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Meredith Butler Instructor: Malcolm Campbell English 1103 October 31, 2012 Is College Necessary? How the Socially Accepted Belief Could Be Misleading. World War II, Nazi Germany. Jewish prisoners and victims stand two more hours in a line with fellow disoriented citizens to wait to be assigned a number that will forever be inked into their wrist. Disoriented, scared, and anxious to what may lie behind the intimidating doors of the internment camps they dont know what to make of their numbers. Fast-forward to the survivors and ask them of their tattooed numbers. Memories fade, physical pain goes away with time and faces become less familiar, but the number is always there. The number they must continue to live with, even in their new futures. Today, thousands of high school graduates move in to their first semester in college scared and anxious as well and with their own tattooed number, just not etched into their skin. Fast forward to college graduation, a day of excitement and the beginning of a new future but most will continue to live with their hidden tattoo well into their new careers; their massive student loans in the thousands. Although much less dramatic than tattoos given in internment camps during World War II, symbolically student debts have the potential of having the same haunting affects. Its factors like the increasing amount of tuition required to get through college that is sparking a new way of looking at education globally. Finally gaining momentum and attention, there has been a great push towards revising or at least analyzing and critiquing the once

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accepted belief that going to college after high school is what is acceptable, required, and smiled upon. The truth of the matter remains that student debts put an unreasonable price tag on an individuals education, the college environment and classrooms are becoming outdated and illsuited for teaching, and creativity and passion is being dampened and suppressed by standardized education such as college. When asking students about the drawbacks of college, tuition costs are among the highest objection mentioned. And its within reason; tuition costs are the equivalent to putting a price tag on ones education and, matched with the common belief that a college education will give way to a prosperous future, its also putting an ultimatum on ones future stability. According to the website OccupyStudentDebt.com average tuition costs have increased 900 percent since 1978 with 36 million Americans today still working to pay off student loan debts they acquired while receiving an education (OSD). The tuitions costs are continually rising, making paying for a decent college education difficult and stressful on both students and their support systems. For example, websites like OccupyStudentDebt.com and its partner OccupyColleges.org, much like the Occupy Wall Street movement, are websites to combat rising tuitions as well as encourage students to peacefully protest in order to make a point. Its no strange phenomenon to see media focusing on college student protests whenever a college mentions higher tuition. If theres one thing students get really emotional about its tuition. Debt is a lasting consequence that is difficult to get rid of. Some sixty year olds are still paying off debt today and a third of student loans today are currently help by adults over the age of 40 (OSD). Additionally, the consequences that can arise from prolonged student debt include bad credit, limits on opportunities, and hardships on living conditions and jobs. With 53% of new graduates facing difficulty finding jobs and facing unemployment, the default rate is

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estimated at one in five. In the United States, student loan debt has even managed to pass credit card debt (OSD).

This debt will follow new graduates into their careers and into their futures and will take years to get rid of, especially with the difficulty finding a job in todays society. Instead of starting clean and fresh, these graduates are perhaps facing worse conditions than others who dont have such debt in such a difficult economy. As OccupyCollege.org describes, student debt is delaying the steps of adulthood that are considered crucial to following the American dream, and withholding vital consumer spending that can stimulate the economy (Occupy). With such high costs, so much at stake, and the chance that things still might not work out in the end, why put forth all that money for a slim chance at success?

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So what if I told you that you could learn everything youd learn in college without ever having to pay those tuition fees or step foot in a lecture hall? Well a common idea has been surfacing within this emergence of analyzing college: the idea that instead of learning experiences in a classroom setting you can learn them even better, and with more meaning, in the real world. It seems pretty simple; things always have more meaning to a person when it happened to them directly. But if that should be the case, colleges wouldnt be here today. For example, Peter Thiel, Facebook investor and billionaire, decided to test this theory by giving 24 young adults currently in college $100,000 to drop out. A year later, two of these Thiel Fellows created an ecommerce website, one participant won a $260,000 young entrepreneurship award, and one sold his website on music gigs for over six figures (Hindman). Those against the argument go a step further to point out that not every student has the opportunity of $100,000, especially considering we just touched on the expenses and consequences of average tuition today. And admittedly, theres not much to be said about the remaining 20 young Thiel Fellows other than skipping from one project to another and not earning any extraordinary income. However, with every theory there are those that aim to disprove it and while many may claim the low success rate overpowers the lucky few, there is still much to be said about the four bright Thiel Fellows and their drive for success. Without having to go through college, these young adults were able to become successful on their own terms by their own means in only a year; they serve as a perfect example that classrooms and lectures arent necessary if you have the drive. Dale J. Stephens, another Thiel Fellow and founder of the website UnCollege.org, goes one step further and tries to teach young adults the skills they need without stepping foot in a classroom. UnCollege.org was founded to motivate young adults looking into college to step

