Education And Social Mobility In The 1970's

People who attend college are more likely to succeed, have financial stability, and are able to get steady jobs. Many Americans who attend college go on to have very successful lives. To begin, some people believe that because of the price of college, it “encourages children, parents and schools to aim low.” (Leonhardt). This could be a result of their parents not encouraging them

As a child all throughout our life we are told that going to college will guarantee us a successful future. By successful many people mean that your secured a job after graduating and you will not have to struggle in life as much as people who didn’t go to college. But what if actually going to college may not guarantee you a successful future? Many college students after graduating are unemployed. Also, going to college can be a very expensive cost.

College is worth the cost, because people that attend college usually end up making more money in the end. People that attend college obtain better and higher paying jobs. “The average debt now is about thirty thousand dollars for kids” (Anthony). Those with a bachelor’s degree or higher have higher earnings than the people with less education

What causes poverty? A question such as this is important to consider when trying to determine why the income gap in America has increased so greatly. Based from Maya Wesby’s article Why the Rich Stay Rich and the Poor Stay Poor, the key determinate to someone’s financial success is related to the environment in which they are raised. It is essentially the privileges of being born or brought into a wealthy family that gives them the advantage over the majority of the population. The most interesting part of this to me is that those who are privileged enough to have these advantages in life often do not see themselves as so.

There is no doubt that college tuition today is substantially higher than ever before, making future students think twice about whether college is right for them. Students with a sense of direction on what they want with their career seem to have the upper hand on using college for the beneficial education it can provide. In contrast, some students are drawn to college for the wrong reasons such as parties and luxuries. This sometimes effects the outlook of college from beneficial to non-beneficial. Although many see college as challenging educationally and financially, they don’t take into account that college is a stepping stone and gives an advantage to a stable life.

For example, if a male does not have a father to discipline him, he may turn into a kid that fights at school, because he does not have that discipline that he would get from a father. However, just because they only have a mother does not mean they will end up violent. As long as their mother raises them correctly, they will be a well adjusted citizen. It is also stated that if a single mom has a child they may become poor. Robert Franklin, author of the article “Children Need Both Parents, Even after Divorce” , implies, “single mothers with children living with them are far more likely to live in poverty than is any other segment of society”.

It is said that a well-educated workforce is a key to state prosperity and that college is considered the great equalizer, but rising school costs and crushing debt for students in the United States are beginning to take their toll. Community college enrollment has been on the decline for many years, and the trend may not reverse anytime soon (citation), yet steps to encourage college attendance are already being taken. Free community college for responsible students over the span of two years has already been proposed by former President Barack Obama (citation), while states such as Tennessee, Oregon, and Minnesota are offering some form of free college. Free community college is a very controversial subject with many opposing viewpoints, but the advantages of free education, such as an increased number of educated individuals, less student debt, and more educational freedom, could outweigh the potential disadvantages.

Why Students Should Not Go to College The progression from high school to college is one that requires maturity, independence, and responsibility. While there are ways to help prepare for it, such as getting a part-time job or internship, touring the campus and nearby towns, and planning long-term finances, the drastic changes in a lifestyle of dependence to one of independence that students are forced to go through can be shocking. Because college focuses on highly specialized training for jobs that will inevitably be monotonous and low-paying, and because it drains money from young adults who have little to no source of income, students should consider alternative options after high school. Colleges stress the importance of a higher level

Colleges should be more affordable We all have heard the saying “money can’t buy happiness.” This is true to a certain extent, Many people don’t have enough money to go college for jobs of their interest causing them to live unhappily and not make as much money. “Without a decent job with decent pay, people will fall into poverty. This is mostly has to do with financial situations. Tons of people aren't able to afford to go to college and get the practice they need. Colleges should be more affordable instead of over charging.

High school students are encouraged and/or expected to attend a four-year university where they can achieve a Bachelor's degree. They are told if they get their Bachelor’s, they can get a good paying job. Not only that, but there's the mentality that if you don’t go to college, you’re not successful in life. It's important be well informed because that saying is not true all the time. Some people don’t need to go to a four-year college because it's not for everyone.

Hunter College is a place where people are financially stable and have worked towards their wealth and success as shown also through education meaning people living there are slightly older. The per capita income in Hunter College is $126,589 and Hunt’s Point Ave is immensely lower at $11,698. The per capita income dictates where people lie financially individually and what is affordable. As previously stated race and income are correlated in both communities. The household income for Hispanics in Hunt’s Point Ave is $29,145 and in Hunter College it is $77,361.

Around May, many high school students are forced to wonder the same thing: is college really worth the cost of tuition? To many, it appears to not be worth the cost, however, I disagree. In most cases, spare for a few rare exceptions, a college degree is almost entirely worth the costly tuition fees. Unemployment rates are far higher for those who did not go to college than those who did, and the salaries are higher for those who have. It is also far easier for those who get a college degree to find a job.

Discussing the rate of return on education where statistically it shows college graduates are likely to make more money, and that one extra year of college may increase a person’s salary. However, as stated by Owen and Sawhill, “The cost of college matters as well: the more someone has to pay to attend, the lower the lower the benefit of attending” (209). I agree with the author’s assessment here as people who graduate from college with on specific degree have loans for many years and until retirement for some. This is enough of a reason for not going to college for many, as student loans debt can be destructive and should be avoided, because they lead to expansive financial obligations that are difficult to pay off and inhibit a person’s ability to save money. This effect college graduate and delays them in retirement savings, car and home

College is expensive, yes, but is it worth going? Many people struggle with the choice of going to college and being in debt or not going to college and being debt free. The choice of being debt free sounds good but in the long run, college is worth it. A study by the bureau of labor showed the weekly earnings and unemployment rates from people with less than a high school diploma up to people with a doctoral degree. The average weekly earnings for someone with a high school diploma is about 668 dollars.

In the survey, most students reported at least little to no student loans in their time in college. As opposed to other high-end universities like Harvard and Yale, tuition size can substantially change the amount a student can pay. By comparison, a 40,000 dollar tuition will be higher than an average of 5,000 tuitions. In this information alone, students going to public colleges will end up paying less debt than those with higher tuition. While it is not a discouragement to avoid higher costing schools, it is important for students to remember their