Argumentative Essay: The Benefits Of College

Peering into an 8:00 am class full of freshman college students, many observations can be made. There are students with their heads down, (obviously still listening to the professor) students with their pencils racing, students with their minds wondering, and students with their attention to the teacher. As one might note, not all students have their mind focused on what they paid for. Some people go through college as a party or just because it’s become one of societies “norms”; others have a set goal in mind. However, if used to its best ability, college allows one to gain an advantage over high school diploma holders, by attaining the knowledge, skillsets, and tools to achieve or explore their career goals. After graduating high school, one’s occupational options are quite limited in comparison to someone who just graduated college. This is mainly due to the fact that colleges allow students to
Although sociology professors Richard Arum and Josipa Roksa point out “36% of college graduates showed no improvement in critical thinking, complex reasoning, or writing after four years of college” (Practical Argument 38), this doesn’t mean college is a waste of time. Not everyone who attends college takes it seriously. There are the slackers, and there are the people who realize they’re paying for an education. That 36% might still be trapped with their high school mindset: goofing around, skipping class, partying, and not completing assignments to the best of their ability. Going to college isn’t a 100% guarantee for a superior education or job, but instead it’s an extremely vital opportunity, and if not spent properly, one can’t reap its benefits. It’s the way at which the opportunity is tackled that will land a student in or out of the 36% group. Going to class, budgeting time for fun and work, and pushing oneself are qualities of a successful