As the costs of higher education continue to climb, students might find themselves wondering about whether or not they should even consider applying to college. The average cost of attending a college as an international student is around 50,000 dollars. Add to this living costs which vary based on the location of the school and the total could reach almost 100,000 dollars a year. College is a big investment of time, money, and effort and the rewards seem like they should be equivalent to the investment. One should be able to find a job that compensates one in a way equivalent to the amount of work that one puts in for a college degree.
In addition, one goes to college because it is a rite of passage and for the respect that comes with having a higher education degree. On the other hand, one could always just jump straight into learning a trade or skill that would be valuable in the world of jobs. Learning a skill might even be more efficient and cost less. One could learn quickly and start looking for a job. However, despite the advantages or efficiency of learning a skill in order to quickly enter the workforce, the pursuit of higher education is priceless, immeasurable, and should be available to everyone.
The main difference between higher education and learning a skill is that higher education is a different kind of learning. College attempts to capture some of the abstract values of society. Harvard’s motto, for example, is “veritas” which is Latin for “truth.” These higher education institutions attempt to pursue values that are beyond simply getting a job. In fact, most elite colleges require students to complete general education requirements that include history classes, math classes, foreign language classes, science classes, and composition classes.
These classes are meant to help students learn more about the world they live in and to ask them to reflect critically on this world and to formulate and express their own ideas about the world around them. These skills may not actually have any use at all in the workforce or even in the careers that students later pursue, but they are valuable for living life. In fact, once students enter the workforce they may never have the chance to think deeply about these unique topics and discuss them in a similar context ever again.
College provides a space where students can think deeply about things like novels, art, and values and discuss them among peers. Such a space is difficult to find outside of the academic system. In addition to the values of reflection and critical thinking, challenging students to think about things they may not have ever encountered such as foreign cultures or historical events, which means that students have the chance to expand their minds and grow into different people.
The abstract ideas that reflect higher values are taught through training students to use critical thinking, problem solving, and writing, important things that might not be learned in trade school. The challenging coursework, debate and discussions, and diversity workshops found in college may not directly lead to a future job, but these critical thinking skills and solving problems could be used beneficially in real life. Studying Shakespeare and Nietzche may not help one become a better surgeon, but it could help one become better at empathizing with patients and understanding the ethics of being a healthcare professional. In addition to learning about more abstract parts of the world, higher education can provide practical skills as well.
After writing complex essays on a variety of subjects, you may get better at communication and writing as well as give you confidence in developing your own ideas. These abstract skills are helpful both in many working situations as well as in private life. Being able to wield a variety of writing skills is helpful in conveying authority, capability, and expertise.
Furthermore, going to college is for many a rite of passage that teaches life skills and creates meaningful memories. The culture of going to college has benefits that trade school could never provide. College is where many students gain their independence and experience personal growth. Generally speaking, students live independently during their college years, where they can learn many skills such as time management, cooking, and managing a household.
Mental and psychological growth also occurs during college years such as learning coping skills, ways to combat insecurities, and more about oneself. The freedom to find oneself is crucial to developing one’s own beliefs and convictions, which can lead to one becoming a more engaged member of society. While these explorations can be done without college, for many it is during the college period that one experiences all these changes. Being apart from one’s social system allows one to explore new ideas. If a student from a conservative family encounters liberal ideas during college, they can think deeply about these ideas before committing themselves to their own beliefs.
College provides practical advantages over trade schools as well. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, college degree holders have a better chance of making higher average salaries than post-secondary non-degree holders. Non-degree holders earn up to $37,670 and $52,830 with an associate degree. However, bachelor’s degree holders earn $72,830 and can even reach up to $103,820 after completing a master’s or doctorate degree. In addition, college can give students skills that are applicable to a wider range of jobs. College students can switch their majors or careers, which provides them flexibility. College graduates may also take jobs that are not fully related to their majors.
In comparison, trade school students devote themselves to the study of highly specialized skills that do not allow much flexibility in the workforce. A car mechanic, for example, will have trouble searching for a new career in dentistry, but a dentist can more easily adapt to other healthcare jobs with minimal schooling.
Moreover, college helps students build their network and networking skills. College is a very important and precious time during which students can build connections that will impact them for the rest of their lives. In college, students encounter a diverse group of people with different skills, interests, and future career options. The value of these connections goes beyond being able to find a job in your field.
It could lead to unique collaborations and discussions out of which brand new ideas could come. In contrast, a strong focus on learning professional skills in trade school could limit the amount of people that students can encounter as well as the ideas and possibilities that come with meeting a variety of people from different parts of life.
At trade schools, students train for a specific profession, which means one will only meet others who are learning the same trade. If one attends trade school for plumbing, for example, one will only interact with others studying to be a plumber. However, college possesses a wider range of people studying for different majors, which will have a greater opportunity to meet a plethora of people. If you are an art major, you can build your network with people majoring in business, architecture, engineering, education, and mathematics. This might lead to innovative collaborations in the future or simply interesting conversation partners.
In conclusion, both trade schools and colleges provide things that are necessary for a society to thrive, but there are certain things that can only be found in a pursuit of higher education that need to be available to everyone. Trade schools teach necessary skills that society needs.
However, college can provide learning experiences that everyone needs individually. The focused reflection and the time spent in exploring and expanding the mind is a crucial part of becoming an individual as well as a member of society. In many ways, college provides students with more than what a trade school offers. Trade schools are important as well, however, and the values of critical thinking, reflection, problem solving, and writing should be incorporated into trade school curriculums. True learning should be a right not restricted to colleges.
By: David Kim
Write and Win: Participate in Creative writing Contest & International Essay Contest and win fabulous prizes.
