Is A College Education Important - 957 Words

Is having a college education important? What is the value of a college degree? What does society say? The intent of this paper is to discuss arguments regarding whether or not college degrees are worthwhile or even necessary. Going to college after high school is a choice. Most parents want their child to go to school and obtain a college degree because they think with a college degree their child will go far in life and have a better life. Most people recognize the importance of attending college. At one point in my life I thought I would never be able to go to college because of my background and finances that posed an enormous problem. However, I have now been given the opportunity to obtain an education, but it is up to me if I†¦show more content†¦About one hundred years ago, the richest and most successful man in the United States, Andrew Carnegie, thought a college education was very unnecessary and not only that, he also thought that a college education was actually detrimental for young adults. As he remarked in the same article, â€Å"A college education unfits rather than fits men affairs.† At that time in United States history, only four percent of young adults attended college . If you look at the United States today, a much higher percentage of young adults will most likely attend college after graduating high school. Society has evolved over the years. Previously, society was very different than today. In 2013, people who enrolled to a four-year institution totaled14 million. The number of enrolled students is expected to jump to 20 million the next few years. Some are older students, and 70 percent of them are young adults that attend college right after high school, This number is up significantly from the 1970’s and 80’s, according to Gallup Poll News Service. About two thirds of high school students do believe going to college after high school is their best choice. Just like you eat dinner at the house and you automatically clean afterwards, perhaps the same expectation could be said for going to college automatically after you finish high school. However, there are current day people who also believe college degrees are not always necessary. According to Billitteri in CQ Researcher,