It does get to you sometimes doesn't it? Mostly when you get home, and the idiots that you left behind are all having a great time and spending lots of money, whilst you are still dirt poor, and can hardly afford to get a round of drinks. Then, while they’re out hitting the local bars and clubs, you're sitting indoors, desperately trying to study for this important essay paper that has been overdue for a couple of weeks now.
It is at low points like these that dropping out of college seems like a wonderful idea. But is it really? We are going to have a look at some of the pros and cons of dropping out of the higher educational system and see if we can get you back on track if you are a little lost.
It is difficult not to lose perspective when you are in the midst of a crisis; be it workload, illness, or family problems. The most important thing to remember is to look at the investment in college as a long-term proposition. All you want out of this is a piece of paper and a record that proves to anyone who asks that you are capable of tenacity, concentration, and have the stamina to see projects through to the end - no matter how complicated or difficult they may seem.
In the cut-throat world of commerce and business, it is essential that any employer sees you as an asset to their activities, and this is far easier to prove with a certificate telling them that you have a degree, to a certain standard, from an educational institution which is respected and well regarded. Most businesses do not have a clue how to evaluate the skills that they need to so that they can rely on those same skills to take their business forward. A college degree takes the onus away from them because they know that if a university has accepted, taught you, tested you, and ultimately, given you the award of a credible degree, then you are a proven entity, and that proof is worth serious money over the course of a lifetime.
There are many statistics available about the figures involved in such arguments; for example, in April 2013, the unemployment rate for college graduates over 25 was 3.6%, as opposed to 7.5% for the equivalent aged high-school graduates. There were 19.9 million students enrolled in colleges and universities in 2013.
On average, a graduate of a college with a bachelor's degree will earn $500,000 more over a lifetime, than a high school graduate. In annual terms, they will earn $30,000 a year more. With more and more jobs requiring college degrees, it is difficult to say how a reasonably intelligent young person, entering the workplace today, can avoid joining the fray.
Obtaining a college degree is a massive life achievement, and many people regard it as the greatest day of their lives, (give or take their wedding day perhaps). Going to college will enable the students to meet a range of people from different walks of life, different countries, and different cultures; broadening their horizons and expanding their knowledge and experience.
In terms of pure monetary value, as a return on investment, a college degree will net 15% per year, as opposed to housing at 4% and the stock market at 6.8%. A degree will allow you to pick and choose more carefully, those jobs which are offered, and give you a higher negotiating price in the marketplace.
One of the more tangible aspects of the earning power of a degree is that healthcare is more affordable; and simply buying better quality foods, holidays, and living arrangements mean that life expectancy is much higher. College graduates live six years longer than high school graduates, on average. 70 percent of college graduates have access to employee provided health insurance and retirement plans, as opposed to 55 percent of high school graduates, and 30% of those who did not finish high school at all. As you can see; these are powerful arguments.
Against all of these, will be people who tell you that student loans are a millstone around you, or your family's, necks for evermore, with an average loan balance of $20,000, and 10% of students having debts of over $40,000. These are big sums of money to be adrift, and the argument is that these debts often mean that college graduates have to put off their financial independence, marriage, buying a home, and may even be forced to live with their parents, while getting themselves into a position where they are financially autonomous.
One of the consequences of the financial crash of 2008, and the subsequent fallout, is that many college graduates found themselves working in jobs which did not require a college degree. Indeed, having a college degree no longer guarantees a job, and certainly not, as it once did, a job for life.
The sheer number of students gaining degrees has actually undermined the value and rarity of such a qualification. It seems that many college graduates are now the unemployed or under-employed. There has been a massive resurgence in people learning trades and skills which do not require the higher educational standards or the kind of financial outlay needed for college.
We, at Pro Custom Writing, are firm believers in education, and feel that gaining a degree is a worthwhile and laudable ambition. We have a range of services to help students when life is getting a little tough on campus. Have a look at our website, and, think twice before you decide to drop out of college!