Why i Want to Go to College

Introduction

College education is called the difference now, and that has validated the perception of education as the path to success. During the four years one might spend in college, countless experiences and friendships are made, which cause many students to say that their college years were the best of their lives. But the most important things cultivated during a college education are skills, abilities, and knowledge. College is all about academic, personal, and community growth that happens within and outside of the classroom.

The beginnings of higher education in the United States can be traced back to the 17th and 18th centuries. Despite the fact that higher education was available exclusively to the elite, it was considered a public good in that it was presumed to have a collective use to society, such as for training clergy and running a democratic government. Today, college is an expectation, the norm. It has become an individualized private benefit system that touts personal gain and raises the question: what does the college-going experience have to do with my personal net worth, rather than the common good of society as a whole? College is also big business. In 2017, the U.S. system of higher education, one of the largest financial enterprises on the planet, included business schools, colleges, and universities, and degree-granting, post-secondary vocational and technical institutions. In these institutions, some million students pursue higher education; colleges and universities alone will rake in an estimated billion in the academic year. And so, we question: what is the value of higher education today? And, in a time when practically everyone is expected to go to college, what actually goes into making that decision?

Personal and Professional Development Opportunities

In terms of the opportunities for skill enhancement and personal development alone, higher education benefits the individual more than specific disciplines. College is a time when people are learning to think outside the box, to grow more skilled at big picture thinking and problem solving, to learn the value and limitations of research, experimentation, and the power of human creativity. It isn't always about the information, although learning about each discipline and how they differ is highly important, too. The internships, practicums, field opportunities, and job opportunities that come specifically to one's college are important learning avenues, sometimes even more so than the classes and 'book' knowledge. Straight out of higher education, people are entering a dynamic job market, having been thoroughly prepared for all parts of their life experience here. This also includes access to mentorships and study abroad learning experiences that can only be accessed through a university. Networking, too, is important. While small, it is a high-quality school that offers a number of unique opportunities not found elsewhere within the region, in which to learn and access. Many of our students like our college because they can form bonds with their professors, develop a web of connections for when they move on in the career world, and try new and unique internships. This sort of maturation and exploration period forms and grounds our students for the upcoming difficulty of today's professional world. After developing personal and professional goals, which usually involves self-discipline and a balance between new and old love, dedication, or hobbies, our students check in with administrators in advising on a quarterly basis. Many students are first in their family or communities to go to school far outside of our region. These graduates inevitably become well-rounded and self-aware critical thinkers.

Economic Advantages of a College Degree

You may realize that obtaining a college degree is never cheap; tuition rates have been rising over the past few years. Despite that, the investment is often deemed worthwhile. People with bachelor's and graduate degrees make more money throughout their lifetimes than those who do not go to college. College graduates are projected to receive up to $1.6 million more over the course of their careers than high school diploma holders, about 84% more in pay. Bachelor's degree recipients are projected to earn about $2.1 million, while workers with master's degrees may benefit from up to $2.5 million in education. With an increasing number of occupations requiring college degrees, graduates also benefit from employment on these grounds. It's no secret that a college degree will open many doors and contribute to your long-term financial success. With a college degree, you will advance your career and get promotions faster.

You are more likely to be unemployed with a high school diploma than with a college degree. In 2019, the unemployment rate for the former was 3.7 percent, down from 2.2 percent for the latter. Yet, some degrees enable you to earn more money than others. Before you go into debt for a college education, it's important to know which degree and career paths have returns on investment. And it's not just about earning more after student loans and lost wages are compensated for; a degree drives the economy forward. If you live in a dense college graduate community, your salary is higher, and it has a spillover effect. Cities with stronger university degree growth will see an unemployment rate decline exponentially, leading to a 2.7 percent rate of GDP development. The American economy is led by college-educated people, who foster innovation and growth. Research has concluded that areas with a well-educated population have a stronger economy and a higher standard of living.

Social and Cultural Benefits of Higher Education

A college is more than just a place to have classes. Colleges are kind of like pretend villages with their own cultures, social interactions, and historic traditions. In bigger state colleges and universities, you can make friends in dining halls or while working out in the gym. In smaller colleges, you can form stronger relationships with your professors and classmates that can last a lifetime. You get to learn more about these people and share your experiences with them. Also, most colleges have clubs or groups that students can join, which will introduce you to a whole new set of people and also provide you with experience in leading a group of your peers—an essential skill for any career.

Colleges are full of young people from diverse backgrounds from many parts of an area or country and often from the world. Interacting with your peers in a college environment can help break down stereotypes and prejudices that may have developed in your communities at home. This exposure to other cultures will likely pay dividends throughout your life and is a strong selling point for many employers. Colleges and universities are seen as the centers where our nation’s attitudes, values, and virtues are grown, or not grown. Our educational institutions instill in people the diverse ethical and moral values necessary to function in a free and democratic society. A college is not just a place of books for scholars, but an arena of life’s learning.

A college campus is an intense intellectual and social community populated by citizens who need to be heard and understood. College students continue to make substantial contributions to their communities, and evidence suggests that the amount of this involvement is increasing. Projects with faculty and community-based learning are on the rise. Community service is not just service to others, but a journey of one’s self. Recent research studying the voting habits and community involvement of college graduates found that those who hold a bachelor’s degree are more likely than those with less education to vote, participate in sports or service clubs, engage in local political activities such as attending community meetings and working with neighbors, be involved in community problem solving, and advocate for social and religious causes and candidates. And the more education a person has, the more likely they are to be involved in these activities.

Conclusion: Why Going to College Matters

In so many capacities, going to college changes lives. We’ve described some of the personal and economic advantages of seeking higher education in this essay, but it’s also about finding out who you are and where you want to go. At its foundation, is there anything more foundational to a successful life and a thriving, healthy society than an education completed at the highest level the individual can accomplish? This is an elevated discussion of education, choices, and personal empowerment. The potential goodness for us all—individually and as a diverse society—is a moving target. Higher education, in our eyes, needs the final word on every syllable. It furthers economic and social mobility. It makes for richer personal lives and communities: our graduates volunteer and vote at rates well beyond the national average. It teaches problem-solving, communication, leadership, and life skills that no study finds without. It sparks innovation and drives economic growth. College graduates in their 20s make 60% more money than their peers, and a study of high schoolers found that landing a college degree mid-wages a person per year, for life, than a high school diploma. Discussions about 'the value of college,' then, can range from the measurable to the sublime, but it’s essential that we continue to have those discussions. What is success in college? Who deserves to attend, and whose dreams do we support with our consumer choices in the market? As we affirm higher education, we proudly send students abroad, support their undergraduate research, and comment on the places they visit, the careers they choose, and the friendships they maintain.

Did you like this example?

230

12