The next four years promise Seniors an exciting and transformative opportunity. With most of the class attending a college or university, students can look forward to a new learning environment that will broaden their intellectual horizons and provide them with life experiences that they will cherish for a lifetime. Higher education also provides learning opportunities specific to one’s interests that prepare them for a job after graduation. When taking all this information into account, Seniors are posed with a difficult question during their college search. What should be of higher priority, the college experience or the career preparation?
College is expensive. We must recognize higher education as a privilege and not an expectation. The reality is that many people view college as four years to have fun before becoming an adult. While fun is encouraged, with the amount of money being given to these institutions, we need to squeeze every last resource out of the school. At its core, the purpose of college is to provide students with specialized knowledge and a degree so they are prepared to join the workforce. However, a staggering 52% of college graduates work in a job that doesn’t require their degree according to a report by the Burning Glass Institute. This means that a typical college graduate has spent tens of thousands of dollars on a meaningless degree. With this in mind, it is easy to argue that the “fun” aspect should not be an important factor. Rather, one’s college should be chosen based on which school can best equip you with a degree that leads to a career where you can actually use it. However, college is about more than just academics—it’s also an opportunity to explore your interests, passions, and identity outside of the classroom.
The “college experience” is often mentioned when discussing personal growth and expanding one’s social life. Indeed, college provides the unique opportunity to engage with like-minded individuals, discover new passions, and form lifelong bonds over a prolonged period. Prioritizing academics alone might put you in an environment where you are unable to participate in this environment. It is essential that the social and cultural environment of the college aligns with an individual’s personal values and interests as they play a critical role in fostering both academic success and overall well-being.
Academics are important and of course education is the foremost reason why you are at a college in the first place. However, an elite education at the cost of a community in which you can thrive in often diminishes both the quality of learning and the personal fulfillment that makes the experience truly worthwhile. The most academically elite college is rarely the answer when compared to a school where you feel supported, valued, and able to grow both intellectually and personally.