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outside the box and hack their own education through self-discovery methods and meaningful experiences (UnCollege). In short, with its UnCollege Manifesto, the teachings focus on selfmotivation and worth by using experiences and reinforcement that feels more personal and organic than the classroom setting. Teachers may try to be inviting and a college may be very fitting for a young adult, but Dale supports the idea that some things cant be taught through lecture but live by an individual. Because the idea is only just picking up attention, Dale strives to combat the stereotypical standard reasons for going to college, such as building a network, self-discovery, learning in an engaging and vigorous learning community, and earning a degree that will put you one step ahead of others when choosing a career. All these, he goes on to explain, are over-exaggerated and over represented. The best way to learn is hands on, the network you make should not be your dorm mates and the smokers you meet every night by the benches, and the last place one wants to be to learn is college (Ojalvo). While society may have the enlightened vision of students spending every night studying and having educational discussions, it doesnt always turn out that way. While I cannot generalize all college students and assume the worst, and while Im sure its not all bad, there is usually equilibrium between classes and ones sense of fun in college. Additionally, another big component against colleges is the environment, whether that is the campus or the classes themselves. We know a healthy and inviting environment creates a pleasant and more open learning experience. However, with colleges, its sometimes difficult to achieve that environment. Assistant professor Jennifer Morrow, who focuses on college student development and teaching research, understands that approximately 22% of first-year college students do not return for their sophomore year, 65 percent of those left for non-academic reasons (Morrow). These reasons can be a students uncertainty of what they want, adjustment

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problems such as meeting people, and a lack of acceptance and welcome from the institution itself. College is a transition and no matter what classes we take to adjust, its an individual experience. Finally, following the same lines as Morrow and Stephens, many who are rising against colleges have a common worry on the safety of an individuals creativity and passion in college. While colleges strive and advertise a very individualistic approach, where an individual can be completely themselves and excel at their talents, many seem to disagree completely. Instead, it seems as if colleges, while perhaps unintentionally, reduce passion and individuality; a false advertisement on the colleges part. I believe this passionately: says Sir Ken Robinson, an international advisor on education in the arts, that we dont grow into creativity, we grow out of it. Or rather, we get educated out if it (Robinson). Its not that creativity is learned but rather given at birth and the only place to go with our given creativity is down, as we see with the education systems. Similarly, Dale Stephens agrees by stating that what we learn in college is the same skills we knew from high school: how to follow directions, meet deadlines, and memorize facts so we can pass our tests (Ojalvo). There seems to be little room in between for creativity and expression, for passion. And its not uncommon for many to just stick to what theyre relatively good at but dont like, just because they dont know their own talents or what theyre passionate about. Robinson goes on to explain that our current educational system follows the model of fast food: standardized and conformed, when really we need an agricultural approach in which education is tailored to a person and where colleges create the conditions under which an individual on their own can flourish. Its not evolution we need, but a revolution (Robinson).

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There is a stigma that education follows a linear routine, that there is a set path you must follow in order to position yourself for a life of success and prosperity. More often than not students go to college because they feel they must or because theyre told college is the next step. But life and education are organic and more often than not, cannot fit into molds. Were individuals, and being so, were unique. Two people can experience the same phenomenon and each have a different reactions. I thoroughly believe the same principle applies to schools and ways we learn. However, like all good arguments, theres always disagreement. Years back no one would have thought of criticizing colleges and even now its only just starting to gain momentum and attention. A recent Pew Research Center study shows that 95 percent of parents questioned expected their children to attend college after high school (Gumbrecht). Not to mention its the topic of education; students have an opinion, parents have an opinion, and professors are going to have an opinion about our current system. This is important to a lot of people. Those in favor of our current system still believe in the commonly accepted beliefs: that a degree is valuable, that there are more opportunities available, and that college serves to establish a network for oneself. Jeff McGuire, advice columnist on CollegeView.com claims that by going to college youre opening yourself to new opportunities but more importantly, to books and lectures by professionals, thus encouraging students to be curious, ask questions, and think outside the box (McGuire). However, one must not just assume curiosity and the drive to ask questions comes from colleges alone. Curiosity is human nature; it is fundamental to our survival but also to our personalities and lifestyles as well. Lectures may provide a wider array of information to be curious about, but if an individual has the drive, the curiosity, and the will to continually discover new things and think outside the box, a college education wont be too significant.

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Additionally, theres a push with those who support college to think beyond an individual. James Applegate, Vice President of Lumina which promotes higher education in America, is pushing more for a global, worldview approach. Lumina encourages the increase of American college graduates into the work force up to 60 percent by year 2025. Applegate believes the United States is falling below current standards in education around the world due to our current recession and its correlation with our high dropout rates. Because of this Applegate proposes Goal 2025 where, in order to remain in par with the rest of the world the United States must produce 278,000 graduates per year, every year: a 6.3% annual increase from where we are currently standing (5). Applegate encourages American youth into colleges as a way to solidify and maintain Americas status as an educated, democratic power. Hes urging a higher motive not as an individual but as a world view. However, while I understand wanting to maintain Americas status and global image, in this circumstance I believe the individual is more important. This is pertaining to an individuals future, and thus related to Americas future. Its this generation of young adults that will soon become prominent members and leaders in the United States. While pushing out graduates like manufactured goods might be faster and simpler, the results will be one of conformity and standardization with untapped talents and a lack of passion. By focusing on the individual, were creating a great diversity of individuals who are each prepared to pick up the responsibility and keep moving forward from their own experiences, not from a degree. Finally there is the commonly believed idea that those with a college degree will end up with a higher wage in the work force. While its true that theres seems to be a gap in wages between college graduates and those who did not attend or graduate, a gap of about $20,000 a year, the margins are fickle and many still do not put too much stock in the statistic (Pew). The

