By: Shannon Germonto
Did you know that only 65.9 percent of high school graduates actually continue onto college, and the rate is declining rapidly. Many people believe that you have to go to college to be successful and have a good paying job, to continue their education, or even master a skill. College shouldn’t be seen as mandatory because it doesn’t prepare you for the real world, doesn’t open job opportunities, and a majority of the population deals with student loans after graduation.
According to an article in the New York Times “Each decade, 30 million American children enter high school but only 6 million of them ever receive a college degree. The remaining 24 million kids either drop out; complete high school and enter the work force; or attend a community college or university for a couple of years” (New York Times, 2012). Clearly, college doesn’t work out in many situations, and the real world pressure to get a job and start making money is greater than that of going to college.
Not to mention “Student loan debt often forces college graduates to live with their parents and delay marriage, financial independence, and other adult milestones” (college-education.procon.org, 2016). “In Apr. 2013 the unemployment rate for college graduates over 25 years old was 3.6% compared to 7.5% for high school graduates” (Michael Greenstone and Adam Looney, "Is Starting College and Not Finishing Really That Bad?," www.thehamiltonproject.org, June 2013). Many graduates from college have major setbacks because of college debt, and their chance of employment aren’t that much more that the 70% chance you have when you graduate high school with your diploma.
In conclusion, I believe that it is truly not worth going to college and dealing with paying student loans the rest of your life and the setbacks that come with it. College shouldn’t be seen as mandatory because it doesn’t prepare you for the real world, doesn’t open job opportunities, and a majority of the population deals with student loans after graduation.
Did you know that only 65.9 percent of high school graduates actually continue onto college, and the rate is declining rapidly. Many people believe that you have to go to college to be successful and have a good paying job, to continue their education, or even master a skill. College shouldn’t be seen as mandatory because it doesn’t prepare you for the real world, doesn’t open job opportunities, and a majority of the population deals with student loans after graduation.
According to an article in the New York Times “Each decade, 30 million American children enter high school but only 6 million of them ever receive a college degree. The remaining 24 million kids either drop out; complete high school and enter the work force; or attend a community college or university for a couple of years” (New York Times, 2012). Clearly, college doesn’t work out in many situations, and the real world pressure to get a job and start making money is greater than that of going to college.
Not to mention “Student loan debt often forces college graduates to live with their parents and delay marriage, financial independence, and other adult milestones” (college-education.procon.org, 2016). “In Apr. 2013 the unemployment rate for college graduates over 25 years old was 3.6% compared to 7.5% for high school graduates” (Michael Greenstone and Adam Looney, "Is Starting College and Not Finishing Really That Bad?," www.thehamiltonproject.org, June 2013). Many graduates from college have major setbacks because of college debt, and their chance of employment aren’t that much more that the 70% chance you have when you graduate high school with your diploma.
In conclusion, I believe that it is truly not worth going to college and dealing with paying student loans the rest of your life and the setbacks that come with it. College shouldn’t be seen as mandatory because it doesn’t prepare you for the real world, doesn’t open job opportunities, and a majority of the population deals with student loans after graduation.