I still feel like I can use the Must Attend College mindset as a topic, but the readings that I've read so far have been more aimed towards people wanting or already attending college, and not the other way around.
Some google searches got me some good information and stats. One site I went to said that around 44% of college grads are underemployed-working jobs that don't require degrees. According to the site it's a number that hasn't really changed since 1994, but it still shows that many people aren't using their degrees. Some other numbers stood out to me, like rise in 30% of low wage jobs and a drop from higher paying jobs that don't require a degree.
The articles and books that seem important are things like magazines such as times alongside academic journals.
Information grabbed from experts from some books and articles repeat some of the problems I'm looking at, a rise in underemployed workers that may be tied to overall rise in college grads, and as a result lowering the weight of a degree itself. Lots of the info that I've found were from various articls that list studies and stats. http://www.pbs.org/newshour/making-sense/many-college-grads/ shows stats like projected jobs in the future that require degrees compared to those that actually have them. It shows stats that can reinforce my topic, one part stating that employers are demanding better educated workers creates a very competitive environment due to increased number of grads that also results in lower pay due to the employers lack of confidence in the degrees held. Another site http://www.thefiscaltimes.com/Articles/2011/12/19/Why-Americas-College-Students-Dont-Graduate has information on the increase in price to get a degree, and the actual effectiveness of the degree. One point it brings up is the saturation of relatively useless classes.
I have not found any controversies yet, but one I could think of is that people need to get degrees in order to compete in the changing job market, so mediocre or not, people will strive for the degrees. Even if someone has a degree and is underemployed or low on the corporate ladder, not having one may result in them not even being considered.
You need to get more focused in your approach to this topic, which could easily get very generalized. Let me give it some thought. But I would like to see you dealing with some specifics that your sources report.
ReplyDeleteOne approach to the question popular online is to ask: "Should Everyone Go to College?" or "Is College Really for Everyone?" You will find that there is a very opinionated debate, and it might be interesting to examine that debate to get at the meaning of college in the public mind that it reveals.
You might also look at the way that the overproduction of college grads may be driving down or keeping down wages.
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