Choosing a college and area of study are hard decisions for high school seniors to make.
Samantha
11/8/2013 08:44:51 am
When my dad was in high school, not many people went to college after earning their high school diploma; they went right into the workforce. As time went on, college became the more popular route, thus more jobs required college degrees. If everyone were to get a college degree, it would be just like a high school diploma. Employers would then seek people with the "next step". Higher degrees such as masters and doctorates would be sought after. So, I do not think that a college degree is needed by everyone. Some people may not academically succeed, but they may be particularly good at a trade. It would be better for this person to directly enter the workforce as opposed to attend college. A personal experience I would like to share, again, involves my father. After high school, he went straight to the police academy. He worked his way up in the ranks; he eventually became a captain. He did not have to pay off student loans, made good money, and was able to retire before he was fifty. College is not for everyone, and quality jobs can be attained without a degree.
Logan
11/9/2013 11:44:38 am
I completely agree with your point about the college diploma becoming obsolete. I think that there are a lot of jobs available for students with good skills at trades, as you said. In my experience at Wegmans, I have met many people in their thirties and fourties that are very good at their jobs and they didn't go to college because of that. It doesn't make them any less of a person; it means that they chose to do what they are good at and makes them happy.
Cristina
11/10/2013 04:22:35 am
I think that is a very interesting theory,evolution of the degrees almost. But what would happen to the jobs that do not require a masters or doctorate? Would they disappear or would they also require higher education? I also agree that college is not for everyone, there are some great jobs out there that do not require higher education
Tori
11/12/2013 03:51:24 am
As I said in my blog response as well, my mom did not go to college either as for she went directly into the workforce. I really like how you said that if everyone got a college degree it would be just like having a high school diploma and employers would just look for the "next step." I never thought of it in that aspect and it is a excellent point. I believe for certain jobs it is necessary to have a college degree but jobs can be attained without one.
Logan
11/9/2013 11:40:33 am
In my family, my brother, cousins, and I will be the first to attend college. We all seek employment in areas that always required college degrees (forensic analyst, funeral director, engineer, and doctor). Being underemployed is one of the biggest issues for college students, and it brings up the question, "Does everyone need a college degree?" In my opinion, the answer is no. Every year at Freedom, many students enroll into NCC, and there is nothing wrong with that, except half of them have no type of intelligence to have a higher level degree or job. Many people in the modern day go to college just for the experience of it instead of to get educated. There should be a lower number of students that enroll in college after high school.
Cristina
11/10/2013 04:27:05 am
That is very true. Nowadays kids are enrolling to colleges based on the parties they hear about and the location not because they have the major that student is interested in. Personally I am going to NCC for the first two years because it will help me get used to a college setting and I'm not entirely sure of what I want to do yet and I do not want to pay for a college and then end up switching because that college doesn't have the major I want. It would be a waste of time and money.
Tori
11/12/2013 03:58:37 am
My brother and I will be the first ones on my moms side of the family to attend college as well. I couldn't agree with you more when you talked about students enrolling into NCC. I am going to NCC next year and I don't see a problem with it at all. I plan on only going for one year to get some basic courses out of the way however, many students do enroll into NCC because they don't care care enough about their grades to be able to get into a better college. Also I agree with you when you said that a lower number of students should enroll in college after high school.
Sam
11/15/2013 06:26:47 am
I agree that not everyone does not need a college degree, but I disagree with your reasoning. The necessity of a college degree in higher level jobs is a large reason these positions are hard to get, but many lower level jobs do not require a degree. Because of this, I would say not everyone needs to go to college.
Christine
11/15/2013 12:11:30 pm
Props to your brother, your cousins and yourself for the accomplishment of being the first in your family to attend college. It is also great to hear that you all are aiming for such high and great careers. I cannot wait to hear how successful you have become in the years to come. I do have to disagree with you when you say that half of the students attending NCC have no type of intelligence to have a higher level degree or job. I truly believe that people who have no type of intelligence to have a higher level degree or job are the ones who do not continue on with college.
Cristina
11/10/2013 04:15:52 am
Right off the bat the article states that "by 2020 the U.S economy will generate 55 million new job openings and 65% will require training beyond high school" The first thing I noticed was that the percent was not 100. Not everyone need to get a college diploma because there are jobs out there that do not require one. I work with old people and so many of them tell me that they did not get a college degree. Most of them were enlisted in the Armed Forces for many years and never went to college. Neither did their spouses. I do not believe that one needs to get a degree but if they do,it will breed more opportunities of better quality if one attains a college degree. Most of my grandparents went to a two year school for accounting or business because more knowledge can't hurt anyone. But it is entirely up to you because if you are satisied with you education and the jobs you can get with a high school diploma then you do not need a college degree.
