Many believe that a school education is sufficient and that there is no need to study at a college or university. Professional skills in today’s world can be acquired online or through work and career advancement. While this sounds logically and theoretically correct, it is not valid. In this essay, I will look at the factors that influence life outcomes depending on whether you have a college degree.
In Ana Hernandez Kent’s (2021) “Children of college graduates earn more and are richer,” she explains the level of education of a person and their parents is directly correlated with future income. A typical family headed by a person with a college degree has two times more revenue and five times more wealth than a typical non-graduate (Kent, 2021). Education influences the chances of their future children getting a degree, having a higher income, and accumulating generational wealth (Kent, 2021). Thus, a college degree is a good predictor of financial success over generations of the same family.
In Alex Bernadotte’s (2018) “What do we mean when we say college isn’t for everyone,” she affirms the association of college with higher financial wealth. Moreover, Bernadotte says that college graduates have better health and life expectancy, a lower unemployment rate, and increased personal and professional mobility (TEDx Talks, 2018). Courses and social connections gained during college are critical to future success.
Thus, despite the widespread belief that one can succeed without education, statistics and facts are not on the side of this position. Referring to the success stories of Mark Zuckerberg or Bill Gates is a survivor’s mistake because it needs to consider what percentage of college drop-outs have achieved similar success or even average income. Moreover, it is yet to be known how the fate of Zuckerberg or Gates would have developed if they had remained at the university. For me, a college education is not debatable, as it expands my scope of knowledge and worldview.
In conclusion, it is fashionable to criticize higher education and colleges for being outdated and not keeping up with the changing world. However, before making a life-altering decision, it is best to familiarize yourself with the statistical implications of such a choice. People considering dropping out of college should evaluate whether they are willing to take risks to achieve some goal or if they are lazy and comfort themselves with the examples of Zuckerberg or Gates.
References
TEDx Talks. (2018). What do we really mean when we say college isn’t for everyone? [Video]. YouTube. Web.
Kent, A. H. (2021). Children of college graduates earn more and are richer: St. Louis Fed. Saint Louis Fed Eagle. Web.