What Are The Drawbacks And Benefits For Teenagers Going To The University - Essay Example

?Running Head: TEENAGERS What are the drawbacks and benefits for teenagers going to the of the of the What are the Drawbacks and Benefits for teenagers going to the University? Introduction In a century in which, we are living in, if people do not get themselves educated, they have to face immense problems in their day to day lives besides earning desirable income for a modest living. In today’s world, graduation is not sufficient to meet future challenges and the economic survival. Hence, students who have good track record to get admission in the top class universities of the globe aim at to find out better opportunities and facilities for self and for their families alike. Other benefits of learning in a university gets closer with learning another language for international students, better opportunities, state of the art laboratories, very well maintained libraries and the computer technologies. In spite of mentioned benefits, there are many drawbacks, which students have to face during their stay in a foreign university, e.g. cultural differences, home sickness and easy communication with fellow students, professors, advisors and the people. Discussion Drawbacks We all know that taking a university degree means you have to spend three to four years in an educational institution. To meet the educational expenses, students have to work in different establishments (chosen retail outlets, warehouses and factories) to earn money regularly. The admission in a reputable university has now become status symbol. Since the degree level education spans over three to four years, therefore, students have to work hard for a longer period of time. The money they make is to be utilized for buying books and other associate materials from bookshops besides paying off tuition fees at a regular interval or as per the prescribed fee payment schedule. In each semester, students have to spend their hard earned money to buy books and to pay off tuition fees. The cost of food, clothes shelter and travel expenses make the life of the students more difficult. Fortunate Students from affluent families are at liberty to study and enjoy every moment of life without doing a job during their education at any university whether a foreign one or a local one (Krebs & Pitcoff 2006). Less fortunate category of students all over the world due to complete involvement in studies and jobs cannot spare time for socializing activities. In view of the hectic schedule, they do not even find time to go out and enjoy with their friends for years. Minority of students who could not strike a balance between their studies and jobs have to say goodbye to their jobs, which compel their parents to meet extra expenses through their noses (Kenny & Gallagher 2003). The students in a foreign land have to go through the experience of making friends frequently. During their stay in foreign universities, students either have to rely on the income derives out from their jobs, parents support or to depend on the student loans since no other option is available to meet their expenses. The student loan is more affordable to them because of its being soft term. Further, repayment of such loan is associated with the availability of job to a student after completion of study. Despite availability of soft term loan, student at some stage of their life has to pay off the debt with interest accrued thereon. Conversely, if a student do not find job just after graduation from the university, he has to face the distaste of interest accrued on the borrowed money (Kenny & Gallagher 2003). Benefits Teen’s education at university carries drawbacks and benefits side by side. First of all, students find themselves fortunate enough for having an admission in one of the reputed Universities (preferably in UK, USA and Australian Universities). By way of getting admission in a foreign university of repute, students find themselves in a place where opportunities are in abundance for them in terms of educational needs and spoken languages, which they do not have in their homelands (Csikszentmihalyi, Rathunde & Whalen 1996). We can take the example of Turkey where universities teach students in English or in French. Therefore, the students of Turkey have the advantage to speak mentioned languages fluently all the times when they go abroad for study. The cited languages help them a lot to win friends and gather required support to live in. There cannot be two views on the opportunities, equipments and quality of education available to immigrant students in UK and the American Universities. The multiple facilities help broaden the horizons of foreign students. As we have mentioned earlier that the influx of students in European Universities is due to their best laboratories, well equipped libraries, technological advancement and research centers. Therefore, it is quite clear that the mentioned tools, of course, are providing great help to immigrant students to expand their knowledge and skills to be utilized for better future in the days ahead in terms of their careers (Krebs & Pitcoff 2006). Now the question is why the students are selecting reputable foreign universities for studies. Why they are not getting admissions in their own universities. The answer is very simple. After educating in the foreign universities, the students may have the multiple opportunities of jobs in their own country, which they do not have in otherwise situation. It will also open the door for them to work in the same place