Bree Brzostowski
Lone Star College-Cyfair
Author Note
This essay was prepared for Professor Guthrie’s English 1302 course.
Bachelor’s Degrees Are Not Overrated The summer before freshman year of college is ending and nerves are setting in for kids waiting to take on their new adventure. College can be a scary place for some, but the experience is one in a million. Dorm rooms, new friends, new places, and taking that next step into adulthood are what kids are dreaming for in the college of their choice. Finding the right path is essential and there are many paths that could be taken when thinking about college. Options include: trade school, associates degrees, bachelor’s degrees, masters degrees, and PhD’s. Although the list is lengthy in options, employers in the job market are, for the most part, looking for people who have acquired a bachelor’s degree or higher. This degree only takes four years to obtain and is worth the hard work and money. In reality, college is a costly expense, but it is more than possible to make back the investment when receiving a well paying job at the end. The job market is competitive, so achieving a degree is a must in order to receive a desired salary and to be able to support a family while living a non stressful life not having to worry about money. Obtaining a bachelor’s degree creates more opportunities, heightens annual salaries, and shows people how to make independent decisions and manage their time.
College is a leeway into the job market. Obtaining a simple four year degree is all it takes in order to be successful in future endeavors. Bachelor’s degrees are very common degrees that require four years of higher education after high school. This type of degree is what most careers require in order for someone to be successful and earn high paying salaries. In the article, College Tuition Costs, it says, “bachelor’s degrees are seen as essential for a person wishing to join the so-called knowledge based economy” (“College Tuition Costs,” 2010). Simply stated, students earning bachelor’s degrees, or higher, have a greater likelihood of getting into a career that they yearn for over someone who has no degree. In any field, employers are looking for applicants who have degrees; whether they be associates, bachelors, masters, or doctorates. Having any degree is better than having none at all. For example, an employer is going to hire an applicant with at least some college experience over someone who only has a high school diploma because they have the proper training and knowledge over someone who has a high school diploma with minute knowledge and experience. The simple fact of the matter is college is preparing students to be able to find careers and keep them, and college is giving students the tools they need in order to be better than their competition through courses, in class training, and textbooks or other materials. College is an investment for the future, and critics from College Tuition Costs are saying, “College is becoming increasingly the domain of the wealthy” (“College Tuition Costs,” 2010). More people are going to college each year because they are hoping for a more successful future in a career where they are making a lot of money. However, the biggest problem people are facing is finding the money to earn the degree they want. Money is just hurdle, not a road block. People who are wanting to go to college and do not go because of money reasons are not doing the research. College does not have to be expensive and many colleges are generous with grants, scholarships, and loans. Directly stated from the article, College Tuition Costs, it explains the cost of college, “college grows more expensive every year because knowledge is cumulative, necessitating the addition of new courses, new professors, and new departments” (“College Tuition Costs,” 2010). Better schools cost more money because of their validity and the experience they offer.