Why Do People Go to College - Research Paper Example

?Why do people go to college? Education is not equally valued in countries worldwide. In developed countries education affects the personal and professional life of individuals. In developing countries, the level of monthly income is more critical compared to the educational background of workers. In this context, the following question has become quite common: why do people go to college? Current paper aims to answer the above question by referring to appropriate sociological theories and empirical evidence. In this context, the following issue is also examined: is that worth to attend college? The review of the literature developed in the particular field leads to the following assumption: People are likely to go to college mostly for increasing their skills, a fact that would allow them to pursue easier a well-paid job position. However, in practice, attending college cannot guarantee a successful job position. It should be noted that the views of sociologists and researchers in regard to the value of college, and of high education in general, are differentiated, indicating a potential differentiation in the benefits of high education worldwide. Usually, education is considered as a tool for securing a well-paid position. Moreover, it seems that those who have a strong educational background are more dependent on their job. In other words, education increases the dependency of individuals on work, probably by increasing their self-confidence in regard to their skills. This assumption is verified through the study of Andersen and Taylor (2010). The above researchers studied the relationship between education and work and found out that women with a strong educational background are less likely to leave their job, compared to the women who are not well educated (Andersen and Taylor 2010). Moreover, it has been proved that highly educated women are likely to leave their job and focus on their family only when the conditions in the workplace are significantly deteriorated (Andersen and Taylor 7). This means that education influences the priorities of a person in regard to his life. Under these terms, individuals are expected to decide to attend college in order to improve their social status, either in the short or the long term. From another point of view, attending college is often considered as the only option available. Indeed, after having graduated from the high school, graduates are not given many options. In the research developed by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, it was revealed that a quite high percentage of high school graduates, about 70%, decide to continue their studies and attend college since they do not feel that there is an alternative option for them (Ferrante and Caldeira 7). Another reason for attending college, seems to be the pressure of individuals’ social environment, meaning the family but also the friends and the classmates (Ferrante and Caldeira 7). On the other hand, Kyvik notes that the high development of colleges can be traced back to 1960s; during that period the rate of entrance to universities has been extremely high. Because of this phenomenon, legislators thought that they could control the unexpected increase of universities’ students by giving more powers to colleges. The willingness of young people to attend college is also likely to have another aspect: the achievement of specific professional target. The case of athletics as a motive for entering college is such an example. In fact, it has been proved that most athletes enter a college in order to promote their career in athletics and not for increasing their knowledge. In a relevant survey referring to the college attendance of footballers, it has been revealed that only a percentage of 20% of footballers attend college for educational purposes (Yiannakis and Melnick 149). The above percentage refers to a particular educational site, Iowa State University; however, this figure reveals the actual role of educational institutes in USA in promoting knowledge. Staley and Staley (2011) note that people are likely to go to college for one of the following two reasons: ‘either for acquiring new skills or for improving their existing skills’ (Staley and Staley 4). From another point of view, attending college is considered to be a way for escaping from existing life conditions. Individuals who face severe family problems and conflicts consider college as a solution for escaping from the particular environment. On the other hand, young people may decide to go to college for increasing their skills/ knowledge, a fact that would help them to secure a well-paid job. In practice it has been proved that even if having attended college, the chances of individuals to locate a well-paid job position are quite limited (Staley 2011). In accordance with Gardner, Jewler and Barefoot (2008) the trends related to the attendance of college seem to be differentiated through the decades. It is noted that in the beginning of the 20th century the percentage of high school graduates who attended college has been quite low; only 2% of the high school graduates were likely to attend college at that period. Today, the above percentage has been significantly increased. In fact, in a recent research it has been revealed that the percentage of high school graduated who attend college has reached the 60% (Gardner, Jewler and Barefoot 2). The above trend can be explained as follows: individuals understand the necessity of college for increasing their skills, a fact that increases their chances to secure a well-paid job (Gardner, Jewler and Barefoot 2). From another point of view, Korgen and White (2008) note that higher education reflects the structure and the principles of each society. In accordance with this view, attending college can be regarded as an activity indicating a high level of democracy (Korgen and White 2008). It is implied that in less democratic states, the access of individuals to higher education is often prohibited, or at least, it is significantly delayed. In the same context, Smart (2009) notes that attending college can reveal the level of social integration. The above view is explained as follows: the efforts of individuals to enter a college have more chances to be successful if they are supported by the state. In such societies, scientific research is usually highly developed since individuals are motivated to