Whether you are a college graduate yourself or someone who just left high school, chances are that you have started thinking about the future. “Why college is important” it is an often question that is always asked without a clear-cut answer. Getting a good wage often depends not only on your skill level but also on the type of degree you have under your belt.
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Those without college degrees are often severely underpaid as opposed to their academic counterparts, but are the investments really worthwhile? Let’s take a look at some practical points and statistical facts as to whether or not a college degree is really worth your time, money and patience.
The importance of a college education
The society is built on the notion that the more formal education you have the more adept you are at a certain profession. The Valuable knowledge doesn’t necessarily come from class, however, and informal sources of information are often tossed aside in favor of college education.
Always all the employers will look at formal education first before checking other important facts on a job application. In 2017 evidence collected that no employer will hire a high school graduate for a management or executive position even though they might have years of experience behind them.
This practical need for a college diploma makes the entire academic process trivial, often lowering it to a base need to obtain a paper that you can submit with your job application.
Statistics about college students always suggest that all are focused on the aftermath of their studies and a subsequent job more than they are on the actual process of studying.
Is a college degree worth it?
The benefits of earning a college degree are not as easy to determine as time moves on. Many professional freelancers, writers, designers, and programmers often find employment without corresponding degrees in their fields.
However, getting paid more or simply justifying the cost of self-education is an important factor to consider. Those with academic degrees have more flexibility in getting good payoffs, salary increases as well as vacation days thanks to their formal degrees and proof of knowledge about their profession.
A college degree in that regard is worth it at least for the added benefit of having more freedom than most of the population since not everyone can afford a successful college education.
Degrees have a lot of potential when it comes to career development and the ability to give their owners horizontal and vertical chances to progress. While you will have to put some money into additional courses or education if you choose to switch careers, that choice will be significantly easier to pull off with a college degree in your hands.
Here’s an example for my experience – I know that it won’t count as a scientific proof but nevertheless. When I was still in college, I worked as a freelance writer already. I didn’t make a lot of money with it but it was a nice addition to my budget. After I had earned more experience in writing and in my field (education), I joined one of the academic writing websites where I managed to earn enough money to cover my rent.
Not bad for a student in her early 20s. It turned out later that this experience helped me secure my first full-time job after graduation and kept me afloat when I had no job for three months by taking writing gigs for different online businesses.
Some like to see college degrees as future investments, and while some people may argue that they are a waste of time, others prefer a more optimistic approach to study. English or business majors will always find work should they focus their efforts on honing the skills provided by their college degrees.
However, no two people will ever share the same thought on college degrees just as the evidence would suggest. One of the most important reasons against studying is the notion of being in debt and having to take gap years or pay huge sums of money back to the University of your choosing should you decide to enroll.
Is a college degree worth the debt?
While the average wage for high school graduates continues to rise, one needs to consider whether or not a college degree is worth the debt that comes with it.
High-paying employment such as the legal and medical field should always be considered as mandatory for an individual since working in those sectors without a degree is practically impossible. However, these sectors are also among the highest in expenses, meaning that the following few years will almost certainly be marked by debts and loans.
College education is never free, even in countries that allow students to pay very little for their education. These countries tend to cover most of the academic expenses of their students by working with the government, and these public and community colleges prove to be a good choice for most people.
The private sector is almost exclusively reserved for wealthy students or those with covered tuition costs (through various funds, contracts or personal successes).
It’s always beneficial to consider studying if you are certain that some sort of employment or safety net is waiting for you on the other side. Jumping head-first into college education without a backup plan when it comes to finances or valuable data about the debt you are about to put yourself in can be disastrous for your future.
The rate at which you will pay off your debt will be a big factor in whether or not you are content with the degree you have obtained at the end of your studies.
A future investment
Looking at a college education as an investment is a good way to put things into perspective for oneself. Not everyone is able to find decent work as soon as they graduate, while many individuals don’t need a degree and prefer to learn things by themselves using online resources.
Weighing the pros and cons from a personal perspective is often what determines whether or not someone will jump into academic education and invest years of their life into a diploma. College degrees are just as important as they always were – just because someone tells you otherwise doesn’t mean you should abandon your dreams.
The amount of personal and professional development you do will institute whether or not you are happy with your life – do what you think is best for you.
