http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/02/fashion/saying-no-to-college.html?ref=education --pretty interesting article
With the increasing costs of undergraduate education and the availability of free educational resources (google, wiki) college, as this article suggests, may be overvalued. This article claims that talented individuals will succeed regardless of whether or not they attend college. In fact, attending college may slow down their progression. I agree with this claim when it pertains to a small segment of "superstar" brains. However, I believe that for the majority of high school students college is not only necessary but undervalued. The unemployment level of college graduates is at 4%. For those with only a high school diploma the unemployment rate hovers around 13%. There are millions of jobs that go unfilled every year due to a lack of education. College does not teach the tools required for a specific job function, but it provides the resources to develop the communication skills and professional attitudes necessary for employment. For some reason, American culture steers some students to college but steers others to low paying, dead-end jobs. It is not due to a lack of ability that some parents and counselors push young adults away from college. But rather it is due to diminished early childhood education and inadequate secondary education in some areas of the country. Perhaps if everybody was given the opportunity to obtain adequate early childhood education we could all be "superstars."
Very insightful article Paul. I feel that college vs. no college education is an interesting question. I believe that college is something that is not for everyone. For example, if you are trying to get a job that requires a degree, then a college education is probably worth it. On the other hand, if you are trying to pursue a future in something that requires very little schooling, then it would probably be wiser to pursue a secondary school education since it is specialized and would probably save you a lot of money. However, schooling is just about education all the time. As for the social impact and making connections in college, I feel it is a very good experience that could benefit everyone.
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