College: right for everyone?
20/08/12 08:45
Q. Do you really think that college is right for everyone?
A. Do I think it is good for everyone? I do. Do I think it is right for everyone? I am not sure I know what that means. Do I think that age eighteen is the best time for all people to go to college? I do not.
Sometimes I think we make too much out of the idea of college. I am a fan of education. It is a good thing. Generally, the more education, the better. I don’t run into many people who are over-educated. Some people do find that they have a job that they like, and further education may not increase their satisfaction with their work significantly. Many people learn a lot outside of more traditional academic institutions. Many people learn a lot at work – from practice and from others. Sometimes colleges are places where people with knowledge gather to share their knowledge.
Almost all the research shows that a college education will often help you do better in your career, it will give you more opportunities, it will give you more confidence in the world of work, and the average graduate from a four-year college makes about $19,000 a year more, over a lifetime, than someone with only a high school diploma. More talent. More opportunities. More confidence. More income. Everyone can benefit from those.
What about all the students who just go to college and party and waste their parents’ money? I agree. Unfortunately, that happens much too often. It has been that way for many years. Perhaps it happens more often today. Even the biggest partiers will learn something, maybe even a lot. Would they learn more and get a greater return on the investment of their parents’ money if they went to college later? Very likely. So, we need to be cautious with our message that college is the answer to everything and everyone should go. I would argue that everyone can benefit from a college education, but right out of high school may not be the best time to do it. But, many people who graduated from high school, got a job, got married, had kids, and then tried to go to college will say to any students who will listen, “Go to college and get it done before your life fills up with 100 other responsibilities. You will be glad you did.”
But what about plumbers and electricians and carpenters and cooks? We need them. They can make a good living. They don’t need to go to college. Absolutely true. But, what about colleges like the University of Southern Maine or Clarkson University with majors like electrical engineering, electrician, industrial electronics, and power transmission? What about colleges like Southern Maine Community College or the University of Maine with majors in plumbing, pipefitting, property management, or mechanical engineering? What about colleges like Central Maine Community College or Colorado State University or Wentworth Institute of Technology with majors in carpentry or woodworking or architectural engineering or construction management or civil engineering or CAD or construction site management or structural engineering? What about going to Eastern Maine Community College or Washington County Community College or Johnson & Wales University to study culinary arts or restaurant management. More talent. More opportunities. More confidence. And, very likely, more income.
A good, well-chosen college education can be great for everyone, at the right point in their life when they are eager to learn and know why they want to learn. Perhaps some feel our economy needs more plumbers and welders and electricians. I say we should focus on creating as many opportunities as possible for our youth. “Our economy” will be theirs soon. We should help them build one that is full of opportunities.
I am a fan of knowledge and education. So, I like college.
A. Do I think it is good for everyone? I do. Do I think it is right for everyone? I am not sure I know what that means. Do I think that age eighteen is the best time for all people to go to college? I do not.
Sometimes I think we make too much out of the idea of college. I am a fan of education. It is a good thing. Generally, the more education, the better. I don’t run into many people who are over-educated. Some people do find that they have a job that they like, and further education may not increase their satisfaction with their work significantly. Many people learn a lot outside of more traditional academic institutions. Many people learn a lot at work – from practice and from others. Sometimes colleges are places where people with knowledge gather to share their knowledge.
Almost all the research shows that a college education will often help you do better in your career, it will give you more opportunities, it will give you more confidence in the world of work, and the average graduate from a four-year college makes about $19,000 a year more, over a lifetime, than someone with only a high school diploma. More talent. More opportunities. More confidence. More income. Everyone can benefit from those.
What about all the students who just go to college and party and waste their parents’ money? I agree. Unfortunately, that happens much too often. It has been that way for many years. Perhaps it happens more often today. Even the biggest partiers will learn something, maybe even a lot. Would they learn more and get a greater return on the investment of their parents’ money if they went to college later? Very likely. So, we need to be cautious with our message that college is the answer to everything and everyone should go. I would argue that everyone can benefit from a college education, but right out of high school may not be the best time to do it. But, many people who graduated from high school, got a job, got married, had kids, and then tried to go to college will say to any students who will listen, “Go to college and get it done before your life fills up with 100 other responsibilities. You will be glad you did.”
But what about plumbers and electricians and carpenters and cooks? We need them. They can make a good living. They don’t need to go to college. Absolutely true. But, what about colleges like the University of Southern Maine or Clarkson University with majors like electrical engineering, electrician, industrial electronics, and power transmission? What about colleges like Southern Maine Community College or the University of Maine with majors in plumbing, pipefitting, property management, or mechanical engineering? What about colleges like Central Maine Community College or Colorado State University or Wentworth Institute of Technology with majors in carpentry or woodworking or architectural engineering or construction management or civil engineering or CAD or construction site management or structural engineering? What about going to Eastern Maine Community College or Washington County Community College or Johnson & Wales University to study culinary arts or restaurant management. More talent. More opportunities. More confidence. And, very likely, more income.
A good, well-chosen college education can be great for everyone, at the right point in their life when they are eager to learn and know why they want to learn. Perhaps some feel our economy needs more plumbers and welders and electricians. I say we should focus on creating as many opportunities as possible for our youth. “Our economy” will be theirs soon. We should help them build one that is full of opportunities.
I am a fan of knowledge and education. So, I like college.