College is many things to many people. For some it is a time for fun and socialization. For others, it is a time for personal and professional development. In my case, (a husband, a father, and a proud member of the U.S. Navy) college represented an opportunity for both personal and professional development. The purpose of this narrative essay is to examine my decision to earn a college degree, specifically examining my three main reasons (higher earning potential, increased marketability, and development of my critical thinking skills) for deciding to enter college in pursuit of a college degree.My first reason to attend college was the higher earning potential associated with having a college degree. Simply put, by obtaining a college degree, I will likely to earn more money throughout over the course of my professional career than if I only possess a high school diploma. According to the United States Census Bureau, the difference in median salary over the course a lifetime between a holder of a high school diploma and a holder of a bachelor’s degree is several hundred thousand dollars.
It is estimated that my lifetime earnings will exceed $2 million once I attain my bachelor’s degree, which is a substantial amount of money (College Atlas, 2014).
The Essay on The Value Of Obtaining A College Degree
The value of obtaining a college degree in Modern Society As opposed to previous generations in the past, the amount of high-paying jobs that don’t require a college degree have plummeted significantly. This is because America has transformed from an economy based on labor and manufacturing to an economy based more upon knowledge and information. Now, even most medium income salary jobs require ...
Furthermore, even if I do not finish my undergraduate work, it is estimated I would still earn approximately $1.5 million over the course of my lifetime (College Atlas, 2014).
I like many believe the cost of a four year college education is well worth it considering how much money I will likely earn over the course of my lifetime.My second reason for attending college was the increased marketability associated with having a college degree. It was quite clear to me that possessing a college degree would qualify me for far more jobs than if I only had a high school diploma. In today’s high tech world, employers are looking for the best and the brightest talent available. A college degree is a recognized credential in today’s business world.
As a husband and a father I knew it was imperative I make myself as marketable as possible not just for my sake but for the sake of my family also. Therefore once I realized how many more jobs I could qualify and apply for simply by possessing a college degree, I knew that it was something I desperately needed to attain.My third reason for attending college was to develop my critical thinking skills. I realized as early as my first year if high school that critical reasoning skills such as collecting data, analyzing data, applying standards, predicting, and decision-making were important skills I would need over the course of my entire life and the development of these important skills would ultimately help me make better decisions in all aspects of my life. Without the development of critical reasoning skills, all my decision would include a one maximum two-step decision making process when in reality complicated and complex problems require more than a one or two step solution.
I knew the rigors of college coursework would strengthen my critical reasoning skills better than anything else therefore making attending college a very appealing option. In addition, added benefits to strengthening my critical thinking include the ability to communicate clearly, concisely, and persuasively as well as enhance my interpersonal relationships with family, friends, and business associates. In final analysis, three main factors positively influenced me to earn a college degree. They were the higher earning potential associated with having a college degree, the increased marketability associated with having a college degree, and developing my critical reasoning skills. My first reason to attend college was the higher earning potential associated with having a college degree. Once I realized by obtaining a college degree I would likely earn more money over my lifetime than if I only possess a high school diploma, attending college became a priority.
The Essay on Benefits of a College Degree
After high school, a choice that many students have to make is whether to go to college or not. There are many factors that go into one’s decision. There are pros and cons to going to college and also there are pros and cons for not going to college. But the decision that will give someone the better opportunity to have a more successful life is to go to college. The money that one will earn after ...
The increased marketability associated with having a college degree was my second reason for attending college. When I began to understand how in today’s high tech world, employers are looking for candidates with credentials, I realized a college degree would qualify me for far more jobs than if I only possessed a high school diploma. My third reason for attending college was to develop my critical thinking skills, specifically my data collection, data analysis, decision-making skills. I realized as early as my first year if high school that critical reasoning skills such as collecting data, analyzing data, applying standards, predicting, and decision-making were extremely important. Once it became apparent to me how valuable these skills would be over the course of my lifetime, attending college became more and more an obsession. These three reasons fully explain why I chose to attend college.
Reference
College Atlas. (2014).
The Benefits of Earning a College Degree. Retrieved from http://www.collegeatlas.org/earn-a-college-degree.html