Tori
11/11/2013 03:40:20 am
As a relation to what Samantha said, when my mom attended high school she a well did not go to college after, she went straight into the workforce. As I have had previous conversations with her about this she has told me that many people in her class did not attend college after high school. I personally do not believe that one needs a college degree to be successful in life. There are many people out in the work force that have great, steady jobs that never had a college degree. Also as Cristina said, if only 65% of these new job opportunities require a college degree than the other 35% of them do not. I think that it would never hurt to have a college degree and it is a good idea however you do not need one.
Steven
11/15/2013 01:49:37 am
This post gives me an idea that people can do whatever they want regardless if they go to college or not. As I said in my article, the public school system makes a person believe that they can do whatever they want regardless of their skill sets. As I also stated, it depends on what the person does. If the person is a chef, they can make it far in their field. It is hard to make it far as a business person if you have no type of college experience. There is a fine line in the word "successful." That is something that the world needs to look at and help define it in some sort of specific way.
Jess
11/15/2013 10:36:20 am
My mom also, went right into the workforce after college. Job employers saw her as a talented, skilled, and independent person and they wanted her right away. She got a job at a big publishing company in New York City. She ended up getting hired from another big company from there and was with that company for 25 years. By this you can see she was and still is very successful. Had she went to college and not taken that job, she would've been spending a lot of time and hard work studying instead of working to get money right away like she did. She graduated high school at only 16 and lived the dream life in the big city. I know if I was given an opportunity like this, I would not have denied it. By this, I am saying that I couldn't agree more with your statement that not everyone needs a college degree to be successful in life.
Christine
11/15/2013 12:21:02 pm
Many people in our parents generation and the generations before them did not attend college because it was not the common thing to do unlike now in this day of age. It was totally normal for them to find jobs in the work force. Not only that, however, back then more jobs were did not require a college education. Now even some law firms are looking for college graduates to be their secretaries. But I also believe that there are still jobs in this day in age that do not require a college education and still do well in life financially.
Steven
11/12/2013 03:25:36 am
A college degree is something that should, and will, become increasingly harder to get for more and more reasons. In other words, a college degree is not needed by every individual and should not be. Everything comes down to what a person's potential is. For example, if a person is coming out of high school with a 2.0 GPA and is ranked toward the bottom of their class, why should they be given the same opportunity as someone who leaves high school with a 4.0, is ranked near the top and has consistently shown that they will put in the effort needed to achieve greater things. Economically speaking, the United States is also seeing a problem with unemployment (7.3% as of August 2013). Many of these people who are unemployed have a college degree in a field and believe that they are entitled to that spot that they have "earned." The true problem that exists is that not many people want to take on the jobs of the "working class" because the American school system tells a student that they can do anything that they want; when in reality that is false. Schools need to begin to properly place students for their lives, whether it be college, trade school, or working right away. Our country would see a smaller unemployment rate and would create more opportunities for the people who deserve to get the job that they have worked toward their whole life. I realize that these comments sound almost communistic, but we would be basing who goes where off of what they have proven they can do. Lastly, the cost of college is just too much for some people. The average college tuition cost was more than 32,000 in 2011 and increasing. The question then remains if that extra one-million dollars is worth the risk, many people would say yes, but realistically, would it be? There are plenty of jobs that make decent money with just a high school degree (Plumbers, Carpenters, etc.). Based off of where the country has come from, and where it should return, not every person needs a college degree and if the country opened their eyes up to that, we would see everything get better as a whole.
Sam
11/13/2013 09:46:37 am
"...if a person is coming out of high school with a 2.0 GPA and is ranked toward the bottom of their class, why should they be given the same opportunity as someone who leaves high school with a 4.0, is ranked near the top and has consistently shown that they will put in the effort needed to achieve greater things?"
Christine
11/12/2013 07:25:40 am
At this day and age, college has been the next route after high school for many students. It was not always like this. Before, it was easier to get a job without having to have gone to college. People started their own businesses with an education as far as a high school degree. Many of our grand parents and some of our parents never attended college and are still making a fine living today; however, in today's society it is hard to get a well paying job without a college degree. It has become more difficult to start your own business without a degree to go along with it. Although college is something most of us plan to attend, whether it is a University or a community college, we are not guaranteed jobs right away after college. In fact, some college students go through their four years in college and unfortunately cannot find jobs immediately after. For example my cousin. She completed four years in UCLA and after graduating, she could not find a job in the real world. When she did find work, it was through a service job helping to raise money for those who needed it; in other words, the first job she gained with her 4 year degree in UCLA did not even require a degree at all. So with that being said, is college worth it? Most of us will end up in debt that we will be paying off for years and years after we have finished college. Unfortunately, I do believe college is worth it. As long as you put forth enough effort, work, and determination through out your college career, I do believe that it is worth it. Something I have been told my many people is that once I am in college, I should already figure out what I want to do and there for I have something to work towards, and towards my senior year to get internships and jobs that will eventually lead to my job in the future.
