I find it hard to believe that most of the responses by students and parents quoted in the article still hold true. The author has set out to pursue the readers that college is a bad and unnecessary choice for today’s youth. Yet the author holds a bachelors and a masters degree from two different universities. I would think that if she thought college was really a bad choice and a waste of time and money, she would not have gone back to get her masters degree.

“According to the U.S Department of education, if you graduated in the bottom 40% of your high school class and went to college, 76 of 100 won’t earn a diploma, even if given 8 ½ years.” Marty Nemko believes that going to college isn’t for everyone and that it’s turned into a business depending on which university you attend. Nemko also gives some good examples, such as Morris, who completed his bachelor's degree from University of California, Berkeley and works as a truck driver to support his family. (ADD THESIS PART TWO) Nemko mentions that “ colleges are businesses, and students are a cost item while research is a profit center. (33)

“What does a dyslexic agnostic insomniac do? He lays in bed at night thinking about the existence of dog.” Although I’m neither an insomniac nor agnostic, I am dyslexic. With this has come many challenges. Where others may have succeeded more easily, I’ve struggled; I’ve fought for all I’ve achieved; I’ve persevered.

The problem with us as a society is that we focus too much on how long of a process college is and how much in debt we can become instead of looking at how the money and time you put into going to college is the money you get back when you get the career you wanted. Mr. Escanilla a college graduate student that Leonhardt’s mentions in his, was one of those people felt like college wasn’t for him but realized that college wasn’t so bad after all. He had a dream of becoming a rock star but he decided to enroll into college because he realized that being a rock star was not a career plan. Even though it took him six years to graduate, he graduated with a degree in liberal arts studies. Today he is married, also a father, and is now a psychotherapist at a local high school along with counseling adults as professional coaches. People like Mr. Escanilla who gave college a chance actually succeeded because he thrived for what he wanted in life. Research has found that college graduates are healthier, happier, more likely to remain married, more likely to be engaged parents and more likely to vote. The more time spent in school come the positive results in the way life happens

In today's economy ,most people cannot afford a higher education so they cannot get what they need so they take what they can get. Most famous people did not get their degree until after they became famous or they do not get it at all. Steve jobs never received his college degree but he turned out fine he is now the owner of the Apple company . Tiger Woods left Stanford University after two years. Even though Tiger Woods won the NCAA individual golf championship and was an All-American during his time in college, Woods still decided he was better off in the real world. Since dropping out, he won 14 major championships. Kanye west, Bill gates,Lady gaga all dropped out , but all have succeeded in life. Blue collar workers are needed in this economy without them we wouldn't be where we are today , for example construction workers they build our homes , schools, hospitals and many more. Another example is a mechanic they fix our cars ,which is our main transportation in today's society. These are a few people who succeeded without a college degree. This goes to show that a college degree is not a necessity in today’s society even though it is required to have one for most jobs. It is evident that blue collar workers are intelligent no matter what their job

Before people spend thousands of dollars, and sacrifice their quality time from their families, on a college education, they need make sure they know what they’re getting into. In this essay Payne will argue that a college degree is not always necessary to have a successful career. This is a question she asks herself on a regular basis, while she works full time, and takes time away from her family. She sits and wonders daily if studying will provide her and her family a better life, and she doesn’t think she is alone. Years ago when a person graduated from college it would pretty much guarantee them getting a good job with a decent income. Education usually gave people better opportunities for advancement in their careers.

At least once a person’s lifetime, everyone think about who they want to become in their future. Most of the things they want to become, requires certain college degree to achieve that goal. Taking that first step of attaining the degree can be time consuming and involves loads of hard work. Some people have more determination and motivation to be successful, while others lack the motivation and can not finish. Not everyone drop out because they lack the determination to finish, instead they run into other obstacle while equipped with the motivation. Those of which are trying to regulate the balance of work and school, unexpected family problems, and financial problems. Unprepared students sign up for school because they think a degree is a “Pass” to the middle class, trying to get one step closer to their goal but drops out of college.