Arguementative Essay Example essay for CSN about education

Beals 1 Wesley Beals Instructor Robyn Rohde English 102 10 September 2022 Higher Education’s Obstacle Course “Go to college and success will follow,” is a phrase that almost every person has heard in today’s day and age. Study after study has shown the worth of a college education by showing that college graduates make more money than those who do not; have better chances at getting jobs; and go on to change the world (Owens; Hrabrowski). These benefits that come from a college education has also become the reason for the imperatives of politicians and rich people. In 2009, President Obama and Bill Gates called for “a rise in the college attainment rate to nearly 60 percent in less than a generation” (Carey). While there are aspirations of going to college and claiming the benefits, college is a challenging road. The road traveled is full of daunting deterrents and hurdles that one must overcome in order to go from going to college to graduating and claiming the blessings of a college education. In addition to the lofty aspirations for the country, these barriers and hurdles are becoming the heart of an ever-increasing debate about how to make higher education more accessible for everyone. Correct identification of those barriers is of upmost importance to not only politicians and school administration, but to all those who consider treading the path of higher education. The main barriers that are deterring more from higher education and its benefits are the lack of preparation in high school, evolving ideas and views about higher education, and the costs and financial impact of higher education. Lack of preparation or help in high school is a barrier preventing more from pursuing higher education. In his article, “College for All?” which Kevin Carey argues for reforms to high Beals 2 school education, Carey states, “Moreover, to succeed in college, students need to get a decent high school education. Many don't.” He further explains that high schools are struggling with high dropout rates, low stagnate test scores, and for the students that do graduate from high school, less than half get legitimate college preparation in high school (Carey). Without that proper preparation and tools for college, potential students do not feel they measure up to the challenge of higher education and for those who do go anyways, they must expend more effort and time to adjust to the rigors in higher education. In addition, more high schools are not counseling the students about their options for higher education. Freeman Hrabrowski shared in his op-ed titled, “College Prepares People for Life,” the current schools system does not help find and determine what options are perfect for them that aligns with their goals and situation. Hrabrowski goes on to share that higher education is a diverse environment containing schools and finical aid for all students’ types and backgrounds (Hrabrowski). Despite all these options, there is not an increase in college attainment and Hrawbroski shares that counseling is critical for students to navigate the complex environment of higher education. With the paralyzing amount of choice and lack of direction, searching for a college can become too overwhelming causing more to not consider or desire to go. This lack of counseling stems from a mix of lack of knowledge of all the options and the massive amount of effort to individually counsel with each student (Mokher et al.; Hrabrowski). With the lack of counseling, students not getting the adequate help they need to help navigate the diverse environment. High schools are not adequately helping or preparing students for higher education deterring more from going to college. In addition to the lack of preparation in high school, attitudes about the effectiveness and foundations of the current educational system are changing. As higher education has be become Beals 3 more widely available and more pursue an education, the effectiveness of just a bachelor’s degree has decreased as more jobs and careers are requiring more specific education. Along with the requirements of increased education is the issue of the pay of these jobs. Lawrence Mishel shared in an article that, “the inflation-adjusted wage of college graduates has not improved in a decade”. To which he concludes that, “A four-year college degree is not the panacea that many people think it is.”(Mishel). With this increased scrutiny of the benefits of the just a bachelor’s degree, more students decide another path. Sir Ken Robinson goes a step further in his TED talk about the need to shift ideas about education, by arguing that the current education system is based in archaic ideas of the Enlightment not the modern world and these prevailing ideas do not help more students succeed (1:56-2:40 ;7:43-10:21). He further argues that education is not developing divergent or creative thinking skills that are critical for life in the modern world (Robinson). This stymieing of creativity and divergent thinking discourages more from pursuing higher education and seeking a more liberating educational or career model. The foundations and motivations surrounding higher education are shifting and being scrutinized deterring people from going. Lastly, the costs and the financial impact of going to college is a major barrier from going to college. While multiple studies have shown that the economic benefits of going to college over a lifetime, the costs of higher education has radically gone up in recent years and financial resources are not helping relieve the burden (Owens). In the introduction to his study about the relationship between credit card use and degree attainment, Benjamin Andrews made this observation, “Tuition prices continued to rise, state funding for higher education declined, and the mean family income declined or stagnated for all but the top 20 percent of families.” With all the increased costs on all fronts, more and more students are needing to rely on large students Beals 4 loans (Owens). Credit cards, with their proliferation among young people, have also been used to bridge the gap between college costs and putting students in a more precarious financial situation (Andrews). These loans and credit card debt have been the source of controversies and has dramatically affected people’s financial state even after college. This negative impact happens because of the fact that interest accumulates quickly on the loans and students right out of college often do not have the means to pay them back immediately. Students then spend a good percentage of time and money paying those loans back and sometimes never fully paying them off. This is a heavy burden on students and their families and many see the high price tag for higher education and choose not to go. Despite all the economic benefits that are associated, the cost of higher education is a powerful reason to not go to college. The barriers that deter more students from pursuing a higher education are insufficient preparation in high school, changes in views about education and its foundations, and the costs both short-term and long-term. High schools are not exposing students to the rigors of college education and there is insufficient counseling with students about the options. Education is not as all-powerful and game changing as it has been in the past and the very foundations are not modernized. The price tag and money investment are becoming overbearing and the solution of student loans and credit cards are the set up for financial disaster. In order for the blessing of higher education to be spread to others and the goals of our society to be reached, these are the main barriers that need to be removed. With these barriers removed, more can claim the success that is commonly shared and go forward to change society and the wider world.