People Really Need go to College to Learn - Research Paper Example

People really need to go to college to learn These days college is, perhaps, a reality for more people than it has ever been before. People from all walks of life and from all cultural and ethnic backgrounds, at least want to go to college. Even though most people do not actually succeed at getting admitted or even completing their degree after their admission, however, it is true that every school students has, at one time or another, wanted to go to college. There are those who claim that college education, in a number of cases, is only waste of time and money and that a large number of the population is actually better off without going to college. However, it is presented that college offers many opportunities – practical, financial and technical – which cannot be attained otherwise. Therefore, people should go to college as that gives them a chance to increase their learning and make the most of themselves. Some people claim that a college education can never equal the experience gained in real world, as college students often lead a protected life and do not learn how to operate in the “dog eat dog” world of ours. Such people often quote the examples of legendary businessmen and innovators, such as Bill Gates, Sir Richard Branson or Steve Jobs. The man who made technology desirable and beautiful, Steve Jobs, was a college dropout. He went on to co-found Apple, the company that changed the way people perceive personal computing and consumer technology. He made computers easy to use and made them desirable for people from every walk of life and not just scientists and technologists. What is more during his time at Apple, he introduced the iPod, in 2001, (Schlender) and iPhone, in 2007 (Honan), which have taken music and telecommunication to a whole new level. Bill Gates is no different and has been named “the richest man alive” for more than anyone who made this sort of fame after earning a college degree. Sir Richard Branson used his sharp business skills to create the Virgin Empire, now a highly successful and recognizable brand, dealing in pretty much everything under the sun. He has been knighted by the British Queen in recognition of his services rendered to the United Kingdom (The London Gazette). There are many other examples of such entrepreneurs. Even though there a lot of success stories to hear about college dropouts who later acquired celebrity status through their intelligence and hard work, however, it is better to remember that they are the exceptions and not the rule. To be fair, there are many others who went to college and finished their education and became very successful in their careers. The truth of the matter is that even successful people who did not go to college stress the importance of a good education. Steve Jobs has said that a good education may even be more important than a great family life (Tom). Also Bill Gates has started up the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation which seeks to improve the quality of education (Golden). This clearly shows that while these two individuals did not get a college education and came out successful, they still feel that it is better to have good education. The fact is that the structured education, as well as a transfer of ideas, that a student comes across during his time in college cannot be provided to him in the “real” world, not in the limited amount of time as college does. People often end up losing a lot of time and money to learn the same things they could have learned in college for lesser money and in a shorter period of time. Also, a college education also helps students in exploring their career paths and to opt for the one that they think is the best for them, without a college education people are often undecided and confused about their career choices. This, in the long run, ends up causing them more time and money, as well as wasted efforts. Opponents of college education also cite the example of people who have more than average intelligence who find college boring and sometimes slow. Such students do not get enough stimulation from college, as college education is designed to revolve around the whole group and not just the individual, thus, they often feel that the pace of the curriculum is slower than they would prefer. What is more, such students often end up losing interest in college altogether and dropping out. For them the money they invested in college ends up being a waste. However, it is to be noted that there are not many students who find themselves in such a situation. Most of the students in college are, what we can call, normal IQ people. They find college education, as well as college life, very stimulating and they actually benefit a lot from what a college education provides. What is more, a number of colleges also cater to the students with above-average intelligence, helping them to remain in the program as well as making them work on side projects that can challenge them and help them be more creative and involved in their studies. Also, as seen from the examples of Bill Gates and Steve Jobs, even if such students do end up dropping out of college, if they are determined enough and if they have learned, what they think is enough, they can actually become successful at what they do. But again, it is good to