Two Opinion writers discuss whether or not college is a worthwhile investment in today's economy and culture.
Rylan Learman: "Yes"
A college degree is one of the most fundamental assets that a person can get in order to advance through our society. But it isn’t the degree alone that makes college a cornerstone in nearly 40 percent of American’s lives. The necessity of college is in the environment and culture as well as the degree that you receive.
The benefits of getting a college degree are endless. For example, the unemployment rate among citizens who have earned a high school diploma but not an associate’s degree is 5.2 percent. Compared to the 2.5 percent unemployment among college graduates, and the 5.1 percent national average of unemployment, it is clear that a college degree can be an essential quality in order to be hired.
Receiving a degree, while ultimately the goal of college, is not the only reason for going to school. Some would even say that a college degree is nearing the point of having little to no value. This is because of the ease with which some people can go through college, simply passing the required classes to get the slip of paper that says they have mastered their area of academia.
Another method of institutional education also comes from the self-edification that college brings about. Students are given the opportunity and the resources to learn just about any subject. From teaching yourself at Thomas Cooper to meeting with professors to better understand a subject, college offers an area to learn unlike any other.
This environment, partnered with the diverse culture on college campuses, allows for the optimal experience in learning, both institutionally and socially.
But while graduating is the prima facie purpose of your college experience, the degree you receive does not always dictate your career choices. As a fourth-year student finishing up the final semester before graduating, this is especially true for me.
Most students who major in political science and minor in philosophy have plans of law school, graduate school or entering the workplace in the areas of government, nonprofits or other various positions. But I didn't choose these subject areas for the careers that they offered, but rather because that was the education that I wanted to pursue.
Sure, knowing the difference between a Machiavellian political structure and that of Thomas Hobbes is interesting to me, but I will most likely never use the information from many of my classes in the professional world.
This does not belittle the experience of these classes; it enhances it. Learning about things that interest you does not constrict you to working in those avenues. College degrees are a sign that you have matured enough to work your way through society, and hopefully learned enough skills to get a job.
Whether or not you receive an education while getting that degree is up to you.
Brandon Middleton: "No"
Is College Necessary?
Well, necessary for what?
Knowledge? Does a degree automatically imply mastery of a certain field of study? Benjamin Franklin never graduated from college.
Wealth? One of the wealthiest man in the world, Bill Gates did not receive a degree. And, Larry Ellison, Michael Dell, Anna Wintour, Ellen DeGeneres, Rachael Ray and Jessica Alba are each multi-millionaires/billionaires without a degree.
Power? Past presidents without degrees include Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, and most recently Harry Truman.
Changing the World?
Modern day personal computing: thanks, Steve Jobs and Bill Gates.
Modern day entertainment: thanks, Walt Disney.
Near future space tourism: thanks, Richard Branson.
Modern day commuting: thanks, Henry Ford.
I imagine dissenters are thinking that college is necessary for a job, and to some extent (especially when a degree is listed under the minimum requirements section for a position) I agree with them. However, I question how well undergraduate degrees prepare students for jobs. Imagine yourself a few days into a new job, fresh out of college, your boss has an assignment for you, but you can’t use the internet, a calculator, notes you’ve made, other people or outside resources of any kind. These parameters seem odd don’t they? Yet they are the same situations under which undergraduates (in many cases) are assessed.
I’ve also heard the numbers on average income and standard of living countless times. If your definition of success is to not be homeless then I do recommend college for you (the probabilities are heavily in your favor that you won’t become impoverished with a degree) but if your definition of success is to be happy, help others, be remembered or change the world then I think knowledge and dedication would serve you better than a college degree.
One more point. What is the capital of South Dakota? Unless you are from the state, have a connection with the state, or Googled the answer, you probably did not know it was Pierre. But why? Most of us took a states and capitals test in primary school.
This is my biggest problem with formal education (college included), students simply retain information long enough to pass the test, only do the bare minimum to get a degree, or study just enough to get the GPA they want.
Industrialist and Nigerian billionaire, Rasaq Okoya (who also did not receive a degree), puts it another way, “education gives people false confidence, it makes people relax, trusting in the power of their certificates rather than in working hard.” Simply because we were able to advance to the next level of formal education does not mean that we have mastered the appropriate subject matter.
I don’t mean to downplay the importance or significance of college. The social opportunities it grants are second to none in many cases. I truly believe college provides a fantastic opportunity for a large portion of the population to gain knowledge. I also believe that it is the vessel best prepared to provide the opportunity for knowledge to the largest amount of people at a single time. But this debate is not about the usefulness of college, the good that it does, its potential, or the possibilities it gives us.
This debate is about college’s necessity. Therefore, I argue that knowledge is necessary. College is not.