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Claire DeBenedetto

Professor Pinto

ENGW 1101

6 September 2016

Many people today are questioning the pursuit of a college education. This has

been an important topic over the past few years for both the media and the political

circuit. Even John Stossel in his article from reason.com says, College has become a

scam. The cost of higher learning is also making a substantial impact upon this critical

decision. However, the value of this type of education and overall experience has no

price tag attached to it. Getting a bachelors degree is the right decision for me because it

gives me the opportunity to meet new like-minded people, find out more about myself,

experience a sense of responsibility, pursue a career that I love, and find a job that will

provide for my family one day.

I am a musical theater major in Fairleigh Dickinsons theater program. The classes

in this major allow me to meet new people that are interested in the same things I am. For

example, we all share a love for singing, acting, and dancing. Those connections made

early on can lead to life long friendships or potential co-staring opportunities. College is

the only place where you can take classes and learn together in a group through an

academic setting with a major of your choice. Being surrounded by peers with a common

goal makes college life easier and more bearable. We can all learn from each others

strengths and weaknesses so we can learn even more. The rehearsal setting is a great

place to learn about one another. The process can be tedious but it strengthens the actors
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as a whole. The amount of hours put into a show bonds the cast together and makes

connections and friendships even stronger.

By getting this type of education I can find out more about myself. Discovering

what you are truly interested in can be achieved by taking generic classes or electives.

This can lead you to uncover a hidden passion you never thought you had before. For

example, I have the option to take a psychology or biology class as an elective if it

interests me. Changing majors or even double majoring are also possibilities if you

indeed change your mind or unlock a new interest. One class has the ability to change the

course of your life forever and also change the way you think as well. I might not see

myself changing majors right now, but I will never know what will happen in the future.

In addition to double majoring, you can also minor in a certain field of study. This would

allow you to take more classes in two areas that you find interesting.

College and a bachelors degree in general can prepare you for the enormous

amount of responsibility that lies ahead in the future. The rigorous extent of the work

required to pass a class is no small feat. A well paying job expects you to have the

training and skills to perform certain tasks. This type of degree will make sure you are

suitably trained and ready for the next step. Critics of higher education are missing this

important preparation aspect of college. Even though the grades are of primary

significance, there are deeper tools that we learn without even knowing about it.

Theater is something that I live and breathe. As Oscar Wilde once said, I regard

the theatre as the greatest of all art forms, the most immediate way in which a human

being can share with another the sense of what it is to be a human being. The ability to

share something even deeper and beyond the script is the reason why I want to pursue
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this as a career. A college education will allow me to gain the experience I need to land

insightful internships and auditions that are necessary in order to be successful in the

industry. With practice from daily classes I will be able to expand my talents even further.

This would never be possible without a BA in musical theater.

Eventually there comes a point in our lives where we need to find a suitable job to

provide for ourselves and/or a family. Putting a Bachelors degree on a resume can be the

difference between you getting a job or you being replaced by the next person in line. It is

all about competition in this job market and it is very important that you have a college

degree to even be a competitor. This is one of the key aspects of a priceless college

education. College advisors are also available to give tips on the interviewing process,

resume building, and work force etiquette. Having a job unlocks the world of adulthood

and responsibility. Careers are built on individual passion and drive for the particular

field of work.

Fortunately, my parents are covering most of cost of my college education. I am

also doing my part in contributing about $4,000 a year. I work at The Boys and Girls

Club of Wayne during the school year and the summers to save up. My paycheck during

that time consists of a large sum of money because of the long hours I put in. Therefore, I

am able to keep up with the payments to my parents. In Daniel Cheevers article in the

New York Times, he says that Most parents are willing to invest or borrow $100,000 to

help produce highly employable graduates with proven critical thinking and

communication skills and strong professional preparation. Even though most of my

tuition is paid for by my family, I can understand how the cost of college can be of major

concern to students less fortunate. However, I still believe that higher education can be
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achieved by anyone that really wants it. Scholarships are a good way to lessen the burden

on families. I myself obtained many scholarships and grants from outside sources along

with the formal FDU grants and theater awards.

We can all agree that college is a big investment to make toward our futures.

Getting a bachelors degree seems like it will be hard work, however, it will pay off in the

long run. Obtaining a job that you are passionate about and earning the money to build up

your life is worth the cost of an education. The amount of things you can learn while in

college goes beyond the academic realm. Friendships, obstacles, discoveries, and

experience can enhance you as a person. Critics of this choice are not seeing the complete

picture of how a degree can change your life. In the 21st century it is almost essential that

you have this kind of a background to put on your resume. It is very difficult and almost

impossible to get a high paying job if you only have a high school diploma. A musical

theater major is a degree that will allow me to audition for competitive shows and

possibly teach at a school one day. There are numerous opportunities that lie ahead for

me as I embark on my college journey. I can even expand my musical horizons and join

clubs and attend other activities. At the end of the day, college is worth the time, effort,

money, and work. Nothing else will prepare you more for the world of adulthood than a

Bachelors degree.
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Works Cited

John Stossel. "Don't Go to College!" Reason.com. N.p., 27 May 2015. Web. 14 Sept.

2016.

Cheever, Daniel S. "Is College worth the Money?" Boston.com. The New York Times, 03

June 2005. Web. 14 Sept. 2016.