The Investment Towards a College Education

"What college should I attend, What is worth my money, and should I even bother to go to college?"
Trying to figure out all the answers to those questions can be quite overwhelming, each matter must be approached differently, from what academics are offered at the school, how much is the tuition for the academia, where is the location, who will hire me with my hard-earned degree". Not to mention the possibility of not being prepared for college after highschool is highly likely, as it was for me in my case.

When going about choosing a college institute, a student must speculate whether attending an Ivy League college would make a difference compared to a state, city or community college. Many people say when a student attends an Ivy League college they will be widely accepted and offered many opportunities. This statement is passed around by everybody and it must be because of an experience another student had. Although, the truth is the college does not determine whether a person will be making a good living after they earn their degree. It may play a major role in the skills and perspective a student may have attained throughout college but it will not determine that the student will be successful. It is possible that a student earning a degree from a state, city or community college will make a better living than a student who earns a degree from an "eminent" Ivy-League college. As reported in the Chronicle of Higher Education by an academic researcher employed at Stanford University's Hoover Institution "students will not necessarily get better educations at more-prestigious institutions with higher paid faculty - especially since a college's prestige depends primarily on its professors' research and publications" (Sowell A-34). So, the success does not necessarily depend on the college a person attends but at how they navigate and network throughout opportunistic experiences. Colleges are remarked as 'ivy-league' or 'prestigious' institutes based on the achievements of the professors, and as for the students, they must enjoy the experience of reading their professors publications, well indepth. Many self-sufficient, satisfied, and insightful graduates and even undergraduates can make a good living after completing their education at state colleges, city colleges, community colleges and any post-secondary education institutes of a diligent and arduous reputation. Attending any college, regardless of the location and the records of its achievements, can and will provide a prospective student a wide range of opportunities that can be attained through focus, dedication, and hard work.

All people are different and each of them has their own work approach therefore their own outlook on the value of a college education. Some people may look at education as a waste of time and others may embrace the information given to them year after year. The more time dedicated to college, the more likely a person will be receiving a job that pays well. As stated in a speech by Richard L. Weaver, a professor in the Department of Interpersonal Communication of Bowling Green State University "The true value of a college education is unique to each person; you get out of college what you are willing to invest in it"(11) . People invest in a college education in hope of receiving more opportunities to get jobs with better pay, although it turns out many people do not always receive the pay they thought they would receive with their degree. Sometimes this happens because of the career they choose.

The career path chosen is the most significant part of going to college as it manifests itself into the student's life. Most of the people who settle down for a job they believe is providing them "good" pay will most likely not attend anymore college to obtain a job that has the potential to increase their financial income. An example of this situation could be of a student who decides to become a waiter or waitress, their salary wages will most likely be in the median annual earnings of $14,850 according to the Occupational Outlook Handbook of 2007, which consist of information supplied by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. To work serving people, for hours a day only to make that much a year would be a burden. Students who do choose to go to any sort of post secondary training institutes will chose a career path of their interest and obtain an opening in the future that will most likely be a fixed and/or permanent job that has the possibility of having a higher salary rate. These college students might want to look into occupations that will make a well-earned profit such as aerospace engineering, air traffic controlling, becoming an orthodontist, a prosthodontist and maybe even becoming a lawyer since these professions can make up to an median annual earning over $100,000. Although sometimes, it all depends on the competition set out in the field of study whether a person will be able to obtain any jobs with good pay. An employer will always take someone with much more experience and training because they know it will be beneficial to their business, so a student might want to enlightened himself or herself on whether the businesses they plan to work for will be looking for a person with certain qualifications. The occupations listed above are likely to be the best choices when looking for a career but as the people say do what you like. As for me, I enjoy making money so I would go with the occupations listed above.

At the end of a student's postsecondary training, they should be well equipped to succeed in their goals by receiving a job that pays well and that they enjoy doing. I believe the best occupation a person can choose with a lot of potential to increase their financial income and invest the least amount of time would be to become an airplane pilot. A prospective student should always conduct research, know whether their chosen career path will be beneficial, ideal for their lifestyle, and in the end, be worth the money invested in that college education.

Goldsen, Rose K. "Studying the Effects of College Education: Methodical Examination of Changing Values in College (Book)." American Sociological Review 25.6 (Dec. 1960): 998-998 Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. LaGuardia Community Coll. Lib., Long Island City, NY. 20 July 2008 http://rpa.laguardia.edu:2048/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=12875481&site=ehost-live

Samuelson, Robert J. "The value of college." Newsweek 31 08 1992: 75. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. LaGuardia Community Coll. Lib., Long Island City, NY. 21 July 2008. http://rpa.laguardia.edu:2048/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=9208311309&site=ehost-live

Sowell, Thomas. "A Prestigious Degree Doesn't Always Equal Success." Chronicle of Higher Education 54.19 (18 Jan. 2008): A34-A34. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. LaGuardia Community Coll. Lib., Long Island City, NY. 8 July 2008 /rpa.laguardia.edu:2048/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=28552032&site=ehost-live>.

Weaver, Richard L. "Ten suggestions for making the most of a college education" Vital Speeches of the Day 61.1 (15 Oct. 1994): 11. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. LaGuardia Community Coll. Lib., Long Island City, NY. 21 July 2008 http://rpa.laguardia.edu:2048/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=9411071824&site=ehost-live.