College or No College: That is the Question

May 14, 2010 3:00 pm     Posted in Reality  Mel - Miami University (OH) g+ page


By Mel

I think many (myself included) kind of just wind up at college somehow with little thought in advance as to why we’re there in the first place. There’s elementary school, middle school, high school… college is just kind of the next step in the education process. An expectation for some; a requirement for others. The reason why college is so paramount to parents is because they equate four-year degrees with success and large figure salaries to come in the future. But now, a number of economists, academics, and policy analysts are challenging all this. And experts have some pretty convincing evidence as to why two-year or technical training schools could be a better option for some Americans.

The main argument is that there are just too many people going to college in the first place–many who are unqualified. There is also a large amount of overqualified degree-holders in today’s struggling job market. But there are other major issues dealing with the current state of the economy. Before deciding to imprison yourself in one of these four-year institution, there are factors to take into consideration like rising student debt, stagnant graduation rates and, of course, the high unemployment rate among college graduates.

However some (like concerned parents) argue undergraduate schools provide a wider variety of opportunities and eye-opening experiences that help you become a more worldly, well-rounded person than trade schools. I mean, I think we can all agree that a large part of what we learn in college does not happen in the classroom; it is our environment and our experiences – both that are unique to four-year universities – that teach us many of our life lessons. Others also bring the money factor into the equation, such that college graduates may have the chance at obtaining higher salaries.

But do they? With the economy in the dumps and unemployment rates the highest they’ve been in recent history, does a 4-year degree really mean a more successful future? Maybe not.

What do you think? Do you agree that trade schools might be a better option? Do you think you are getting more out of your traditional, four-year college program?

8 Comments on "College or No College: That is the Question"

  1. chelseykelsey says:
    Fri, 14th May 201011:27 am 

    I wouldn't trade my college experience for anything…

    But, I'm not sure it was worth the money. I agree with everything in this article. Especially the part where you mentioned most learning takes place outside of the classroom.

    It might be more economical for your parents to send you somewhere to live and work on your own for four years.

  2. Lisa says:
    Sat, 15th May 20108:58 am 

    I'm personally taking a 2 year business administration degree at my local college. While i'm plenty qualified to go to a good university, this degree makes more sense to me, it costs less, and it has more practical course work directly relating to the field I want to go into. I will be exactly qualified for the job I want, and in my city, the college business program is actually more respected than the university program. (Oh, and in Canada University and college are different. College for us is probably more in line with what you refer to as trade school…you receive a diploma as opposed to a bachelors degree or whatever). I think that university can be a waste of money and time (not for all!!! it's a great option for some!) but I don't believe it's everything it's cracked up to be.

  3. Liz says:
    Sat, 15th May 20107:28 pm 

    "Others also bring the money factor into the equation, such that college graduates may have the chance at obtaining higher salaries."

    This has a lot to do with the fact that a lot of jobs require bachelor's degrees even though the training provided by such a degree is unnecessary. There are very few jobs that an undergraduate education actually trains you for. Hopefully, it will open your mind and train you to think critically; it might even prepare you for graduate school. But it won't really train you for a generic office job, or jobs oriented toward a specific talent. You don't need a degree for those jobs. You only need the degree because they say you need the degree.

  4. Guy says:
    Mon, 17th May 20106:56 am 

    This reminds of the old addage about the Doctor not being able to find a plumber or electrician to come over on a sunday. I think its obvious how the value of a college degree is dwindling. The world is getting smaller and smaller everyday and there is more trasperancy. Communication is unbeleivably easy and social networks will tell you much more about a person than the place they spent 4 or 5 years of theyre lives at. At the turn of the century alumni from the most elite institutions noticed less and less ability to strongly establish themselves in the most prestigous industries.

    AS a caveat I will say that there is still a discernable stigma for not having atleast a bachelors degree. It's probably the most irrational and cruel social taboo. Even in dating there is a knee jrk reaction to base someones capacity of this and more often than not there is no real reason to do so. Alot of if it the image that has been perpetrated in our culture about those who attain a collge degree are sheilded behind the gates of the middle class, when in actuality most are generally destitute for some time after. Generation X's stagnation in getting married, owning a home, and starting a family is proof positive of this. College for most is just impractical and financially crippling.

  5. Gerry says:
    Mon, 17th May 20107:06 am 

    some of the biggest zealots out there are education evangelicals. I dont know if they need to reassure their decision to go into lifelong debt, or if they truly beleive in the whacky things they say. For instance your average zealot will tell you ardently that a college educated person earn atleast a millions dollors more over a lifetime. When you explain to them since it would take over a decade for the average student loan to get paid given the average starting salary, it makes it a wash come retirement age, they go into a diatribe about how its wrong to be materialistic when looking at a degrees worth. College is SUPPOSED to be a investmant. Like buying stock. You purchase it with the paramount hope that i accrues enough value to make you profit. Atleast enough profit to make it worth your while and time. If it doesnt do that then its a bad investmant. A bachelors is not the licensure for management positions like it once was. And itshould stop beingtreated as something invaluable that your could pull out of your pocket throughout your life.

  6. shawn says:
    Mon, 14th Jun 20102:56 pm 

    Its a simple fact of reality if you come from a wealthy family you go to college. If you come from a working class family you go to work. Why these poor parents are mortgaging their homes for college tuition, is beyond logical reasoning. Its like gambling. If the world is pushing college, then you may want to ask oneself why? The US is great at propaganda. I do not have college, my parents were immigrants from Hungary and Ireland, I have lived in CT, CO, and built a custom home in The Berkshires of Western Mass. all without a degree. A person does not need an institution or person to validate your intelligence. The fact is this and will always be this "Its not what you know, it is who you know" always remember that.

  7. jeffbar09 says:
    Fri, 30th Sep 20113:21 am 

    While traditional four-year degrees have their benefits, I have to agree with the author that for some people two year Associate programs may make more sense. This is because most two year undergraduate degree programs are extremely career-oriented. They may be limited in scope as compared to four-year programs, but Associate degrees provide the skills required for entry-level positions in a field. Once you get your foot in the door, you can always go back to school for an advanced degree if that’s what you desire and require for career growth. The point is to get a start without having to spend too many years in college (some students take as many as 6 years to complete a Bachelor’s degree) and an Associate program can provide graduates this start.

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