perform high. The role of society in supporting colleges can have another aspect: attending college may reflect a social trend, quite powerful. In this context, graduates decide to attend college only because most of their friends do so, or because this activity is highly valued by the graduates’ social environment. The continuation of studies in college could be also justified by the following fact: in most countries, the decentralization of universities has been decided in order to aim these educational units to become more effective. In this context, many courses, which were previously developed in universities, are likely to take place in district colleges (Kyvik 71). This phenomenon is more common especially in regard to professional courses, i.e. those courses that aim to provide attendants with professional accreditation. In this case, attending college is not the personal option of a high school graduate but just a means for acquiring skills in order to enter the job market. The use of colleges for developing courses, which are normally taught in universities, has been strongly criticized (Kyvik 71). Not all colleges can play such role, especially when they are not appropriately licensed. At this point, the following issue should be discussed: is that worth to attend college? In accordance with Van Blerkom (2009) individuals may decide to attend college in order to check their ability to respond to the challenges of a complex social environment, i.e. of an environment, which is similar to the workplace. From this point of view, high school graduates decide to attend college in order to increase their experience in demanding social settings, i.e. to be prepared for the workplace. However, the research developed by Van Blerkom (2009) revealed that the ability of colleges to prepare their students for the workplace is often limited. The lack of appropriately skilled tutors can be a critical cause of the above failure. Also, the facilities and resources required for preparing a college student for the workplace are often not available, especially in colleges that are funded exclusively by the state. Colleges with high fees are likely to guarantee their performance in preparing their students for the workplace. However, the percentage of graduates who can afford the fees of these colleges is limited. As discussed above, attending college is a critical priority for most high school graduates worldwide. It has been proved that the specific initiative can be related to a series of factors, such as the influences from social environment, the demands of the marketplace and the personal perceptions. In other words, attending college is often difficult to be evaluated, as of supporting specific social or economic needs. As of the reasons for which graduates decide to attend college, different views have been developed in the literature: there are graduates who consider college as the only option available; for others, attending college is a tool of promoting personal interests and goals. There is also the view that graduates may enter college trying to imitate the behavior of other persons in their social environment, for example family or friends. On the other hand, attending college is not always worth since the costs of such initiatives, as affecting his buying decisions, are rather high; moreover, the expected benefits are not standardized or secured meaning that college cannot guarantee the success of graduates in regard to a well-paid job. Moreover, the challenges that college graduates have to face, even after completing their college studies, are significant. Reference can be made in particular to the continuous downturns of the local market, meaning that professional skills, which have been popular in the past, may not worth today. In this case, the high fees paid to well – known colleges cannot be paid back. In other words, attending college is not always worth, especially in countries where the risks related to the job market are high. However, in highly developed countries, college is still considered as a key priority for high school graduates, allowing them to serve a series of different needs, as explained above. Works Cited Andersen, Margaret, and Taylor, Howard. Sociology: The Essentials. Belmont: Cengage Learning, 2010. http://books.google.gr/books?id=xeKM5THSEKsC&pg=PA7&dq=Why+do+people+go+to+college+and+sociology&hl=el&sa=X&ei=S2RBT5_0C4W58gPDgd2ICA&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=Why%20do%20people%20go%20to%20college%20and%20sociology&f=false Andersen and Taylor present the various aspects of sociology, as related to various social activities, including education. The above writers aim to emphasize on the importance of sociology for the successful development of policies related to various social problems, such as social inequality, social change and social structure. The responses of individuals to social schemes, such as educational schemes, are also reviewed and analyzed, helping to understand the willingness of students to attend colleges and other educational institutes. Ferrante, Joan, and Caldeira, Chris. Seeing Sociology: An Introduction. Belmont: Cengage Learning, 2010. http://books.google.gr/books?id=0vEbS8oBYSQC&pg=PA7&dq=Why+do+people+go+to+college+and+sociology&hl=el&sa=X&ei=S2RBT5_0C4W58gPDgd2ICA&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=Why%20do%20people%20go%20to%20college%20and%20sociology&f=false Ferrante and Caldeira refer to the relationship between sociology and education. The specific issue is also discussed in the study of Andersen and Taylor. However, in the study of Ferrante and Caldeira, specific aspects of sociology are discussed, focusing especially on the ways in which sociology can be interpreted using certain criteria. The specific study is valuable mostly for offering important empirical findings in regard to the level of college attendance by high school graduates in USA. Gardner, John, Jewler, Jerome, and Barefoot, Betsy. Your College Experience: Strategies for Success. Belmont: Cengage Learning, 2008. http://books.google.gr/books?id=Yq-62VoFAQkC&pg=PA2&dq=Why+do+people+go+to+college&hl=el&sa=X&ei=3GVBT9m-C4WD8gOc7sSICA&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=Why%20do%20people%20go%20to%20college&f=false Gardner, Jewler and Barefoot also present, like Ferrante and Caldeira, a series of empirical findings in regard to college attendance, as gradually developed in USA. The specific