College Education

College is defined as an institution of higher learning, especially one providing a general or liberal arts education rather than technical or professional training. An education is known to be the most important aspect of an individual's life. When people think about college they think about long study hours and little time for oneself. Most do not think about the positive influence that a college education can provide for one's future. By going to college students receive the opportunity of a higher education and a career. A college education is a reputable option because many individuals develop life skills and gain opportunities that they would not acquire in other environments.

As students reach the final months of their high school career they begin to wonder if a college education is worth it. Many students do not attend college immediately. Some go into the workforce to earn minimum wage. Several of these individuals end up regretting their decision and despising their job. The reality is that nowadays more jobs require a college degree. During the recession between December 2007 and January 2010 jobs necessitating college degrees increased by 187,000 (“College Education - ProCon.org”, 2018 ). According to a June study in 2016, ninety-nine percent of job growth between 2010 and 2016 went to workers with associates, bachelor’s, or graduate degrees. They also receive the advantage, with more and better job opportunities. As of January 2017, the unemployment of college graduates was 2.5% compared to 3.8% for individuals with some college or associate degrees, and 5.3% for high school graduates (“College Education - ProCon.org”, 2018 ). This situation demonstrates that those who attended at least some college had the advantage for job opportunities. Having more job opportunities results in more money. In 2012, a Pew Research Center report studied the earnings of full-time millennials. They concluded that those individuals who had at least a bachelor's degree had median annual earnings of $45,500, while others with some college earned $30,000, and workers with only a high school diploma earned $28,000 (Desilver, 2014). College students earned about double that of an individual who did not attend college.

Nevertheless, several individuals prefer attending a trade school over a traditional college. Moreover, these particular individuals choose this path because they are given the opportunity to enter the workforce more quickly. Some of the courses they offer can last as little as six weeks (“Trade School vs Traditional College”, 2018). Traditional colleges require their students to take general education classes. However, these courses are not part of the trade school program. Those going into this program will only be required to train in the career path they are pursuing, therefore, dramatically reducing classroom time (“Trade School vs Traditional College”, 2018). This is certainly a good education alternative, however, it is only beneficial for those who know exactly what career path they are pursuing. Many incoming college freshmen are indecisive about their major. Furthermore, fifty percent of individuals who do declare a major, change majors about two to three times during their college years. (Ronan, 2005). The general education courses at a college offer students the time and opportunity to explore their interests (“Trade School vs. College – Which is the Better Choice?”, n.d.). If those who attend trade schools decide to change their career path they would have to start over (“Trade School vs. College – Which is the Better Choice?”, n.d.). The college experience consequently emphasizes how well organized an individual is (Wellesley, 2008). This forces the student to break negative habits and develop the skills such as determination. Resulting in hard work and keeping up with the assigned work. Young adults also learn interpersonal skills in college through interaction with students and faculty. By joining clubs and extracurricular activities. This is something trade schools do not offer. According to Arthur Chickering's "Seven Vectors" student development theory, "developing mature interpersonal relationships" is one of the seven stages students progress through as they attend college, therefore, developing interpersonal skills is essential, because they are used on a regular basis (“College Education - ProCon.org, 2018”).

Additionally, people go to college to acquire more social experience and become wiser (Wellesley, 2008). At seventeen or eighteen years old students know little about life. However, because these individuals decide to go to college they develop skills that allow them to become better members of society. In college students are taught how to interact with others. The students experience what a social life is, and learn how well they are able to work with a team (Wellesley,