Nothing Worth Having Comes Easy
The trials and tribulations of obtaining a college degree
Here it comes – graduation. Was all the struggle worth obtaining that degree? Were the sleepless nights and the repetitive bowls of Ramen noodles worth all the hassle?
Even taking into account the intrinsic value of education, with the current rate of unemployment, many college students wonder if their degree will be worth all the trouble and sacrifice they endured throughout the years to obtain their degree.
People tend to think they are “special” or the exception to the rule. Unfortunately, we’re not all like Steve Jobs or Mark Zuckerberg – college dropouts who made it big. The reality is that we are going to need degrees to have, at the least, a comfortable life.
In 2012, U.S. News and World Report reported the average annual tuition for a public institution is roughly $20,000, while the annual tuition for a private institution is approximately $30,000. After graduation, many students have acquired $80,000 to $120,000 worth of debt without the guarantee of a job.
Traditionally, when thinking about what a college student is, people tend to think of young adults between the ages of 18 and 23 on track to attend college for four years. Times have changed.
These days, college students are all ages, some have children and many have a full-time job. Some students even juggle both the family and a career while going to college full-time.
While the traditional “college student” stereotype has changed, the stresses of college life have not. There comes a time in every college student’s life when he or she wants to throw in the towel.
Some motivations to go or stay in college include: college students have higher employment rates than high school graduates; college provides internships and industry connections; college graduates have a salary that is significantly higher than high school graduates; and, if statistics are not enough encouragement, the fact that someone has the endurance to push through years of struggle and not give up says a lot to an employer.
The Economic Policy Institute reported that the unemployment rate for college students in 2012 was 9.4 percent, while high school graduates had an unemployment rate in 2012 of 31.1 percent. While college students are not guaranteed a job upon graduation, they are a step ahead of those who hold a high school diploma.
Another reason to attend college is to obtain an internship in the industry you wish to enter. When applying for internships, many companies require a letter from an academic institution stating the internship will be for course credit. Post graduation, it is very difficult to find a job without some previous work experience, which a college internship provides.
The hiring manager of a local radio station said he didn’t care if prospective employees graduated from Harvard, their resumes automatically get thrown in the trash if they do not have an internship or some sort of experience.
This month, The New York Times did a study of salary ranges for those with and without college degrees. They found that 82 percent of people who were earning $150,000 or more had a bachelor’s degree. Though entry-level jobs have a median salary of $30,000, over time college graduates have better earning potential, and better benefits than those who have not obtained a degree.
In the United States, 87 percent of the population hold a high school diploma. Thirty percent hold a bachelor’s degree. Approximately 8 percent hold a master’s degree. Three percent hold a doctorate degree. In this day and age, people have to be one step ahead. A high school diploma accompanied with 20 years of experience still may not get you the job you want.
For example, a legal secretary who had 20 years of experience at a Houston law firm said she was recommended for an upper-level secretarial position at the same law firm but was rejected, not because she didn’t have the right experience, but because she didn’t have at least a bachelor’s degree.
It is a never-ending cycle. If people do not attend college, they will not be eligible for an internship. If they do not get an internship or have some sort of work experience accompanied with a degree, they often do not
get their ideal job.
When students start to feel the burden of obtaining an education – the old adage that, in life, “nothing worth having is going to be easy” is worth remembering.
The process of obtaining a college degree isn’t supposed to be easy; if it were, anyone could do it. Determination and perseverance is what gets students to graduation and likewise is going to be the key to having a successful future.
