Is college an absolute option for every American high school grad?

Answer 1

I would say that it is an absolute option, in the sense that if you graduated from high school you can attend college if you want to. Can't read or write? Big deal, colleges are used to it. That's why they have remedial classes that teach you what you should have learned in high school. The kicker is that you pay college prices for that but you don't receive college credit! They get to keep you longer, which means more tuition dollars. Speaking of dollars, what about the poor people, or the middle class family that can't afford to send their kids to school? Get serious. Bill Gates could get financial aid if he wanted it. They might be loans, but they're loans at a very low rate. Throw in need based scholarships, grants, and assistance packages, and everybody can afford to go to college. You might pay for it for the next 20 years, but college loans are becoming the norm. Many people here seem to be answering about whether everyone SHOULD go to college. Obviously not. But whether it's an OPTION, whether they CAN, is the actual question. And I'd say yes. Neither money nor ability will hold you back. You will have to pass your classes once you're there, but all that takes is some effort.

Answer 2

Most. You don't HAVE to go to a private liberal arts college and you're better off with a real major at a state school anyway. I had to go back and take accounting courses at night at a local community college, and that was worth a lot more to my career than my undergrad degree. And it cost $48/credit.

Nobody doesn't have $48/credit.

My Dad and I used to have this argument, I'd point out that it's too bad for the people who get into good schools and then can't afford to go so they end up going to state schools, but that out of a high school class of 200 that's maybe 10 kids - that if you didn't get IN to BC or Holy Cross then whether you could have afforded it had you been accepted is irrelevant. His response was oh no, they knew all along, back when they got out of 8th grade, that they wouldn't be able to afford it, and that's why they didn't study hard. My response to that was (A) no, 12 and 13 year olds don't know what college costs and don't have a clue what their parents make, and (B) even if they did know that, it's still a rotten attitude, they could have gotten into West Point or gotten into a special program at UMass rather than just UMass.

Answer 3

It depends on the person and what they want to pursue. You don't have to go to college to be a mechanic or to learn some other trade, but you do have to have training. A 4 year degree doesn't necessarily guarantee a good job either. However, if a high school grad does want to go to college and has the grades (meaning not D minuses) then yes, there's a school somewhere that will take them.

Answer 4

I think if the student maintains a goal of college thruout high school and works hard toward that goal they can nearly always find a way to go. There are a lot of scholarships that help but you have to be a good student. Sometimes there are other weird criteria too so I think it's a good idea to find out as a sophmore or junior in high school what sorts of scholarships might be available and what the criteria are. That way you can try to qualify for more than one. Financial Aid is also very helpful to many people I know.

Answer 5

No. Because there are many High School Grads that can not read or write functionally. They have been pushed through the public school system with total disregard to standards and decency, by you liberals, because you care so much for the children. Another case where our tax dollars would be better spent on privatizing education.

Answer 6

That piece of paper is the $20,000 difference in salary.

Im sorry to say it but those with college degree will earn more than one with just high school diploma even if he is more qualified than the college grad.

So if ya have the resources and the time go for college.

Answer 7

depends on their career goals.4 year degree demonstrates an ability to learn.Masters degree required for some professional careers.Doctorate required for R&D,law,medicine,etc.
I've got a high school diploma and a few hours of college credits.By trade I am an operating engineer(learned the trade in the USN) and after gaining 30 years of professional and life skills,I built a manufacturing plant from the ground up.I'm also a classic type "A" personality with an extremely high level of drive and perseverance.
For me,higher education was not a requirement.Looking back,I beleive it would have been a hinderance instead of a help.

Added:
I don't understand the "thumbs down" rating.Would someone care to explain this to me,the poor un-educated millionaire business owner who didn't waste his time learning outdated and ineffective business theory?I chose to learn and apply what actually works in the real world of business.

Answer 8

Not every high school grad is "equipped" to go to college. Many barely squeak through high school and could not possible make it there.

If you are speaking financially, IF they can get a loan, most can go to college. Keep in mind that they will start their life out $60k in debt. just to get a bachelors degree. Many don't want to be saddled with that amount of debt. And it is no longer the low interest rates it was while Clinton was in office.

Answer 9

College is not much of an option if you had trouble academically in high school. That includes about half of all high school students.

It also isn't much of an option if your finances aren't going to support you. You can get loans.. but how much debt can you handle?

Answer 10

Considering the incentives to go to college it is option for those who want it. Yes some people will struggle like I did to make payments but as long as you qualify academically you can go to college. You may have to take out a lot of loans or join the ROTC or something else but you have programs set up to make sure those who want to go to college can go.