Malia Fairbrother

Ms. Thomson

AP Language & Composition

20 January 2017

Assessing the Pressure for Postsecondary Education

With success stories such as Bill Gates, Michael Dell, and Steve Jobs, the public may be

left to question the method to their fortune and success. Interestingly enough, none of the

aforementioned billionaires received a college degree. Now, more than ever, people seem to be

questioning the worth of attending college and its impact in the long run. Attending and

graduating college does not go hand in hand with having success, and there are ways to prevail

without college. Currently, the National Center for Education Statistics states that, "... some 20.5

million students are expected to attend American colleges and universities..." (NCES). For some,

deciding between going to college or starting their career is a matter of head versus heart or

responsibility versus passion. Students are faced with the decision of whether or not to continue

their education, which could either make or break their future. The amount of stress that is

typically present in the decision of pursuing postsecondary education should not be forced upon

American students in the way, or degree, that it is today.

Pressure on high school students and college students is becoming increasingly

dangerous. An article from the American Psychological Association states that one-third of

college students in the United States have struggled in school due to depression and half have
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dealt with extreme anxiety (Novotney, 2014). The effects of this pressure harm a person mentally

and sometimes physically. Extreme depression and anxiety can lead to self-harm or in certain

cases, suicide attempts. In addition to mental health issues, pressure in school has been linked to

cheating and loss of creativity in students (Palmer, 2005). If students feel this immense pressure,

their work can become someone else's, with studies proving that 59% of high school students

admit to cheating during tests at least once, and that one out of three use internet sources for

plagiarism (Plagiarism.org). Relying on others to complete one's work is detrimental, because the

person will lack the necessary skills and motivation for projects and necessities for living that

cannot be completed by others.

There is a traditional belief that a college degree is essential for a successful life.

Definitions of a "successful life" vary from person to person, but studies prove that college

degrees have no influence on about 64% percent of employers' decisions to hire (Parker, 2016).

In fact, having a degree may mean one has a lesser chance of being hired. Some employers have

become frustrated with college graduates who have no experience in the workplace because of

intense focus on school. Interns are favorable because they have experience in workplace settings

and are prepared for what a job actually demands. Since a college degree does not ensure a stable

job, sometimes being seen as detrimental, not attending college may be seen as a better option. A

common perception is that those without a college degree are uneducated and lack experience. In

reality, inexperience can be traced back to studies in high school. It was revealed in a multi-year

College and Career Readiness Survey that 87% of high school students felt unprepared for

college, even though they wanted to pursue postsecondary education (EdSource). When time in

high school is used for studying subjects that are unrelated to a student's chosen career path, it

can be equated to a doctor prescribing penicillin to all patients regardless of the injury. If
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educators are unable to engage with students' interests, the lessons taught can be rendered

useless.

Others do not believe that the strain on students is overwhelming, rather, the pressure

may be the only way to ensure success for an unmotivated student. Postsecondary education can

help students excel in their chosen career paths, providing information they would not have

access to without college. Studies show that on average, those who graduate from college earn

65% more than those who only graduate from high school (The College Board, 2013). With such

a significant gap in pay, the greater part of high school students may see this as motivation to

attend college. The increase in students' chance for success through graduating college comes

with a greater chance of success in the job market. CNBC describes it as, "... the hottest job

market in years," where employers are expected to hire roughly 5% more graduates from the

class of 2016 than the class of 2015 (CNBC). In addition to the higher hiring rate, 160,000 new

jobs have been created by the U.S. economy, so options are open for college students (CNBC).

Money plays a major role in deciding whether to go to college or not. People determine if their

future income and success from completion college will outweigh the costs and expenses they

had put into it.

Paying for college can take a toll on the average American family, who makes a median

income of $56,516 annually (FRED Economic Data), and who have an average of about three

people per household (United States Census). Statistics from the College Board show that the

cost of college has continually increased throughout the years. In 2016 to 2017, projected

average costs, including tuition, fees, and room and board, start from $11,580 for public two-year

in-district schools and equal up to $45,370 for private nonprofit four-your schools (The College

Board). These costs are roughly seven times more than the cost of college for European families
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(Cappelli). Because of these great expenses, most families need to thoroughly consider their

decision to pursue college after high school. If the family makes under the median income,

college should not be pursued.

On the other hand, those with the means to send themselves or their children to college

will save on tuition and room and board expenses, but replace these costs with different

expenses. Those who go to college may also reap more monetary benefits over the course of their

lifetime. Khan Academy states, "The average 4-year bachelor's degree holder... earns nearly $1

million dollars more [in their life] than someone who holds only a high school diploma" (Khan

Academy). Though some choose to focus on the amount of money that will benefit them, the

potential lack of money must also be considered. It is calculated that, "... among those ages 25 to

32, fully 22% with only a high school diploma are living in poverty, compared with 6% of

today's college-educated young adults" (Pew Social Trends). Ultimately, the monetary benefits of

going to college come after graduation, while those with only a high school diploma may see

advantages immediately. What needs to be considered is whether or not the pressure is worth the

extra money, when it is possible to live comfortably without a college degree.

Not pursuing postsecondary education has the potential to positively affect the financial

future and lives of parents, students, and educators. However, for a positive outcome, sometimes

hardships must be endured. Choosing between starting college or a career can cause self-conflict

between a passion and what seems to be a responsibility. Most people value their parents'

opinions, and in this generation, the commonly accepted option is attending college. Parents of

teenagers may unintentionally persuade their children to see college as a responsibility. Tensions

could potentially grow to create division between family members. On a larger scale, the conflict

can become an issue of an individual versus society. Society's standard of going to college can
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force an undecided student to choose between following their peers or their judgement. Despite

the source of the various pressures, an informed decision must be made based on the advice that

is best for the individual.

Based on the experiences of many successful people, college degrees are not the deciding

measure of one's future prosperity. Presenting this atypical position on such an important issue

opens up minds to the possibility of an alternative decision in a society where the contrary is

expected. This begs the question: Is the pressure to go to college overshadowing a more suitable

decision for some individuals?