Alyson+Research

I have always been told that it was important to get a college degree. My family has stressed this for years and years. They always told me that I will not get a good job without one, I will get paid better with one, and I will become qualified for several job positions. Also, my family told me that I would find a job that would allow me to use my skills if I received a degree. But given the current economy, is it really worth the time and money to get a college degree? Some people do not believe it is; however, research shows that the positives outweigh the negatives. Having a basic degree is very important. It gives one a great understanding about his or her field of study and can set one up for further education and a great career. However, employers are looking for workers who have experience in the field (Oloffson, 2009). College degrees are not as sufficient as they once were. Many people believe that having a college degree is all they need in order to procure a job. This is not true. There are many more requirements people need to meet before getting a job. Entry-level jobs are harder for people to find today. College graduates are often willing to settle for jobs that require lower skill levels than what they are capable of (Samavati, 2009). Many college graduates will take any job that they can get. It is not easy to find a job during a recession. These college graduates have loans to pay off, and if they cannot find a job, it will not be easy for them to pay off the loans. They will remain in debt for many years after graduation. Not going to college would guarantee that one would not receive any debt from student loans. Even going to a two-year college could reduce student debt immensely. During this recession, many people are finding it very hard to keep their jobs. There have been many lay-offs. College students who have found jobs may be among the first to be laid off. In the state of Ohio, more than 286,000 jobs have been lost since the recession, which began in December 2007 (Samavati, 2009). Saving money instead of spending it on tuition could ensure that one had money when he needed it. He would not necessarily have to worry about money after being laid-off if enough money had been saved. Many college students are forced to pay money that they do not have in order to cover the cost of their tuition. Without the cost of tuition, more money could be saved. The typical student has at least $20,000 to $25,000 in debt (Pytel, 2008). An annual salary would easily be able to cover the cost of that debt; however, everyone has to pay taxes and bills, so the money cannot go directly to paying the debt. Interest on loans can completely deplete one’s money supply. Over the years, paying the minimum amount on a loan every month can, and most likely will, cause one to pay much more than the loan gave him in the beginning. Many people are not responsible enough to budget their money and figure out how they need to spend the money. College students can be very irresponsible with their money and spend it all on items they do not need. College graduates who have no money after college have no way to pay off their debt, especially when they cannot find a job, therefore having no source of income. Despite the arguments against getting a college degree, there are many positives to having one. People who have college degrees may have increased personal and professional mobility (Porter). Having a college degree may find it easy to find jobs in various places. They are not necessarily stuck in one place. There may be a great demand in careers that require certain degrees. Depending on the degree, there may be a wide range of career choices. This provides one with many options. According to ERIC Digest, research has shown a positive correlation between higher education and good health (Porter). This may be due to the different jobs that people can have with their degree. Many full-time jobs offer health insurance. With health insurance, people do not necessarily have to pay as much money as those without health insurance. Jobs that offer health insurance also cover one’s family. This is much less expensive than buying individual plans for each person in a family. Another reason for the positive correlation could be a higher self-esteem. People with college degrees may feel as though they have accomplished something in their lives. Graduating is no easy feat, and it could make people feel more confident about themselves and where they are in their lives. There is greater productivity in the workplace if people have college degrees (Porter). This may have to do with self-esteem, but is more likely an effect of people understanding how to better the workplace. Individuals who are educated in business may be able to promote a business in new ways. These individuals may be more willing to learn. They are eager to put their knowledge to use. After years of schooling, graduates really want to have a job and be successful in it. College graduates may be more creative and open-minded than other people. This allows for change without much resistance. While thinking for years that they may not get a job, college graduates are willing to do almost anything to keep the job that they have. College graduates may also be able to work well with different people. They have spent years with many different people and have learned how to cooperate. They have had to learn how to cooperate with others in order to make it through college. They have had to deal with different types of people throughout most of their lives and may find it easy to do while working. College graduates often have a decreased reliance on government financial support (Porter). College graduates have most likely been financially independent for a couple of years by the time they graduate. By graduation, many people have been taught or have had to learn through error to budget their money. They have had to keep track of how much they have spent in order to save enough for books, tuition payments, and possibly rent. Many college students are determined to work instead of accepting money from the government. They feel as though they need to earn their own money. Many parents helped pay for college tuition, and graduates want to be able to pay their parents back by using the money they made because they had a college degree. College students work hard to graduate and really want to show that by succeeding in their careers. They want to be independent and have nice things for themselves and possibly their children. There can be many negative things about going to college to get a degree. It can cost a lot of money depending on the chosen school. Most students have a lot of debt, and that can be very intimidating when they think that they might not get a job after they graduate. However, the long-term benefits outweigh the bad. College degrees do provide some guarantee when looking for a career. Once the recession ends, there will be a great demand for many different jobs, and college graduates will find it easier to get jobs.