Using observations, some people argue that all students, regardless of their ability to pay, should attend college. Considering that the educated population is generally more prosperous than the uneducated, there are many strong advocates for the attendance of a college. However, I disagree with this claim because not everyone is capable or prepared enough to attend a college; it might not even be necessary for their future aspirations or careers. Therefore, not everyone should attend a college.
The fact of the matter is, our aspirations may not always turn into a reality due to difficult circumstances. For instance, when describing the trend toward increased college enrollment, “New research reveals a huge gap between aspirations and reality, especially for poor and minority students.” (Source E). Although some students may want to attend a college, they might not be able to because of financial issues, stripping their chances of receiving a higher education. Whether it be because of a lack of effort or a lack of money, it might not be in their control to decide whether they attend a college or not.
Additionally, when discussing the reasons for college dropouts, Thomas Toch admits, “We’re telling kids that they can do it, when we’re not giving them the academic tools to be successful.” (Source E). If they are not being properly taught the things they need to know, colleges will be an extreme struggle for these students. Without the proper tools, colleges are essentially useless, for it will be wasted away with nothing but confusion and regret. Colleges are supposed to help you succeed but if all it is doing is distressing or oppressing you, it now becomes a negative factor in your life, which will lead you to a difficult life. In certain situations, students would actually benefit from skipping colleges because they would only suffer and gain nothing from their experience there; in fact, they would lose more than gain.
Even if students did attend a college, not all of them know what they want to study and aren’t going for the right reasons. Furthermore, when making observations about the purpose of attending colleges, Rob notices that “drifting through a couple of years of classes with no real career direction was a good way to waste ten thousand dollars or so.” (Source F).
He makes note of how not all students are aware of their direction in life, so attending a college would be fruitless in terms of your future, and even burdensome with all the debt piling up from doing nothing. It would be better to go to a college knowing what you want to study so that you wouldn’t waste any money on classes you don’t really need or want to take. Moreover, after realizing that most kids go for the college experience rather than a real education, Rob claims that “Most of them end up starting on the bottom rung of some company, about where they would have started without a degree, only now with a degree and thousands of dollars of debt.” (Source F). Without the right motivation, college students will find themselves achieving little while gaining much debt to be paid. This pathway will only lead to a poor lifestyle that could have been avoided with patience and careful consideration. Going to college is ultimately meaningless for them because they will be at the same position as someone who did not attend college, only poorer. In the end, students will not only be wasting their money, but also their time.
Not only does this have a lot of damage on the student, but it also affects colleges, families, and taxpayers as well. For instance, when explaining the consequences of Remedial needs, Kurtzman claims they strain the student “who might pay hundreds or thousands of dollars for classes that don’t count for a degree,” colleges “which devote instructors, classrooms and supplies to classes that ideally wouldn’t be necessary,” and the taxpayers of the state who pay about $30 million a year in remedial costs. (Source B).
People who go to college unprepared will do more damage than they realize. Ultimately, colleges will be prevented from using theirmaterials effectively and wisely on students who can actually use it for their benefit. Moreover, after establishing the fact that students who require remediation often struggle, fail, and drop out, he concludes, “They lose the earning power of a college degree.” (Source B). A college degree no longer seems worth the price they must pay because students lack the motivation needed to successfully earn a college degree. They are suffering immensely just to earn the degree that it doesn’t seem like an achievement anymore, but more like a burdensome finish. Unprepared students who rush into a college will only create a poorly sufficient environment for those who are actually qualified.
It is important to note that I am not against going to a college, but I strongly disagree with the idea that college must immediately follow your high school career. Every person’s situation is different and despite all the opportunities available for going to a college, it does not fit everyone’s needs or abilities. Industries and leaders must be more considerate of this fact, for everyone has a different story. Ultimately, colleges aren’t a necessity for everyone and essentially depends on their circumstances as an individual.