Four Year College Argument Analysis

Can Two Be Greater Than Four? Does college really matter? Has college lost its rite to passage appeal? Can one still go to college and be successful in the pursuit of self-discovery? These are the types of questions that Liz Addison challenges in her short essay “Two Years Are Better Than Four”. By taking into account my own experience as a current community college student and advocate, in this response to Addison’s essay I choose to elaborate on her views of community college being better than a four year university in the sense of offering a better college experience.

In my opinion, I agree with Murray’s claim that four year college is not worth, job satisfaction for intrinsic reward, and the dark side of the Bachelor's degree. In my view, Murray’s is right, because college requires student to take 32 courses in four years or longer and not all courses are relate to the field they study with. More specifically, I believe that four years college will take more time to achieve our goal and knowledges doesn’t teach us how to make a living in our society. Murray described in his article, “More people should be getting the basic of a liberal education. But for most students, the places to provide those basics are elementary and middle school” (235).

A rising issue in today’s society is deciding whether or not college is worth the cost. There is an extreme amount of pressure that is forced upon high school students by parents, teachers, and peers to further their education and attend college. However, there is research that challenges the thought that college is the best possible path for a person to take. College may be a great investment for some people, but it is not meant for everyone. This is supported by the arguments that colleges are expensive, jobs do not always require a college degree, and students are forced to choose a lifestyle before being exposed to the real world.

You must understand that most people that go to college do not get the degree they want in the timespan they are hoping to get it “only 21% of first-time, full-time students earn an associate’s degree within three years” (Weise). many people don 't finish college even when paying all the expensive costs ,“The 2013 6-year graduation rate for first-time, full-time undergraduate students who began their

Recently, many have begun to attack and degrade higher education in the United States. In the book How College Works, authors Daniel Chambliss and Christopher Takacs claim, “As state support has eroded, and as more students attend college in an increasingly desperate attempt to find viable jobs, the price to students of attending an institution of higher education has gone up, especially at more selective institutions” (172). So is college even worth it? Caroline Bird’s excerpt from her book Case Against College “Where College Fails Us” is an adequately written article that agrees with those who question whether college is a good investment. Bird argues that although some students would benefit from college and succeed, many fall short, wasting

Liz Addison’s essay, “Two Years Better Than Four,” was first published in the New York Times Magazine back in September of 2007. Addison went to two community colleges and majored in biology; earning her degree in 2008. In her essay, she is responding to Rick Perlstein's article “What’s the Matter with College?” in which he claims, “College as America used to understand it is coming to an end” (211). Addison refutes Perlstein’s claims by saying, “My guess, reading between the lines, is that Mr. Perlstein has never set foot in an American community college” (212).

In Charles Murray’s essay “Are Too Many People Going to College,” he believes that the concept of college has changed over the years. According to him, a four-year college is no longer as necessary as it was when it was first created because most jobs requires more on job training. He also adds to his reasoning by mentioning that because of the advancement of internet, physical libraries and the physical proximity of student and teachers is less important. Because of the changes he noticed he believes that people should go to college but not for liberal education. He makes the claim that the basic core knowledge of liberal education should be learned in elementary and middle school and that only people with high academic abilities should be encouraged to go to college.

Is College Worth the Cost? Life’s success is achieved in different ways. (Director, n.d.) A lot of television programs and magazines instills the idea in us that being successful means; having a fulfilling career, having a lot of money and being powerful. Most religious and spiritual organizations, in contrast, claim that success means being at peace with God and finding spiritual happiness.

What is a college education? What is it meant for? Are too many high school graduates attending a four-year post-secondary education? James Adams said, “There are two educations. One should teach us how to make a living and the other how to live.”

Community colleges are typically generalized into being less academically serious than established four-year universities. Although four-year universities get all of the hype from current students and alumni, many high school graduates opt to attend two-year institutions. Community colleges are often used as a launching point for students to start earning their bachelor’s degree. In choosing this path, a student would benefit in many ways, including cheaper tuition, and a faster, highly vocational education plan. Four year universities typically require three times the amount of tuition that a community college does.

In the United States a community college is defined as a nonresidential junior college offering courses to people living in a particular area. They are post secondary schools and are also referred to as junior colleges, vocational or technical schools because generally the course of study is for two years. The student can earn an associates degree or certification and/or continue their education by transfering to a four year college to complete their educational pursuits and earn a Bachelor 's degree. Community colleges started in the late 1800’s and have grown and evolved over the years. Today many four year colleges and universities have become so expensive to attend that many prospective students are opting for the more affordable alternative of a community college for their first two years of study where they can save money by living at home and taking classes that will transfer to a four year institution, however, there are students that cannot afford the lower cost of community colleges.

College is one of the most important and life changing times in the life of an American. Leaving high school behind and venturing out to the adult world is an amazing experience that every individual should experience. However, young adults from every corner of the country leave college with crippling debt or do not go to their preferred college of choice. College education should be cheaper as it will help families and students financially and give them the satisfaction with having the opportunity to go to their first choice for college.

In the article, “Bridges or Barriers”, the writer tells the readers that “Community colleges have a critical role to play in providing access to the American dream.” Community colleges do have a critical role in achieving the American dream, but in order to achieve success you’re going to have to want it. Money is probably the main reason people attend community based colleges. The writer of “Bridges or Barriers,” mentions that “More than 6.5 million students attend the nearly 1,200 two-year colleges, located in all 50 states. Sixty-five percent of students from families with incomes of less than $20,000 attend community colleges”, that’s a high percentage of families receiving a very low income.

Community college can benefit society in several ways. “Higher education is correlated with lifestyle changes that end up costing society less for health costs, crime, unemployment, and the skills students acquire at community colleges benefit businesses by increasing worker productivity...” observes Kate Wheeling, Miller-McCune Center for Research. The increased business productivity, along with the higher wages community college graduates earn, benefit society as a whole by raising money and strengthening the

The associates degree at a two year community college is becoming the newest way to combat rising college costs. Students are no longer seeing enrollment as a freshman in a four year college as the only path to a degree. The stigma attached to attending community college has declined while at the same time the attitude towards the cost of attending a four year school has been one of growing disdain. My dad has attended the Bethel Park High School graduation for the last twenty-five years and he said he has noticed an obvious increase in the number of students listing Community College of Allegheny County for their post high school plans in the graduation program. The cost per year at a community college makes it an attractive option to limit the aggregate cost of a four year degree.