When it's getting close to the end of your senior year of high
school, all you can think about is what you're going to wear to the all night
party, what vacations you're going on over the summer, which friends you will
be spending the most time with; but what about college? But it's not just
high school students that are thinking about higher education. Teachers
who decide they want a masters degree might go back to college, or someone who
recently lost their job needs higher education to get a good job now.
How do we know that going to college is a growing phenomenon?
"The projected number of students enrolled in the nation's colleges
and universities for the fall of 2011 was 19.7 million. This is up from
14.4 million twenty years ago." (Statistical Abstract of the United
States: 2011). Also, 16% of
all college students were 35 and older in October 2009.” ( Social and Economic Characteristics of Students: October 2009). This
means that students of all ages are now pursuing a higher education. But why?
The need for a higher degree in our society is
what drives people to get one. Twenty years ago when our parents were
graduating high school, you could get just about any job with just a high
school degree, but now, most of the jobs our parents have require you to have
at least a two-year college degree. Even McDonald's is requiring some
kind of college attendance in order to become a manager now. I think that
this is the main reason people decide to go to college.
The need for a
higher degree in our society is what drives people to get one. Twenty years ago
when our parents were graduating high school, you could get just about any job
with just a high school degree, but now, most of the jobs our parents have
require you to have at least a two-year college degree. Even McDonald's
is requiring some kind of college attendance in order to become a manager now.
I think that this is the main reason people decide to go to college.
Also,
college is super functional for our society.
College collects tons of money for our economy. Buying books, paying for classes, students
rent houses in the area, buy food at the grocery store and restaurants. College towns collect way more money than
they would without a college in their area.
In
terms of pursuing a higher education though, it is functional for each
individual that attends college. Each
person with a college degree has a much better shot at having a successful
career and being able to provide for themselves and their family for the rest
of their life.
Pursuing
a higher education can also be related to conflict theory based on the class
system. If someone comes from a low
class family, and knows that they want to change their lifestyle for their
family in the future, that could be a big reason to seek a college degree.
Not
everyone has the money or the ability to receive higher education, but I
believe it is becoming more and more necessary every day because of the
pressures from society. In order to have
a high paying career, you must obtain a college degree, therefore most people
these days are extremely driven to do so.
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