Synthesis Essay College

As any high school junior or senior will tell you, the most common question students face is ‘what are your plans for after high school?’ This, rather weighted, question leaves students more concerned for their future. In the past, it has been stressed that only by going to college will a student become successful in the ‘real world.’ However, today students are faced with a multitude of choices regarding their future. Nevertheless, a college education has the ability to prepare students to be successful and the skills, knowledge, and character build from attending college makes the benefits of college significantly outweigh the costs.
Critics of the cost and demand for a college education argue the “social pressure for students’ to pursue ‘lower-risk trajectories’ in their career choices will lead to less innovation in the future,” (Source E). These critics claim college not only costs students financially, but it also takes away the creativity and passion for their career. They
say preparing students for a “cookie cutter” job as soon as they obtain a degree is unrealistic. It is better to prepare students not for one specific job but to teach them the skills they need to be innovative in any job. Yet, 74% of four-year college graduates say their college education helped them grow intellectually, and 55% say their education helped prepare them for their future career (Source F). A college education has the ability to teach students how to become successful in their future careers which builds passion, creativity, and innovation in whatever field they decide to go into. Furthermore, college has the ability to teach beyond the classroom or even career setting.
College helps people to mature and grow, while also teaching important life skills. About 69% of college graduates say college helped them to grow as a person (Source F). A college education also forms traits, habits, and skills to help a person display better character and learn how to face some of the realities of life after college. College education learning can “result in combinations of focus and flexibility that make for intelligent, and sometimes courageous risk taking [students]” (Source B). This proves college to be a very crucial aspect of developing a student’s morals, beliefs, and character while also preparing them for life after school. In addition, college teaches skills in time management, people skills, work ethic, punctuality, professionality, and skills in living on your own to students. These skills help students to grow and learn to face the realities of life after
college. College can be very beneficial to students and can help them to grow intellectually and in their skills and maturity. Most high school students plan on going to college to prepare themselves for the next step in their life. This preparation for life makes college worth the costs and helps college students to “carry this example, this experience of meaningful freedom, from campus to community,” (Source B).