While college can be a valuable experience for many people, it's true that it may not be the right choice for everyone or guarantee success in the long run. Some individuals may find success and fulfillment through alternative paths such as vocational training, entrepreneurship, self-education, or gaining work experience. Factors such as the cost of tuition, the choice of majors, job market demands, and individual career goals should all be considered when deciding whether or not to pursue a college education. Just as Stephanie Owen and Isabel Sawhill believe, it's important for individuals to carefully evaluate their options and consider what will best serve their long-term …show more content…
Owen and Sawhill’s argue that despite the existence of tools like the College Scorecard and Payscale College Rankings to aid in this process, students are still unable to fully investigate potential institutions in order to determine whether or not those schools would be a good fit for them. Contrast this to Liz Addison, who examines how community colleges have grown and developed in contrast to four-year universities and explains the importance of going to community college. Even though Owen, Sawhill, and Addison both argue that going to a four-year university isn’t always beneficial, Owen and Sawhill provide a more convincing argument due to the cost of education, the potential return on investment, as well as individual skills and interests. Owen and Sawhill’s analysis of the cost of education helps to establish the effectiveness of their argument tremendously. The authors contend that attending college might not be a wise investment for particular individuals, majors, schools, and jobs. The net benefit of attending decreases as attendance costs increase. This is entirely true, as depending on your major and the college you …show more content…
The information provided by Schenider, when analyzed, demonstrates that students should be cautious while selecting a professional path, school, college major, or occupation because they might not always be worthwhile in the long run. Unlike Owen and Sawhill, Addison does not address potential return on investment at all, making her argument less persuasive. Mentioning ROI is important in various contexts, including when discussing college education, career decisions, business investments, and financial planning. She mentions community colleges, “offer a network of affordable future, of accessible hope, and an option to dream”(Addison 530).Although I agree with her statement, she fails to provide why certain career paths, college majors, and school can affect your return on investment. An analysis provided by Owen and Sawhill by the Census Bureau shows that lifetime earnings of an education or arts major working in the service sector are actually lower than the average lifetime earnings of a high school graduate. This data makes it very evident that not all college degrees are "chosen career paths," with some