from where they got their education (Behrman & Stacey 1997). After spending so many years in foreign land and amassing of wealth, they find themselves eligible for a lucrative job in their homeland besides a lavish living. This will give a boost to their status as compared to their fellow citizens since they have absorbed the cultural shocks and the habits of the people around them. Living in a foreign country is not an easy task since one has to leave his ancestral homeland, traditions, habits and last but not least, near and dear ones for a certain period of time or for an indefinite period of time as the case may be. Initially, students who go to foreign university have to face the communication problem. The most difficult phase for them is to understand the accent of their fellow students, professors and advisors (Behrman & Stacey 1997). However, with the passage of time, they overcome with this problem. Statistics The other day, universities have witnessed steep fall in admission in foreign universities. It drops down by 8.7 percent due to increase in tuition fee. The increase in tuition fee compels immigrant and home students to drop down few courses. Such drop downs are 9.9 per cent as far as the English students are concerned. This has discouraged number of students from getting admissions in the University of their choice. The cited trend is increasing day by day (Garner 2012). The declining trend comes to more than 15 percent as compared to yester year. However, the University of Cambridge had witnessed more than 2 percent increase with reference to past year. The interesting thing is that despite increase in tuition fee, the admission of overseas students is on the rise. It comes to 13 percent in terms of increase in admissions. In terms of admissions, the students of Hong Kong take the lead. It rises to 37 percent. Generally, the overall drastic fall in admissions attributes to increased fees and the debt burden (Garner 2012). Students Opinion The drawbacks as per students’ opinions are that students have multiple opportunities in indulging in bad habits of all sorts e.g. smoking, drinking alcohol and drugs to satisfy their curiosity of “ how pleasurable it is” when used. The benefit is that students always find their parents with them in their hour of grief and sorrow when they do something wrong (Paduraru 2010). Parents Opinion The parents are of the view that teens may inculcate many qualities during their stay at the university such as communicate with other fellows in an effective manner, effectively deal with the pressures in order to have own decision, create excellence in their way of life, identify themselves as a person who can make a difference, be a responsible person and cope up with the risks and challenges of life with full vigor. Number of parents are in favor of getting admission in single sex institutions because such institutions are regarded as safe heaven by parents as well as teenagers. Such institutions would be of great help for parents to keep their wards away from adopting bad habits as identified hereinabove (Krebs & Pitcoff 2006). Public Opinion Public opinion in this respect is divided. Majority is of the view is that education of teens in the university will further enhance their horizon and encourage them to compete with other students from different parts of the world to bring good name to their country. On the other hand, the minority is in favor of single sex education system so as to keep teens specially girls aloof from adopting bad activities, which may ruin their life (Krebs & Pitcoff 2006). Conclusion While examining the drawbacks and the benefits, which are experienced by the teens during their stay in universities, it is clear that students have to face both taste and distaste of life. In nutshell, after completion of their study, they found themselves a marketable product saleable at a high price not only in a foreign country but in their homeland as well. Now, they have multiple choices to cash their expertise and to amass wealth for a cozy life. This is because that they got the opportunity to get them educated in a fine university. Had they been in their homeland universities, they may not have such opportunity to enhance their skills, knowledge and wisdom. The difference between have and have not is obvious. Further, they learn the art of living without family and friends. Moreover, the quality of education in the developed world and the developing world can be gauged from the demand of students who get educated from the foreign universities and most preferably in the European Universities. References Behrman, J. R., & Stacey, N. (1997). The social benefits of education. University of Michigan Press. Csikszentmihalyi, M., Rathunde, K., & Whalen, S. (1996). Talented teenagers: The roots of success and failure. Cambridge University Press. Garner, R. (2012). Teenagers turn their backs on a university education. The Independent. [Online]. Available at: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/teenagers-turn-their-backs-on-a-university-education-6297253.html. [Accessed 11 May 2013]. Kenny, M. E., & Gallagher, L. A. (2003). Teenagers and community service: A guide to the issues. Praeger Pub Text. Krebs, B., & Pitcoff, P. (2006). Beyond the foster care system: The future for teens. Rutgers University Press. Paduraru, M. (2010). Advantages and disadvantages of being a teenager. [Online]. Available at: http://callatishigh.edublogs.org/2010/11/30/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-being-a-teenager/. [Accessed 11 May 2013]. Read More