English Literature

There has always been controversy regarding the necessity of a college degree in a persons life. In the olden days, people used to acquire good and highly paying jobs after graduating from high school. However nowadays, with the advancement in technology, changed customer demands, increased employer expectations and new ways of cutting costs, people and companies are coming to the realization that high school education may not equip people fully with the necessary skills to cope with the changing demands at their workplaces and in life generally (Covey, 2006). There is however the evidence of people who have succeeded in life without necessarily acquiring a college degree. This is a paper that agrees to the argument that college degree is a necessity to an individuals success in life.

There are many reasons as to why it is necessary to acquire a college degree. Firstly, college education equips the students with more advanced skills when compared to the high school level. In high school, the students basically take what the teacher offers without necessarily questioning it (Welsh  Foster, 1991). In college, it is different in that the students question what is offered by the teachers they experiment and even come up with better methods of doing things. In the process, it improves their critical thinking which is very necessary in the working environment. When the students complete their education irrespective of the level, they are expected to make decisions in life and at the workplace. A person who has undergone college education would be more equipped with the necessary life skills like time management skills, communications skills among others to cope with lifes challenges than a person who completed their education at high school level (Nist-Olejnik  Holschuh, 2007).

Secondly, getting a decent job in todays society is very difficult for a person who does not have a college degree. At almost all the levels of employment, a college degree is a prerequisite for recruiting people at entry levels for corporate employers. Even if by going to college an individual may not know everything, it indicates that they are capable of learning new things something that is very important to the employers. It also shows that one can apply knowledge in the different fields of life. When a student undergoes a three or four year course, it creates a certain kind of responsibility and the employers may feel that such a person can oversee a project or an activity until something is achieved out of it. Basically, college education equips the students with very many skills that enable them to be picked by employers, something that maybe could not have happened with a high school graduate (Nist-Olejnik  Holschuh, 2007).

Thirdly, college education increases the chances of getting a higher pay. Statistics show that during the working life of an adult, a high school graduate is likely to earn approximately 1.2 million dollars on average. On the other hand, a college graduate would on average earn about 2.1 million dollars (Covey, 2006). This shows that there is a very big difference in the earnings of a person who has gone to college and one who has not. This difference is in most cases clearly indicated by the living conditions of these two kinds of people. The person with a higher income is in a better position to invest more, take the children to better schools and have general better living standards than one who has not (Covey, 2006).

The fourth reason for the acquisition of a college degree is the increased social values. Studies indicate that there is a correlation between college education and economic growth, family and cultural values. It is also evident that compared to high school graduates, the people who undergo college education are in a better position to handle the societal problems better than the ones who completed their education at high school level. They are as well more equipped in the preparation of their childrens future. These people tend to be more optimistic as far as their lives in general are concerned. These people work hard on personal progress and development more than the people who do not acquire college education (Covey, 2006).

Fifthly, college education allows the students to try out things of a wide variety. By the time that students are graduating from high school, they usually do not know the exact thing that they would want to do. Making life decisions is usually a task to them since they do not have much exposure regarding life. In college however, students have much independence and they have to make decisions as far as their academics, social and spiritual lives are concerned. This lays a very good foundation in their decision making and by the time they are completing their course, they can definitely make better decisions than they could when they finished high school. Success in life has much to do with making choices and decisions. On average, a person who has gone to college would be in a position to make better decisions and this implies that they are likely to be more successful in life than a person whose education ended after completing high school (Welsh  Foster, 1991).

The sixth reason for the necessity of college education for ones success in life is the advancement in their careers and education. After getting the basic education, if one would require to get a masters degree, they cannot do so without a bachelors one (Welsh  Foster, 1991). That means that a person who finished his education at high school level has lower chances of getting a masters degree or any other degree which requires one to have a minimum of a bachelors degree. It is the same with careers in that the people with lower academic credentials are less likely to be promoted than the ones who have college education. As one continues to be promoted, they earn higher salaries and gain more experience (Covey, 2006).

There are many more reasons as to why college education is considered a necessity if one is to succeed in their lives. It is not only a personal investment but also, the whole family can benefit from it in many ways. If this extends to the society, the benefits increase since more people will have better paying jobs, there would be more tax revenue for the government and the society at large would live a better life. College education expands an individual skills and knowledge. It enables people to grasp theories and concepts which are abstract. It also helps people to understand their community and the world better. All these things are very important in life and they therefore make college education a necessity for success in life.