Essay Example on College Degree: A Key To Earning A Higher Income

One of the key reasons people go to college is to earn a high income, allowing them to live comfortable lives; after earning the first college degree, some people will go back to school to earn a higher degree to be more marketable, earn more money, or secure that promotion. According to Owen and Sawhill, college graduates earn more than high school graduates with raw differences of $15,000 initially (210); the difference increased to up to $46,500 by 50 (Owen and Sawhill 211). I feel that one does not necessarily have to go to college to guarantee higher pay; the young population needs not to be pressurized that they must go to college. Most politicians who believe that those who go to colleges tend to be more beneficial to the government tend to facilitate the idea of everyone to go to college; this may build unrealistic expectations among the population (Murray 250-251). I tend to believe that college is not the only guarantee of better pay. It is never the most formidable gateway to a better life by providing students an avenue to build a foundation for their careers and help guarantee a bright future.

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The primary reason for claiming that everyone should go to college is that an adequate literacy level helps to build up a strong foundation to a better life leading to significantly minimizing the rate of crime in the society and that attending myriad college provides opportunities for an individual to help them to be better people (Owen and Sawhill, 220). Even though the high increase in the attendances of colleges has brought many benefits such as the decrease in crime rate and enhancement of students’ better life, a college education is not in any way the only way to be able to attain a better life, especially when addressing the reasons provided by both Owen and Sawhill. There is a need to emphasize on the personal character and skills of an individual as well. “The income for top people in a wide variety of occupation that does not require a degree...” (Murray 247). When people engage in some of the occupations like being electricians, they get engaged and are less likely to involve in crime.

Attending college may help young people have better lives and relatively more independent since they would get to know how to manage time and money effectively. Murray suggests that “four years of college still give youngsters in late adolescent to encounter different kinds of people…” (248). I believe that students can also be able to meet new people and create a beneficial network of like-minded friends. Almost every child has a dream or the ambition to grow up and be highly paid professionals and has a better life. “The topic is no longer about money but life’s satisfaction” (Murray 248). To achieve these dreams, one has to go through college, graduate, and gain access to the vibrant job market. Owen and Sawhill argue about the advantages and disadvantages of going to college. That higher learning is a significant investment bound to guarantee a better life (208). Going to college also improves individuals' lives by ensuring job satisfaction, better health, improved parenting, and providing a better social life due to liberal education (Murray 237). It remains the most formidable gateway to a better life by providing students an avenue to build a foundation for their careers and help guarantee a bright future.

Nonetheless, going to college is not the only path in which an individual can become successful in life, some people have indulged in businesses and vocational practices and talents to make their lives even much better. Some individuals are fulfilled at their work without necessarily going to colleges such as stylists or plumbers also have a better life to live with some of them being very successful. However, with effective counseling, students can identify their path to success with having to attain college degree. “Students need counseling to identify the best options. Lack of counseling is one reason that fewer than 10 percent of American from the lower- income quartile has earned a college degree by age of 24…” (Freeman 261). It is evident that when students are appropriately advised, they tend to make effective decisions regarding their college of choice or fitting career (Murray 209). It is emphasized that college-educated individuals tend to have averagely higher wages; it may be inappropriate to downplay the strains that ordinary income-earning people undergo to attain a college education. A rise in the attendance of college is one of the significant public policies currently (Freeman 260).

Conclusion

In conclusion, despite critics suggesting that going to college is not ideal for everyone, it presents an opportunity for students to gain knowledge, graduate, and get well-paying jobs that enable them to live better lives. The debate on going to college remains relevant and strong. In the past, some were selected to go to colleges and others not to go In the years to come, a college education may become a basic need. Without going to college, it becomes an uphill task to advance in life and fulfill these needs. Therefore, everyone should go to college to give them a better chance of succeeding in life, living a satisfied, happy, and fulfilling life.

Works Cited

Hrabowski, Freeman. “College Prepares People for Life”. They Say I Say. 3rd ed. Ed. Gerald Graff et al. New York: W.W. Norton, 2015. 259-262. Print.

Murray, Charles. “Are Too Many People Going to College?” They Say I Say. 3rd ed. Ed. Gerald Graff et al. New York: W.W. Norton, 2015. 234-253. Print.

Owen, Stephanie and Isabel Sawhill. “Should Everyone Go to College?” They Say I Say. 3rd ed. Gerald Graff et al. New York: W.W. Norton, 2015. 208-223. Print.

Rose, Mike. “Blue-Collar Brilliance”. They Say I Say. 3rd ed. Ed. Gerald Graff et al. New York: W.W. Norton, 2015. 272-283. Print.