Muratalla 1

Vanessa Muratalla
Professor Rosenfeld
English 113B
9 May 2016
Pursue Happiness without Standards
Walking up the stage to receive a high school diploma does not carry the same value as it
once did. The main idea that Pharinet presents in the article Is College for Everyone? is that
not every person should attend college. Pointing out to the readers that if college was designed
for everyone to attend then why do student have to achieve certain SAT scores and high school
transcripts? (681).In addition, the writer exemplifies the idea that college was built for students
who want to increase their knowledge on different topics of study. Today, college is portrayed as
a new stage in adulthood resulting in a good job, appeas[ing] your parents, or... finding
yourself (681). Believing that you wont get anywhere without your education has corrupted
mentalities that one wont be successful unless he or she attends college. The reality is that
Higher education is not the key to happiness and success for every person (681). There are
many people today who are successful and pleased in their careers even though they did not
obtain a college education. If a college degree means a perfect world, then society would disrupt
the ratio of workers in the world, blue and white collar. The government needs blue collar
workers that keep the world running smoothly like fork lift drivers, factory workers, sales
clerks, and cashiers (680). Not to mention, more people would take in that college is not for
everyone if the majority began to accept the fact that every citizen should not get a better
education. I can agree that a high school diploma does not provide as many opportunities as a

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college degree, however, attending college does not guarantee a spot in the competitive job
market.
Supporters of attending college argue that the benefits of receiving a higher education
should reign supreme over the debate of whether college is worth it. Critics point out that many
incoming freshmen enter the institution thinking to themselves what they wish to do with their
lives. Some may argue that young men and women struggle with an identity crisis, not knowing
who they truly are. They believe that once one is in college, questions are given to the students
that help them guide their lives in the proper direction. Author Kwok Chan explains in his article
going to college exposes students to people all around the world gain an insight into
different culture become open-minded. Chan is highlighting the fact that, even if one is
unsure he or she wishes to pursue in a university, the social aspect of college gives the student
new, exciting ideas and a fresh look on a subject. Opponents believe becoming an open-minded
individual helps that person become mature and eventually decide which route to take on what to
study. The minority think that high school graduates constantly worry that by going to a higher
level educational institution, they will spend a bulk of their time trying to achieve a degree and
decide that it isnt worth it. Diane Hartjen, controller of Associated Student, states in Chans
article getting an academic degree is painful and difficult its just for a short period of
time. Young adults have the mentality that they must complete four to five years of college in
order to earn a Bachelors degree. On the other hand, a student can choose to only earn his or her
Associates Degree within two years and finish their college experience right then and there.
Having a degree is defined as years to obtain but can be satisfied within just two years. With
differing points of view, new methods are available to make university life simpler yet just as
effective.

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The college experience is full of benefits for the student, it does not necessarily prepare
the person for the life outside of education. Once the pupil graduates from the university and
receives his or her degree, the question that follows is Whats next? Countless graduates find
themselves struggling post college life as they find it difficult to find a job opportunity in their
field of study with no experience. Michael Price uses the statistic in his article 7 Reasons Why
You Shouldnt Go To College According to an annual study conducted by the consulting
firm Accenture, 84% of graduates from the Class of 2014 expect to find a job reality is that
only 67% of graduates from the previous two classes have received jobs in their chosen fields.
Despite how a university teaches a student to be successful in academics, it does not guarantee a
career after the completion of the degree program. Its either sink or swim in the real world and
this is a prime example of it. While getting a higher education does give one more valuable
knowledge on subjects, it grants them zero skills as writer Price puts it, unfortunately. The
graduates, of course, know how to properly function in an academic atmosphere, but not always
in a professional, work force. Even as the idea of not landing a career within the desired study
field due to the lack of available spaces is a constant fear, one downside is almost always
guaranteed.
Opponents may say that there are grants and scholarships out there for the taking but,
truth is, this free money isnt open to just any student. The primary goal of any student is to
have a secure financial future after the academic stage is over, but that is never the case due to
the high price of enrolling in college. Not surprisingly, the fact that walking in the path of a
college prospect is extremely expensive is no hidden issue. In the article Stop treating college as
a business written by Calvin Ratana states, the average cost of a four-year college has risen
from $8,700 in 1980 to $21,600 in 2010. Thats nearly triple the amount students were paying for