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gains matched with the tens of thousands of dollars in debt students acquire are leading many to look for other options and try their luck elsewhere. Its understandable to want a leg above others in todays economy and to have a set of skills that enable you to find a job faster than those without a degree. However, today 53% of new graduates face unemployment and of those currently working, 22% of those are working jobs that do not require a college degree (Gumbrecht). All in all, there is no conclusive amount of earnings one will earn over others with a degree and more often than not it depends on the person, the career and the location. Dont lose hope. Maybe college isnt right for everyone but that doesnt mean there are no other options out there to explore. Inventive people, such as Dale J Stephens with his UnCollege program, are out there working with this increasing group of young adult who dont fit within the college life. A big solution that is being thrown around in response is a throwback to the older American and European generations: apprenticeships. While seemingly outdated, apprenticeships work to teach young adults skills for a specific workplace or job that can be improved on and evolved into a high-wage job. Economics professor Robert Lerman, who studies youth unemployment in America is working to help gain more federal funding for apprenticeship practices. They're not the same as an after-school fast food job or a summer internship at dad's office. Apprenticeships require skill development in a workplace over a number of years. The education, which might be supplemented by classroom training, leads to a credential -- maybe a title, certification or diploma -- that proves mastery of a skill. During that time, apprentices are paid, and employers are getting another worker (Gumbrecht).

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College may not be for everyone, but apprenticeships offer an alternative solution for those who still wish to obtain and retain a successful job. By learning a trade, in replace for a college degree, young adults learn a useful skill without spending thousands of dollars only to fall through the cracks. And these are just a few of the options for young adults looking outside of college. Its important for youth to know where they lie, instead of figuring it out after thousands of dollars in debt has been acquired. If you happen to be one of those young adults reading this understand that there is more than one option and your talents are important to our future; talk with your parents, discuss your ideas, and investigate from there. High school graduates face a tough decision after graduation. They must both look ahead into their future while looking down to make sure theyre on what they deem to be the right path for them. I absolutely support a major analysis of the current educational system pertaining to colleges. While currently accepted to be necessary, colleges are losing their status fast due to their extreme tuition costs, outdated and overbearingly formal environment and classrooms, and suppression of creativity and passion. Every generation pushed through our linear path of the educational system is one step away from the great potential we can, and have the right, to be. College is losing its potential and in todays world of innovation, its no longer a necessity if a young adult has the drive. These are our neighbors, peers, children, nephews and nieces were talking about. Let them decide their future before pushing obligations, stigmas and expectations of their future into their open arms.

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Work Cited Applegate, James L. "Graduating The 21St Century Student: Advising As If Their Lives (And Our Future) Depended On It." NACADA Journal 32.1 (2012): 5-11. Education Research Complete. Web. 15 Oct. 2012. Gumbrecht, Jamie. If Not College, Then What? CNN.com. CNN, 11 Aug. 2011. Web. 29 Nov. 2012. Hindman, Nate C. "Peter Thiel Fellows One Year Later, Income Hard to Come By." Huffingtonpost.com TheHuffingtonPost.com, Inc. 08 Oct. 2012. Web. 20 Sept. 2012.

Is College Worth It? pewsocialtrends.org. Pew Research Center, 15 May 2011. Web. 26 Nov. 2012. McGuire, Jeff. Importance of College Education: Why it is Important to go to College. CollegeView.com. Hobson, n.d. Web. 4 Oct. 2012. Morrow, Jennifer Ann, and Margote E. Ackermann. "Intention To Persist And Retention Of First-Year Students: The Importance Of Motivation And Sense Of Belonging." 46.3 (2012): 483-491. Web. 15 Oct. 2012. Occupy Colleges. OccupyColleges.org. 2012. Web. 25 Sept. 2012.

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Occupy Student Debt. OccupyStudentDebt.com. OSD, 2012. Web. 23 Oct. 2012. Ojalvo, Holly Epstein. Why Go To College At All? NYTimes.com, The New York Times Company. 02 Feb. 2012. Web. 13 Sept. 2012. Robinson, Sir Ken. Bring on the Learning Revolution. Ted.com. Ted Conferences, LLC, May, 2010. Web. Sept. 2012. Stephens, Dale J. UnCollege.org. UnCollege, 2012. Web. 23 Sept. 2012. U.S Student Loan and Credit Card Debt. Chart. OccupyCollege.org. Web. 13 Sept. 2012

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