Tyus Martin Professor Connie Douglass ENGL 1102-093 4/8/2014 Round Table Essay

Attending college is one of the most important decisions of your life. What I want to know is if it is worth the money, time and effort to attend college for a piece of paper that doesnt guarantee you a better job. There are many questions to be answered, and many different voices on the subject. One voice is that of a college graduate. A graduate has been through college themselves, and given their age, could provide feedback on whether it was worth it or not. Eighty-six percent of college graduates have stated that college has personally been a good investment for them. This means that the majority of people surveyed that attended college believe that the debt and work was worth it in the long run. The other fourteen percent may not have found a job or believe that the job wasnt worth it. The majority of college graduates feel that college is worth it probably because they enjoyed their experience at college and are satisfied with their life in the long run. After graduating college and having a large amount of debt early on in life, it is easy to feel stressed

and displeased about college. However, on average, if you make $1.75 more with a college degree than without one, then college will have paid off itself and will be worth it. Employers also provide a different voice in whether college is worth it or not. The main reason many people go to college is to find a suitable job for them and make money. What would be the purpose of going to college if the employers are hiring people with high school degrees over you? It turns out that the first thing employers are looking for isnt whether you have a degree or not; they are looking at how much experience you have in the field. Employers are looking to make money, and while your undergraduate major may have taken two years to complete, an employer is looking at the guy who has four years of experience working in the exact field theyre looking to fill. Employers arent so narrow-minded however. While theyre main focus is in experience and skills, the majority of surveyed employers also stated they are interested in wellroundedness and communication skills of the employee. If the employer cant find someone who fits theyre exact position, then you can bet they are going to look for a person with a close fit and well-roundedness. College also broadens your knowledge across the boards as well as in a specific area. Eighty percent of employers also believe that an employee should have a broad knowledge of liberal arts and science. (AACU) This means that employers also look for more than just experience. People who have their GED, but have not completed college also have a valid opinion. Many people dont have the funds necessary to attend college. While not in college, a person could have more freedom exploring their options and gaining work experience. By the time a

college graduate actually graduates, a person with their GED could gain a lot of experience through internships and opportunities. The question is college worth the time, money and work doesnt imply right after graduation. A person with their GED who wants to wait until they have time or the necessary resources to go to college can also do just that and attend college when the time is right. Research points that college is worth it in the long run, but attending college at a later time is still a valid option. From my research in exploring the three different voices on college, I found many important findings that point towards attending college. A college education is worth more today than it was in our parents generation. With many new jobs opening up requiring a minimum of a college degree and only having to make $1.75 for college to pay off itself it is very much so worth it to attend. In 2013, a person with a bachelors degree on average made $17,500 more than those with a GED annually. College graduates who have attended college say college is worth it, the employers who hire us agree that college and the broad knowledge it brings is worth it, and even those who didnt attend college feel college would be worth it and strive to attend later on in their life.

Works Cited Levine, Arthur. Symposium: the history of women in education.. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard Educational Review, 1997. Print. Smith, Mark. "What Do Employers Look for Most: Certifications, College Degree, or Work Experience?." Broadview University Blog. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Apr. 2014. <http://blogs.broadviewuniversity.edu/2012/06/13/certifications-college-degree-orwork-experience/>. "It Takes More than a Major: Employer Priorities for College Learning and Student Success." Summary. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Apr. 2014. <https://www.aacu.org/leap/presidentstrus "The Rising Cost of Not Going to College."Pew Research Centers Social Demographic Trends Project RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Mar. 2014. <http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2014/02/11/the-rising-cost-of-not-going-tocollege/>.