Why go to College?

Why go to College?
http://www.actstudent.org/college/
Whether you are uncertain about going to college or you just need some reassurance you're on
the right track, here are a few reasons to go to college:
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Every bit of education you get after high school increases the chances you'll earn
good pay. Most college graduates earn more money during their working years than
people who stop their education at high school earn.
The more education you get the more likely it is you will always have a job.
According to one estimate, by the year 2028 there will be 19 million more jobs for
educated workers than there are qualified people to fill them.
Continuing education after high school is much more important for your
generation
than it was for your parents' generation. Today most good jobs require more than a
high school diploma. Businesses want to hire people who know how to think and solve
problems.
Education beyond high school gives you a lot of other benefits, including meeting new
people, taking part in new opportunities to explore your interests, and
experiencing
success.
http://www.unt.edu/pais/howtochoose/why.htm
Consider these statistics:
 The average four-year college education at a public university in Texas (in-state tuition
and fees) costs about $19,434 — less than the average price of a new car.
 The annual income for a person with a bachelor’s degree is nearly twice that of someone
with only a high school diploma.
You’ll get more mileage out of a college education than you will from a car, and a four-year
education will likely enable you to buy a car or two and many other things in your lifetime. In
making the decision of whether — and where — to attend college, you and your parents should
consider those four years as a lifetime investment, not just as annual expenses for job training.
FACTOID
A college education can challenge you to explore and broaden your interests, attain your goals
and meet some of the best friends you'll ever have.
Why go to college?
Starting a new chapter
Many high school students look forward to putting high school behind them and moving on with
their lives. At college, you’ll explore and broaden your interests, pursue your goals, meet lifelong
friends and define yourself in ways you can only imagine now. This website will guide you
through the sometimes confusing process of selecting a college so that you can concentrate on
starting a new chapter of your life.
The big payback
The competitive advantage is yours if you choose to graduate from college. Experts who have
researched the performance and job success of college graduates have concluded that,
nationwide, college graduates with a bachelor’s degree earn 74 percent more per year than
those who only complete high school. In fact, those whose education stops with a high school
diploma may see their real wages decline over time.
The big picture
Right now, it’s probably tough to imagine where you’ll be in a year or two, much less 10, 20, 30
or 40 years down the road. Where do you expect to be, and what do you want out of life? By
attending college immediately after high school, you get a head start on answering those
important questions.
But you don’t have to sign a four-year contract, and you don’t even have to decide immediately
on a major area of study. College is a time to test yourself and to see what you can achieve.
Academic advisors and professors are accessible on campus, and tutoring and other forms of
academic support are available. At most universities, a counseling staff is available to help see
you through tough times.
You’ll be able to pursue your own interests through extracurricular activities and perhaps
discover a career direction you’ve never considered or a talent that’s been waiting to blossom.
College gives you the chance to say “yes” to you.
Which college is best?
Two key words are missing in that question. It should read, “Which college is best for you ?”
Your choices depend on your interests, career goals and academic record. Talk to your high
school counselor about your options and attend College Night at school. Most Texas high
school seniors are allowed a certain number of days to visit college campuses.
You may discover that you prefer the intimacy of a smaller campus or the setting of a
community or church affiliated college. On the other hand, you may be ready for the swirling
activity and myriad opportunities of a large university. The only way to find out is to visit.
U.S. Mean Annual Earnings by Education
Education
Annual Income
No High School
High School
Some College
Bachelor's Degree
$28,881
$37,303
$42,868
$66,445
Are you better off going to college?
A high school graduate is confronted with the choice of accepting a job or entering a four-year
college program. Is the student better off going to college? Because college graduates can
expect to earn a salary almost double that of high school graduates, the student is much better
off going to college. The difference in salary earned compounds over a lifetime.
Work life Earnings
Education
Earnings (in millions of dollars)
Professional Degree
Doctorate
Master's Degree
Bachelor's Degree
Associate Degree
High School Diploma
Less than High School Diploma
$4.4
$3.4
$2.5
$2.1
$1.6
$1.2
$1.0
Earnings for full-time, year-round workers by educational attainment for work life of
approximately 40 years. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
STUDENTS’ MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT PREPARING FOR AND
ATTENDING COLLEGE
http://www.stanford.edu/group/bridgeproject/10+Misconceptions.pdf
An excerpt from Betraying the College Dream, Andrea Venezia, Michael W. Kirst and Anthony
L. Antonio
1. I can’t afford college.
Students and parents regularly overestimate the cost of college.
2. I have to be a stellar athlete or student to get financial aid.
Most students receive some form of financial aid.
3. Meeting high school graduation requirements will prepare me for college.
Adequate preparation for college usually requires a more demanding curriculum than is
reflected in minimum requirements for high school graduation, sometimes even if that
curriculum is termed “college prep.”
4. Getting into college is the hardest part.
For the majority of students, the hardest part is completing college.
5. Community colleges don’t have academic standards.
Students usually must take placement tests at community colleges in order to qualify for
college-level work.
6. It’s better to take easier classes in high school and get better grades.
One of the best predictors of college success is taking rigorous high school classes.
Getting good grades in lower-level classes will not prepare students for college-level work.
7. My senior year in high school doesn’t matter.
The classes students take in their senior year will often determine the classes they are able to
take in college and how well-prepared they are for those classes.
8. I don’t have to worry about my grades, or the kind of classes I take, until my
sophomore year.
Many colleges look at sophomore year grades, and, in order to enroll in college-level courses,
students need to prepare well for college. This means taking a well-thought out series of
courses starting no later than 9th or 10th grade.
9. I can’t start thinking about financial aid until I know where I’m going to college.
Students need to file a federal aid form prior to when most college send out their acceptance
letters. This applies to students who attend community colleges too, even though they can apply
and enroll in the fall of the year they wish to attend.
10. I can take whatever classes I want when I get to college.
Most colleges and universities require entering students to take placement exams in core
subject areas. Those tests will determine the classes students can take.
March, 2003 The Bridge Project Headquartered at the Stanford Institute for Higher Education Research,
http://siher.stanford.edu