Is College Worth It?

College in America has become what is expected from any student who wants to get a decent job. It is seen as the one-stop-shop for a good career. Is this true? Does a college degree truly guarantee a good job?

This view certainly seems to be the general consensus among aspiring adolescents, but with the price of a college education rising and the unemployment rate of college graduates abnormally high is this college education really what most adolescents need?

To truly understand how a student can benefit, and how they can suffer, from a college education you need to look at the student. Is college financially the right choice for them? Many college students graduate with a mountain of debt in student loans, which can take a large chunk out of their earnings when they enter the workforce... excuse me, if they enter the workforce.

The Price is Too Dang High

The price tag of attending college does not have to be so high in the United States.

Colleges in the United States are in an arms race. Each year they are spending more and more money to improve their facilities, faculty, and equipment. Why? So they can be the best. So they can offer their students the newest and best resources.

What also comes along with being the best? High college rankings.

The Price Of College Tuition, In 1 Graphic (Source)

Changing how colleges are ranked might be a great way to help lower the price of tuition while maintaing the quality of education. 

Every year U.S. News publishes college rankings and there is a general trend that when a college receives higher rankings, they have an increase in the amount of individuals that want to attend the school.

But these high rankings come hand in hand with higher tuition prices for students. The price of colleges has risen quite a bit  over the last few years.

This trend of colleges spending more money and therefore students spending more money poses a question: Does this price increase correspond to an increase in receiving a better education?  

What good are the Liberal Arts?

Primary and secondary education in America has a fatal flaw. This flaw isn't centered around a lack of teachers, sub-par facilities or standardization of testing; the flaw is in the curriculum.

Think back to when you were in High School, how many opportunities were there to take classes that centered around what is considered the "liberal arts".  For me, the closest that I came to a liberal arts class was history class, and even then those classes were more fact based.

This deficiency in the curriculum is a problem because that means that the only opportunity for adolescents to gain a quality liberal arts education in a traditional classroom setting is at college. But why do students need this education? There certainly is quite a stereotype that the liberal arts provide no practical applications

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Alternatives to College

For many high school seniors today, going to college is the automatic next step in their educations, but should one really spend that much money just because everyone is doing it? There are many other options that many high school students are not even aware of.

Perhaps they or their families assume that college is the only option for success. Or, their guidance counselor does not even present another option besides trying to land a job straight out of high school.

Students who waste time and money at a university before dropping out might have done better at short-term vocational, or career training, or in apprenticeships. They could also intern or volunteer in local businesses or charities before starting in a field to avoid getting a worthless degree.

Should I stay, or should I go?

BYU is a wonderful place. I've just started my fifth year here and I love it. There are many opportunities for students of all interests, and during my tenure here I've been able to explore many options.

At the risk of sounding pompous and arrogant, I have an observation: there are many students attending BYU who are unsure as to what they’re doing and who, frankly, are using the space of others who would be getting more out of a college education. 

It is undoubtedly a wonderful social and learning experience to be away from home and get to know many new people in a university setting, but many students—especially freshman guys—would be wise to consider other options before coming to college.