why should college, today, be for everyone, when back then it was only reserved for the elite and the few?

Question

a college has no merit if everyone is going to college. Right?

Thank You!

Answer 1

"back in the day" most people didn't go to high school either - that doesn't make high school a bad things just because "everyone goes" it just makes it so that a high school diploma is no longer the "few have one" credential it was 60 years ago.

Now, we see that the bachelor's degree is quickly becoming a common commodity. Supply and demand dictates (insists) that were there is a high supply of something (such as job seekers with a BA) then the market will not pay much for one.

This doesn't make the college education any less than it was before in terms of the education provided, but it does indeed reduce the value in the market of a job seeker who has a college degree. What some employers are finding is that they can't find 18-25 year old workers with work experience because most of the 18-25 year olds in that location are college students. That makes the person who isn't in college a more valuable commodity.

A big part of this situation is that we have shifted from an industrial economy to a service economy in the US. It has always been the case that professionals needed a degree but mill workers didn't. It's just that now there aren't any mill jobs so you need a degree to get a service/professional job.

The thing is that you now need a bachelor's degree to get jobs that high school grads were getting just 20 years ago. The jobs that the bachelor's holders were getting then are now going to the people with a master's degree.

Between 1:4 and 1:3 adults now have a bachelor's degree or higher in the US. In 1950 these numbers were closer to holders of a high school diploma. 8:100 have a master's or more though and that makes a real difference in supply and demand issues.

A more educated population is a good thing. Society benefits from that. If you want to exceed "average" then you must do more than what the average person does. Going to college is "average" and getting a bachelor's isn't that much above average.

Answer 2

You assume it is all about You. What if it was just a ploy to bring in more money for the school. They never said they had to teach you anything. And do not forget those grant dollars and funds from scholarships. You can pay and attend just to be cut as soon as the refund date has past because "you do not pass the grade....sorry". It is not for you it is for them!
Do not get me wrong > I'm not against higher education, it is just I have seen the bad side of two schools; I've paid my money, only to later not make the cut. Funny, considering I'm getting ready to go back to school in a subject I've already been tenured at only to get certification because it should allow me to get a higher salary then at present. Just notice how many people get cut before to refund cut - off date (few if any!) and how many get cut shortly after the cut off date (and how much longer, not very long!). That is money in their pockets with little or no effort on them. And it is YOUR fault you got thrown out. Not theirs, for not requiring some remedial pre-course studies to get your skills up to snuff. And the government told the schools (mostly community colleges & tech schools) not to turn down people >"They probably have grant money available"<; that is why they help you with grant applicationsl. The sky high cost of better universities and colleges and their "all day - all daytime" curriculums tend to thin the herd considerably because most grown people have to work during the day time to pay the bills. The course I'm intending to try for is this type of "all day - 8 -5 courses with no after hours offerings" for night students (even though the day students have a 3 hour break in the middle of the day), what a waste! I'm sure my boss will love that; so much for a real job. Guess I'll have to work 2nd or 3rd shift jobs so I can eat. And I just hope I can do the home-work and get some sleep before class. I'd hate to get cut because I had to work a real job and eat and sleep and well, "there just is not enough time in the day (and night)". It is just the "system is not designed for YOU". "MERIT">HA HA HA; The colleges have merit, and their students money, just not the students."MERIT"
>>>"IT'S THE MONEY STUPID!" <<<

PS: Is there a listing for "cut - rates" for colleges and universities? Might be interesting!

Answer 3

well, technically not everyone can go. Those who lack the necessary qualities for a college student (i.e. smarts, unlaziness, responsibility for their education) generally do not make it into college and most don't even try. Otherwise, if you try hard enough, study hard enough, and pass the test, you can generally make it in. College is still seen as a merit, considering that the only way it's useful is if you put it to use in your everyday job. Think about it.

Answer 4

Nowadays, everyone supposedly has equal rights, which includes equal access to education. While this should be a good thing, we've made the mistake of trying to lump everyone into one category. Not everyone has the same intelligence or abilities. I do believe that education should be available to everyone. If you want to keep learning for the rest of your life then you should be able to. But the same level and methods of education are not appropriate for everyone. I'm not in a position to suggest what the solution to this is, but I agree that the education system is somewhat lacking.

Answer 5

Because when college is reserved just for the elite, George W. Bush gets to go to Harvard, instead of someone who has more brains and talent than money and family connections.

Answer 6

I don't think college is for everyone, but society has made it so you can't get ahead or paid as much if you don't. I don't see what is wrong with experience and not education. Sometimes the person with more experience is more qualified and can do the job better than the one with the education.

Answer 7

a college education used to be the privilege of the upper class; it also was focused on a "classical" education i.e. reading and writing Greek and Latin

however with the creation of the modern university focused on research & teaching (1870s in Germany) a college education came to be more focused on "practical" subjects beyond the law, medicine, and ministry; fields like sciences and engineering wer as much respected as Latin or Greek scholarship

Answer 8

Because education is valued and everyone should have the opportunity to get an education. But you're kind of selfish, so don't go to college.

Answer 9

Hmm.. that's true. And they are making it easier and easier to go to college. (Online, at night, etc.) I think education is good but it is not for everyone. Yeah, I think that experience and attitude is what matters most. I know some real dingbats that have a degree. : )

Answer 10

who should say who goes to college or not? anyone that makes the grades and wants to go to college to make someone of theirselves should be given the right to