Faceoff: Are people using their college degrees?

Should people be trying to use their college degree, or does it not matter?

Design by Neha Gurram & Manha Survery

Yes

Neha Gurram, Features Editor

In the digital age of influencers and social media, many are disregarding the need for a college education, claiming that social media or other job arenas pay more than a 4-year degree. However, college brings unforgettable memories, experiences, and connections that you just can’t pass up.

Colleges and universities generally offer 100 majors that are specialized in different areas of study. You can find people who are studying something as specific as viticulture and enology, something as broad as business administration, or both. There is an option to also tack on a minor, which could potentially expand your education. Many universities offer non-traditional and traditional educational routes that can grow your knowledge immensely. As high school students, we don’t get opportunities like that. It’s rare to do research in fields we’re interested in or work hands-on with professors. But once you get to college, you’ll feel like you’re drowning in opportunities like this. Not only are there plenty of research opportunities, but you get the chance to expand your horizons and study abroad. You’ll have an excuse to learn new languages and explore different cultures all while getting an education. 

Nevertheless, college isn’t just about the education; it’s about the memories. I can’t even count on one hand how many times I’ve heard teachers or relatives reminisce about their days in college. With a large number of fraternities, clubs, and organizations at college, you’re guaranteed to find a home- a home that can provide you with lifelong memories, friends, and connections. Joining organizations can provide you with dream jobs that aren’t available to people without a degree. Prominent companies such as Google or Amazon first look at college students they can see working at their company and provide them with paid internships. Even most grad schools, especially medical and law schools, look for undergraduate grades and degrees during their selection process. With these processes in place, not having a college degree could prevent you from getting a high-paying job fresh out of college. 

Everyone has the right to an education, but how you get it doesn’t have to be so traditional. But having a college education isn’t just about the education, it’s about the experiences, memories, and opportunities that are impossible to get outside of the college atmosphere. 

For resources on how to afford college: https://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/paying-for-college/slideshows/tuition-free-colleges 

No

Manha Survery, Staff Writer

The cost of everyday goods goes up day by day, and prices of food and housing are rising up rapidly. Another expensive thing is education. Depending on the university, a college degree can be insanely expensive. The word underemployed means having an occupation that does not require the skills a person learned in their degree, and this is what a growing number of college graduates have been experiencing. A college degree is a great thing to obtain in pursuit of a higher education, however, it is now being found through more inquiry that many people are not even using their college degree after graduating. A Forbes Magazine study found that after completing their bachelor’s degree, 52% of graduates work a job where a four-year degree isn’t even required. In most situations, I’d call this a waste of money.

Many of these students stay underemployed years after they graduate. This reveals some of the flaws that universities have in helping students transition into the job market after graduating college. Universities should have better resources to fight underemployment so that students can make useful connections to hold a job in the future in which they can use their degree. Another great way to prevent underemployment is through having an internship. Getting an internship provides students with a great advantage over their peers. In a report by the Strada Institute for the Future of Work, it was shown that the likelihood of being underemployed was reduced by 49% when students participated in an internship during college. Therefore, companies should be encouraged to open up more internship positions. Universities can also correspond with these companies to give college students more opportunities. 

Some may say that being underemployed is not a problem, because why does it matter if a person is not using their college degree? However, this is where I disagree. This person should be seeking out higher-level jobs so they can use their degree. If one is making a satisfactory salary, that can be a different story, but if they aren’t and their degree can be used for more, it should be. Underemployment can be the cause of lots of financial hardship as well as a termination of career growth in many circumstances. Additionally, if a person does not have any interest in their job, this can even hurt their mental health.

Overall, when a person is underemployed, they should be looking to work at a higher level job where they can make more money and use their college degree. With the current rate of underemployment, universities should also help their students by providing them with internship opportunities. Additionally, companies should also aim to create entry-level and internship positions for graduated college students. All of these actions should be taken so that the transition of graduating from college and becoming a working individual is easier.