A May 14th article in the New York Times entitled "Plan B: Skip College," suggests that a college education is not the best choice for everyone. Perhaps rather than encouraging each child to pursue college after high school, each child's abilities should be assessed and alternative options provided. The number of drop-outs and college students taking an extended period of time to complete their degree is significant.
"Perhaps no more than half of those who began a four-year bachelor’s degree program in the fall of 2006 will get that degree within six years, according to the latest projections from the Department of Education."Attempting and failing at completing college can have significant drawbacks. Beyond the time lost and reduced self-esteem issues, there is a very hefty financial cost to consider.
"For college students who ranked among the bottom quarter of their high school classes, the numbers are even more stark: 80 percent will probably never get a bachelor’s degree or even a two-year associate’s degree."Some educators and economists are suggesting alternatives which completely avoid a college career, as degrees are not requires in many fields.
Interestingly in Germany, where college tuition is waived, 40% of potential college students opted to pursue apprenticeships instead of attending university. This course of study was ideal for those interested in careers not requiring a college degree.
"Of the 30 jobs projected to grow at the fastest rate over the next decade in the United States, only seven typically require a bachelor’s degree, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Among the top 10 growing job categories, two require college degrees: accounting (a bachelor’s) and postsecondary teachers (a doctorate). But this growth is expected to be dwarfed by the need for registered nurses, home health aides, customer service representatives and store clerks. None of those jobs require a bachelor’s degree."
So does this mean that less is expected of students and self-esteem therefore adversely affected if college is not encouraged? Will encouraging vocational training over a college degree set the stage for an increased risk of unemployment and lower lifetime wages? Certainly the risks are there. There are opportunity costs to be weighed. But perhaps exploring all options with students will yield greater successes in the long run.
See the complete article here.