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college back in the 1980s. As individuals aspire to gain a higher education, many notice the fact
that the self-improvement is not something that can be paid without hesitation. Albeit seems
more like a sacrifice to attend a four year college, rather than a blessing. Achieving a graduate
degree should be a free privilege but, sadly, it seems as colleges are more a business rather than
seeking to benefit others. Paying an extremely high rate to benefit oneself in the long wrong has
viewed the society as unsympathetic. In fact, the money that is received is not even stated about
where it will be going. Being a current student attending a four year university and proud of
having the opportunity of being so, it seems rational how high school graduates fear the sticker
price of college. In my personal experience, I graduated high school and was enrolled into
California State University Northridge. Entering as an incoming freshman with no drivers
license meant that commuting was not an option and dorming at school was the only choice.
Because of that, a 40 minute 1 hour 30 minute trip to school was not convenient at the time so
that led me to the decision for my parents and I to take out a student loan. As a result, I knew that
my financial status at the moment was not stable enough to sustain a year in college. Receiving a
$13,000 parent plus loan was the only choice on the table and allowed me to attend CSUN for
one year. Unfortunately, one penny of this money was not used toward my actual fee of my
classes. The only way to pay for my courses was to take out a student loan of $5,000 containing
interest fees. Certain requirements need to be met and not all students fit in those categories. In
my case, a total of $18,000 debt in my name was the price my family and I have to pay to be able
to call myself a Matador.
Young adults keep finding themselves in debt as the new standard of attending college is
a must but soon discover the horrifying truth that a four to five year Bachelors degree is simply
not enough in todays job market. With that said, it has now become frowned upon that a high

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school student does not attend college and either he or she will have a struggling financial future.
But as competition in the job market continues to increase every day, a Bachelors degree is
insufficient to guarantee a career. Murray states in his article Whats Wrong with Vocational
School, But a Bachelors degree in a field such as Sociology, Psychology, Economics, History,
or Literature certifies nothing (678) thus making attending an educational institution obsolete. .
Indeed, it is a sad truth as many employers are now looking to hire potential employees with a
higher level of education and the commonness of a traditional Bachelors continue to rise. Now,
students have to go an extra mile in school and hopefully earn a higher level certification but,
along comes more debt and other struggles. The concept of people that attend a high tier
academic institution are that the particular person is smarter/better. Portraying the idea that
college is designed for intelligent people tends to make students feel superior but, People who
go to college are not better or worse than anyone else merely different in interests/abilities.
That is the way college should be seen.(679). Being a college student is not for everyone and
that is actually fortunate news because of the fact that the world would not run smoothly without
them. The structure of the world allows the economy to revolve under the blue collar work force.
The dream of becoming a freshman in a university is one that many American teenagers
share. Finding your identity and your career interest is incredible as it starts to shape a person as
a whole. As the label of a college graduate is something to pride oneself in, the question is
whether attending college truly worth it? I believe it is not because of the suffocating debt an
individual can be entrapped in and the delirious idea that college must be a chapter in everyones
book. The manner in which college does not prepare its students for the real world are clear
reasons that sway me to decide college is not the best choice for everyone who wishes to pursue
a higher level education.

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Work Cited
Kirszner, Laurie G. and Mandell, Stephen R. Whats Wrong with Vocational School Practical
Argument.
2nd ed.Bedford/St. Martin's. (2013). 680-682.Print.
Kirszner, Laurie G. and Mandell, Stephen R. Is College for Everyone Practical Argument.
2nd ed.Bedford/St. Martin's. (2013). 680-682.Print.
Stop treating college as a business.2013. Web. 11 February 2016.
<http://sundial.csun.edu/2013/10/stop-treating-college-as-a-business/>
Students, staff talk what college means to their lives, careers. 2014. Web. 11 February 2016.
<http://sundial.csun.edu/2014/02/students-staff-talk-what-college-means-to-their-livescareers/>
7 Reasons Why You Shouldn't Go To College and 4 Things To Do Instead. 2014. Web. 11 February
2016
<http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michaelprice/7-reasons-why-youshouldn_1_b_5501111.html>