Is a College Degree Necessary to Become Successful

Introduction
The value of higher education cannot be underestimated considering the contemporary
realities of the competitive marketplace. A higher education degree literally serves as the first
impression of a jobseeker applying for employment. Namely a college degree is a persons pass to
the business world and so work-related opportunities are enormous. Truth is, college degrees are
never the same if we take into account the reputation of higher establishment as well as the
prestige of a particular field of studies.
The todays holders of college degrees have unprecedented opportunities of job search
since the employment market has largely expanded throughout on-line domain offering freelance
and part-time vacancies. Though, in both real and virtual employment, it is always a persons CV
(resume) that is initially considered by employer and in 95% of cases the inclusion of college
degree is a must to get a well-paid job.
The abovementioned proves that college degree always pays off, and therefore this essay
aims to discuss the present-day realities in due respect.
General discussion
Overall, college education provides students with appropriate knowledge and skills to be
used later in real life circumstances and working environment. At that career choices do not matter
since the contemporary market is vast and enormous.
In particular, college education enables students to gain preliminary information about
many essential aspects required to cope with real-life challenges. At that students expand their
knowledge and acquire practical skills by grasping abstract theories and concepts. A college
curriculum teaches students how to clearly express personal standpoints and opinions both in
conversation and writing. In most cases students acquire global thinking as well as that relevant to
the solution of specific problems.
Furthermore, students learn how to work in teams and solve tasks in cooperation; this
enables to establish team spirit and ability to make personal contribution to overall mutual
achievement. Various case studies based on real-life experiences teach students to better presume
and therefore adapt to further complexities.
To this end, it goes without saying that a college degree always means more employment
opportunities since it is the identification of ones academic qualification. In comparison, high
school education is not enough to meet the ongoing challenges of todays market place, and
therefore the overwhelming majority of jobs require a college degree.
In addition to the expanded job opportunities, a bachelors degree means higher earning
prospects compare to a person with a high school diploma. Therefore, our earnings initially depend
on the quality of diploma we receive, and to a great extent college marks (grades) may be
compared to the monthly salary rate in the future
In actual fact, there is a problem concerning studying at a college. College education does
not depend only on students talent, successfulness or willingness to study. The cost of education is
therefore high issue on the agenda which indicates the affordability of college education.
Many students cannot afford college education due to various reasons and/or particular life
conditions. Hence, most students rely on loans and/or other means of financial aid to afford their
college courses.

Apart from financial reasons, of course, the initial factor is high self-motivation to study at
college. Whenever there is no family tradition or lack of overall interest, or nobody to recommend
college education, a young person may easily opt for other (alternative) choices.
In addition to this, college education assumes preliminary determination meaning that a
person should choose a single subject area (law; medicine; architecture) to master in college and
therefore build his/her career. However, the initial indecisiveness does not mean a student should
know everything in advance. A college education is therefore designated to provide a student with
proper and substantial knowledge and skills; nevertheless, the major direction should be chosen
well in advance.
One other initial problem is that young people mistakenly assume that a college education
is rather difficult. To this end, it is worthy to note that studying at college involves student support
and tutoring. Most western colleges are equipped with the necessary technological devices and
easily accessible academic database to assist students while performing their assignments.
Certainly, there are alternatives (e.g. community colleges) to four-year colleges that provide
sufficient level of education, though only bachelors and masters degrees are genuinely valued on
the competitive marketplace, and therefore most students try to complete their education at fouryear colleges (College Board, 2008).
Considering the aforementioned, the most important issue on the contemporary agenda
would be not the importance of a college degree as such, but its real quality. This is actually the
root answer to the problem of why some people are becoming more successful, while others not.
Specifically, the quality of a college degree indicates that college graduates obtained certain
amount of knowledge and managed to process and, most importantly, absorb it.
A core subject, such as law or medicine whatever, requires proper understanding, a
contribution of solid amount of time and additional resources to make it a future profession that
would bring profits. This is to ay a college degree as such is not the panacea in a working world. A
proper college diploma therefore assumes that a college graduate is able to prove it with a certain
extent of academic knowledge.
Regarding practical skills, they are further acquired within internship, practice and actually
working environment. Many people, however, fail to prove their knowledge acquired during college
years with practical skills and therefore are made to change profession/occupation.
Historically education has been regarded as a key to prosperity, and college system of
education starting from the 17th century has proved this approach to be right. Also, throughout
historical evolution, conventionally males have gained better education compared to females.
However, times have changed and starting from the second half of the 20 th century the situation
has been equalizing.
The todays working environment is highly diverse providing vast opportunities to the
qualified specialists and therefore knowledge has been regarded as a decisive factor. Religious,
sex, colour, socio-cultural diversities are more and more eliminated since companies need qualified
college graduates that can prove their knowledge in practical conditions. This is the way most
companies win a competitive advantage for qualified employees are regarded as an invaluable
asset by most corporations.
Such fair treatment based on professional qualities rather than individual features is
reasonable and justified. Based on qualifications, there is hardly any difference between pay rates;
nonetheless, in most industries men still earn more than women. This indicates that discriminatory
issues are more and more tolerated and the quality of education approved by a college degree is a
real value at the contemporary marketplace (Leonhardt, 2008).
One more aspect to consider is the vast employment opportunities accessible to college
graduates. The point is that the modern world has become flexible and changing as never before.
Internet and cutting-edge technologies indicate the permanent progress and thus success is now

associated with s permanent change. Successful people permanently adjust to changing

circumstances and diverse environments to reap most benefits. Thereafter, the work-related
relationships between employees and employers have also altered dramatically. There are millions
of freelance job opportunities enabling people to work form the comfort of their home and
rationally maintain work-life balance.
To keep workforce loyal most companies need to establish flexible working practices,
including part-time jobs, paternity leaves, childcare leaves, swapping shits etc. Therefore, HR
departments lessen work stress and enable their employees to lead reasonable (normal) lives. In
addition to this, employees are granted with numerous bonuses and incentives that often serve as
sound motivators to keep loyal to the corporate policies (Walton, 1985).
Due discussion might be continued and further expanded though the core theme remains
the same only proper extent of knowledge and skills approved by a college degree enable a
person to change jobs and seek better option for career-building and professional advancement.
Conclusion
A college degree is a precious asset we use during lifetime to properly build up our
professional growth and development. Therefore, whenever there is a chance, a person should use
four college years to acquire this asset and ensure his/her further career prospects.
As a rule, college graduates make social strata regarded as elite and many of them are
becoming very successful to donate money to charities and therefore reduce poverty. Hence,
knowledge brings profit and profit is used for prosperity.
In the 21st century this particular formula should be applied in all walks of life to make the
world a better place.