Steven
11/15/2013 01:43:18 am
I hate to hear that someone so close to you couldn't find a job after coming out of college. I'm not too sure how you feel about the right of everyone gaining a college degree, though. I feel as though this post focused on how even getting a degree doesn't benefit a person in the long run, but then again not having one also doesn't necessarily help someone. I agree with that you are saying that you need to have something to focus on and work toward because it gives an incentive to your life. Having a goal is always good.
Jess
11/12/2013 08:39:40 am
College used to be something that people went to to become a more well rounded person but now it seems like it is something that everyone must do in order to prosper in life. A college education now teaches you not only how to manage time, work hard, and many other things needed to learn in life but also almost everything you need to know in order to do the best in the career you will eventually go into. The article questions whether or not this all is worth the price people pay to go to college. Some colleges have sky rocketing prices that most parents cannot afford for their kids. It's mostly the parents that are of lower income that are the ones being helped with by financial aid leaving others struggling to pay. Sometimes kids who have worked so hard and maintained straight A's can't even go to college because it is not affordable. This means they don't even have the opportunity that others maybe not as smart have. This is a serious dilemma considering the statistics that 65% of the 55 million new jobs will require a higher level of education than high school, according to Georgetown University. I believe the intangibles are not necessary to obtain in college because I think people can get the same things going straight into the workforce, just as my mom did after she graduated high school. It is a good experience to have but only if one could afford it. It has become too much in recent generations that college is a necessity due to jobs only employing people with college degrees. I don't think it is a total necessity for everyone however, it is for the majority with the competitiveness in finding employment going on. Now a day, unless you have an incredible talent with something that you can definitely succeed in, than you can't hope on a promising job that will be able to keep you financially stable your entire life.
Samantha
11/13/2013 02:29:57 am
I could not agree more with your opening sentence. It does seem as though college is a "must have" in order to prosper in life. I sort of disagree that only low income families receive financial aid; almost all families receive some amount of financial aid in order to send their child(ren) to college. Students that receive straight As also can apply for scholarships in order to pay for college. I know for a good amount it is difficult to pay for college, but it is possible. In the end, I do agree that a college degree is necessary for everyone, s I stated in my initial post.
Sam
11/12/2013 08:55:44 am
I do not think everyone should go to college. College is a great choice for those who wish to pursue a career in a specific field, but not everyone's field requires a college degree. For example, chefs, mechanics, and pilots do not require a college degree. Even with this, some might argue that college can only enrich your brain and increase your knowledgeability. The problem with this is college isn't for everyone. It's difficult and challenging, something not everyone can handle. It would be a pricey mistake to make if you were to attend a college only to find out that you aren't able to pass any of the classes. Even if you could pass the classes, college is very expensive. The job you'd get as a result would be devoted to paying off those debts for years to come.
Samantha
11/13/2013 02:21:53 am
I agree that not everyone can handle the academic rigor experienced in college. Also, I believe price is a huge factor when deciding if everyone needs a college degree. I agree that it can be a pricey mistake. It would be very unfortunate if someone were to attend college only to find out that they cannot pass the classes.
Jess
11/15/2013 10:26:41 am
It's completely true that you don't need a college degree for all jobs. Many jobs, such as the ones you mentioned, allow you right into the work field and then you can work your way up from there by promotions and doing your best. It's not even just money to be wasted in college but it is also time if it is not necessary then why do it? I agree with you it is a very large expense and those that already have the talent to go right into work should jump right into it. College should not be holding them back and putting their dream on hold.
Christine
11/15/2013 12:02:36 pm
I completely agree with you that college is not for everyone. This does not mean that college is not a good thing. I also agree that college is a great tool for those who know what they want to do when they grow up and know that they need a college degree to do that with. College does have the ability to not only enrich your brain, but it can also teach some people independence. For most, college is the first time they are forced to live alone without the help of their parents. Great post, I agree with everything you said.
Logan
11/15/2013 12:28:37 pm
I completely agree with you. Many people that start college who weren't cut out for it end up dropping out, and it is a waste of their time and money. College is expensive, and I think it is important to consider all the options instead of just doing it because you feel pressured to. Comments are closed.
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Mrs. ErdmanThis class blog is designed for students enrolled in the English 12 online course at Freedom High School. Archives
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