User:Atcovi/Are college degrees necessary for success?


 * Name: Aaqib F. Azeez
 * Stance: College degrees are not necessary for success
 * helpful article: https://www.simplypsychology.org/psychology-essay.html
 * Preliminary readings
 * what is success defined as?
 * success (in the dictionary): "the favorable or prosperous termination of attempts or endeavors; the accomplishment of one's goals"
 * success (in this paper): depends on the person, the attainment of a job that provides a salary that is enough to sustain oneself (electricity, rent, gas, insurance, credit cards, etc.). This job also tailors to the person's interests, providing enjoyment when working.
 * what is a college degree defined as?
 * college degree: "a qualification awarded to students upon successful completion of a course of study in higher education, usually at a college or university"
 * what does a college degree lead to?
 * it leads to... "It prepares you, both intellectually and socially, for your career and your adult life. The benefits of a college education include career opportunities like better paying and higher skilled jobs, but studies have shown that it also leads to overall happiness and stability." EducationCorner.com

To Read
 * 1) northeastern.edu - Can You Succeed Without College? Yes, But It’s Complicated
 * 2) Forbes.com - Is A College Degree Necessary? A Tale Of Three Students
 * 3) https://online.champlain.edu/blog/how-important-is-college-degree

For

 * The cases of Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerbeg and Steve Jobs: all exceptions. Their stories are not the norm and shouldn't be set as an example. Failures are also inevitable when trying to become successful without a degree, which requires a strong mentality and a strong support system
 * People who hold bachelor degrees, on avg., earn 66% more than high school graduates.
 * Ages 25+, the rate of unemployment decreases the higher up the education "chain" you go (<high school graduate, high school graduate, associate degree or some college-level degree).
 * People who hold bachelor degrees are half as likely to be unemployed vs. people who ONLY hold a high school degree.
 * Education correlates with happiness: "“Education is probably more strongly correlated with future happiness throughout adulthood than any other variable,” according to Jeffrey Arnett, developmental psychologist and professor of psychology at Clark University".

Against

 * Tuition at public four-year colleges have doubled in the past 30 years.
 * Student-debt has amassed to over $1 trillion dollars.
 * 53% of recent college graduates are jobless [2012 study].
 * Other methods of attaining jobs through a modified organization (apprenticeships, trade schools, working up a business, etc.).

Reading

 * Notice! These sources must be converted to their appropriate citations in the PowerPoint