remember that the percentage of such individuals is very small. It is safe to say that most people actually benefit from a college education. Another factor that makes people shy away from a college education is money: college education is expensive and most people do not want to invest so much into it, instead they take up jobs as soon as they leave high school. There can be numerous reasons behind it. Many prefer to start earning as soon as possible. They think that getting a higher education would not make much of a difference to their earning potential; therefore, it is best for them to become independent and start working. Even if they have the money, they feel that it is better to invest it somewhere where they can get a profit rather than in a degree which, they feel, will not really affect their earning potential. It should be noted, however, that the people who do invest their money and time to get through college, and, in the end, come out of it with a degree, end up not only earning the money they paid as tuition fee back, but also making more money than their non-college going peers. College graduates get employed sooner, have had ample, structured training in their chosen field of work and know the ins and outs of their chosen profession. So with a head-start and steady income, they can hope to achieve whatever their ultimate, individual goals are, sooner than those who stayed out of college. According to statistics published on the international jobsite www.monster.com, graduates have a typical salary of six-figures, which is a guaranteed earning, regularly coming in. This would soon bring the individual to the break-even point, perhaps even in the first month, depending on the qualification acquired by him or her. Also, even if the starting up salary for a college graduate, in a specialized field, is lower than that of a high school graduate who works at a blue collar job, chances are that within a few years the roles will be reversed, and the college graduate will be earning far more than a high school graduate. Also, college graduates are actually trained in fields that have a bigger potential of moving on ahead, blue collar jobs are often, what are termed as, “dead end” jobs with little to no chance of moving ahead and increasing income potential. A college degree can be, and often is, used as a tool to help employers measure the ability and talents of their future employees when the start the hiring process. Degrees earned through college education are an indicator of what that individual can be expected to do and what his abilities and qualities are. Furthermore, the score attained in a specific subject can also be used to shed light on the students’ skill and mastery of a particular field. This helps the employers to make a better decision, and that is why most employers actually do seek college educated employees. Those who still want to be employed without going through college would find it hard to prove to their employers their level of expertise in their subjects. Real world may have given them the skills; however, they find it very hard to actually convince their prospective clients about it. Even if employed, they either have to start at a lower level, where the salaries are at a lower scale, or they end up not being promoted as quickly as the college graduates, thus retaining the same pay scale. So, to reach a higher position, they end up spending more time than that they would have spent at college. Colleges impart knowledge acquired by experts in their fields. Careful research goes into setting up curriculums and reading lists. Up-to-date discoveries and concepts are taught in a manner that makes it easier for those willing to learn grasp them. Educational institutions also ensure hiring the very best in their fields to impart this knowledge. In today’s modern age, technologically advanced educational aids are used to help make learning easier, and to varying degrees depending on chosen profession, fun. Mostly, students these days do stick to their preferred professions. When this selection is made based on how badly they want to pursue their dreams, the element of enjoyment comes in anyway. Plus the whole experience of going to college – interacting with similar-aged, or at least, like-mined adults, in a learning environment – helps shape a person’s personality. It also helps acquire very important interaction skills, particularly useful where the job entails daily interaction with other individuals: colleagues and co-workers; clients; customers; or the public in general. It is, therefore, recommended that people should go to college to be able to learn and become better acquainted with their field of interest. Works Cited Golden, Daniel. “Bill Gates’ School Crusade.” Businessweek. Bloomberg L.P., 15 July 2010. Web. 16 Apr. 2012. Honan, Mathew. “Apple Unveils iPhone.” MacWorld.com. Mac Publishing, L.L.C., 9 Jan. 2007. Web. 16 Apr. 2012. Schlender, Brent. “Apples 21st-century Walkman CEO Steve Job Thinks He has Something Pretty Nifty. And if He’s Right, He May even Spook Sony and Matsushita.” CNNMoney. Cable News Network, A Time Warner Company, 12 Nov. 2001. Web. 16 Apr. 2012. The London Gazette 55710.1 (30 Dec. 1999): n. pag. Web. 16 Apr. 2012. Tom. “Top 15 Steve Jobs Quotes on Education.” TheSABlog. The Student Affairs Collaborative, 3 Nov. 2011. Web. 16 Apr. 2012. Read More