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Is a College Degree Really Worth the Time and Money Spent?

Neha Rajan Deshmukh
"Is a college degree really worth the time and money spent?", is quite a question of debate. One may have his own views. Yet, there are certain facts which no one would deny. Read on, to find more.
A recent study reveals that 60% of the undergraduate American students agreed that the college degree is worth it. The remaining 40% were either in a dilemma or were pretty sure that a college degree is not worth the time and money spent. Hence, it all sums up to one's own personal choice.
But, can an individual survive without experiencing the college life even for a day? Is that really possible? If yes, what are the future prospects for such students? And, if not, then what do those students achieve who do take a degree from college? Indeed, tough questions to answer!

One Side of the Coin: Tails

It is believed that students who belong to rich families find it very easy to afford the expenditure that a college degree requires. Rest others have to apply for educational loans which they keep on repaying for years to come. Also, whether they actually like the subjects being taught in the degree course is another matter of concern.
After gaining a degree from the college, there is no guarantee that a student will get a job. Obviously, it will be a thing to worry for the parents and the students as well. After all, who would wish to lose thousands of dollars as the cost of college education and not get any source to gain the money back?
Some students wish to gain a degree just for the purpose of satisfaction. Some do it for economic benefits. Some just do it because they have to! Numerous reasons, numerous facts and numerous view points!
Hence, there are people who have come to a conclusion that they can teach their children the necessary subjects at home and skip the college entirely. Thus the debate, "Is a college degree worth it?"
Experts say that in some years, there might be a situation when colleges will simply shrink in size as most of the students would prefer doing a business and thus learn through practical experience. Bill Gates is one such personality who never had any college degree, rather was a college dropout, yet managed to become what he is today.
But, the question is, can you invest a certain capital in a business which you hardly have experienced before? Isn't that a bigger risk than gaining a college degree and then not getting a job? Above all, what can one say about the overall development of a student?
Any country wants the best doctors, engineers, lawyers, scientists, teachers and leaders to serve their country and society. But, if none of them are provided the college education, it is surely tough to bring out the best in them.
Who turns out to be the looser: these capable individuals or the society as an entity? Practically speaking, the reliability and trust a patient has in the doctor may be lost. So, as previously discussed, it all sums up to one's own point of view.

Other Side of the Coin: Heads

Some people ask, "Is a college degree necessary for success?" Now, this is quite an answerable question. No, a college degree is not necessary for 'success', but is surely a requisite to gain knowledge and moral values. The exposure that a student gets in a college can never be replicated anywhere else. It is unique and will remain the same.
The kind of social interaction in which a student involves in a college is one of its kind. In the course of gaining a degree from the college, there are innumerable experiences which a student encounters and which cannot be taught or experienced somewhere else. A student gets to hear to a lot of experts in various fields.
His thoughts, ideas and likes are channelized in a proper way. If there is nobody to guide, he is sure to get confused and lost in the market of numerous career options. A student with a graduate and a postgraduate degree is always preferred over the one who is not educationally qualified.
He is sure to get more promotional chances as well. The global economy is so competitive today that a student needs a well qualified academic background to survive and sustain. And, it is not only about getting a job, but also about learning the ethics and morals which he wouldn't have learned that well otherwise.
President Mr. Barack Obama has sanctioned billions of dollars to promote college education in the U.S.A. There are many jobs in the fields of research and technology which are vacant because of lack of skilled and trained people. Hence, it is a matter of concern for the overall development of an individual and also for the country as a whole.
The American government grants scholarships to the students who are really willing to study but are finding it difficult to cope up with the financial requirements. As previously mentioned, Bill Gates is such an example who never gained a college degree yet became enormously successful.
That was because, he knew his field of interest and was capable to manage it. Practically speaking, is that possible with every single student who knows how to handle a computer? An overall development and growth of a student is possible when he gains proper theoretical and practical knowledge from the college.
An educationally qualified student is more confident and he knows his worth. He can survive in the world of competition. That is why, you will find so many of foreign students come to the U.S.A. to study further.
Is it wrong to start early and make money than go to college? Of course not, but ask yourself, whether you want to make your millions by building or inventing something useful for the society.
Well, coming back to reality which is nowadays, money oriented, paying the college fees is surely a tough task. But, on a personal note, it is worth it! You can definitely gain much more than the fees that you paid in your life!