study has been incorporated in the references list due to its contribution in understanding the differences, through the decades, in the willingness of higher school graduates to attend college. In this way, the criteria on which the decisions of these graduates to attend college are based could be easier understood. Korgen, Kathleen, and White, Jonathan. The Engaged Sociologist: Connecting the Classroom to the Community. Thousand Oaks: Pine Forge Press, 2008. http://books.google.gr/books?id=_AADznCsgAsC&pg=PT17&dq=Why+do+people+go+to+college&hl=el&sa=X&ei=IWdBT67DGsmn8gPau62gCA&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=Why%20do%20people%20go%20to%20college&f=false Education is closely related to the community. The specific issue is highlighted in the study of Korgen and White. By understanding the role of colleges within the community it is easier to understand the choice of high school graduates to attend colleges. Attending college, as a form of social behavior, is made clear through the particular study. Due to its theme, the specific study has been incorporated in the references list aiming to show how the decision of high school graduates to attend college is related to these students’ social environment. Kyvik, Svein. The Dynamics of Change in Higher Education: Expansion and Contraction in an Organisational Field. New York: Springer, 2009. http://books.google.gr/books?id=5NxGGQ24vFUC&pg=PA71&dq=higher+education+and+reason&hl=el&sa=X&ei=ZGhBT8niJobf8APa__CvCA&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=higher%20education%20and%20reason&f=false Kyvik aims to show the responses of students to changes in educational settings, with particular reference to colleges. Change is considered to be a significant characteristic of governmental policies in regard to education. Moreover, change is not always positive, meaning that it can, under certain terms, lead to critical delays and failures. The response of students to changes, as initiated in colleges, indicates the willingness of students to participate in the restructuring of education but also their readiness to support the long-term development of colleges, as educational units performing a wide range of roles. Smart, John. Higher Education: Handbook of Theory and Research. New York: Springer, 2009. http://books.google.gr/books?id=RLgZNpJXClkC&pg=PA389&dq=higher+education+and+reason&hl=el&sa=X&ei=GWhBT-hVz9zyA8r06aEI&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=higher%20education%20and%20reason&f=false Smart refers to a wide range of issues related to higher education aiming to show the challenges that the specific sector has to face. In this way, emphasis is given on the importance of external support, especially the state, for securing the quality of educational programs. Particular reference is made to the role of financial aid for the success of colleges, an issue that has not been highlighted in the other studies included in the reference list, a reason for which the specific study has been chosen. Staley, Constance, and Staley, Steve. Focus on College and Career Success. Belmont: Cengage Learning, 2011. http://books.google.gr/books?id=HjobFno90gUC&pg=PA4&dq=Why+do+people+go+to+college&hl=el&sa=X&ei=3GVBT9m-C4WD8gOc7sSICA&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=Why%20do%20people%20go%20to%20college&f=false Staley and Staley focus on a particular aspect of college attendance: its relationship with the career choices of high school graduates. Indeed, as noted in the above study, the preferences of high school graduates for specific colleges, reflects the value of these colleges for achieving specific professional aims. In other words, attending college is described as an activity related to the professional choices and priorities of individuals, an issue, which is quite important for developing the current study. Staley, Constance. Focus on Community College Success. Belmont: Cengage Learning, 2011. http://books.google.gr/books?id=Ui2pwPqmiOMC&pg=PT29&dq=Why+do+people+go+to+college&hl=el&sa=X&ei=3GVBT9m-C4WD8gOc7sSICA&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=Why%20do%20people%20go%20to%20college&f=false Colleges operate in the context of a particular community. In fact, colleges are part of a community’s social and economic life. The relationship between colleges and their community is reviewed in the study of Staley. This study is considered as importance in order to understand the willingness of high school graduates to attend colleges within their community. It is implied that attending college can be a reflection of the willingness of individuals to be part of their community; from this point of view, colleges can have a critical role in the development of their community. Van Blerkom, Dianna. Orientation to College Learning. Belmont: Cengage Learning, 2009. http://books.google.gr/books?id=jWIRudQIYZgC&pg=PA9&dq=Why+do+people+go+to+college&hl=el&sa=X&ei=zGZBT43JNYn48QPDra2NCA&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=Why%20do%20people%20go%20to%20college&f=false Van Blerkom aims to explore whether attending college is worth. The specific issue is quite important for the particular study, and this is the reason that the study of Van Blerkom was incorporated in the references list. In the above study attending college is described as the effort of individuals to test their ability to respond to the demands of the workplace. The use of college as a preparatory phase for entering the workplace is analyzed in the study of Van Blerkom; explanations are also given on the ways in which college can help students to be prepared for the workplace; the level at which such target is achieved is also analytically discussed. Yiannakis, Andrew, and Melnick, Merrill. Contemporary issues in sociology of sport. Champaign: Human Kinetics, 2001. http://books.google.gr/books?id=NNuDZJtRweUC&pg=PA149&dq=Why+do+people+go+to+college+and+sociology&hl=el&sa=X&ei=S2RBT5_0C4W58gPDgd2ICA&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=Why%20do%20people%20go%20to%20college%20and%20sociology&f=false The study of Yiannakis and Melnick focus on a particular issue: the relationship between the decision of high school graduates to attend college and their willingness to follow a career in athletics. The specific study has been included in the references list in order to show the level at which athletics can influence the professional development of individuals. Read More