In our society, deciding to go to university or not is probably one of the biggest decisions in someone’s life. In the 21th century, getting a university education is seen as a necessity at a luxury price. Some may wonder if the student loans are worth entering an unstable job market. We’re often made scared from stereotypical anecdotes of those graduating $100,000 worth of student loans while still working at the local coffee shop. Although it’s unfortunate that this scenario occurs to some, I’m not writing this article to (entirely) wallow in our inevitable loss of potential. I want my fellow college students to make use of what they have to evidently reach their and ever-developing potential. (I’ve also switched majors three times based on a degree I deem “employable” so I understand the uncertainty of understanding the value of a college education).
Benefits of a Post-Secondary Degree
Don’t lose faith, there is immense value in our education. In fact, a study of the most recent Census report suggests that the single most important factor in determining a person’s income is his or her education. On average, individuals with college degrees earn twice as much as individuals with high school diplomas. People with a bachelor’s degree in any field are much less likely to be unemployed, and when they are unemployed, they find new jobs much more quickly than those with only a high school diploma.
College graduates are also more satisfied and have more autonomy in their work. They are more likely to hold positions that allow them to make independent decisions and use their skills and experience to choose solutions to work-related problems.
Other than exams, papers, and studying, college can be a great place to form meaningful relationships and boost your well-being. Especially since we’re giving the opportunity to spend time with others in our age group, share similar interest, and develop close personal relationships.
College educated Americans, according to several studies:
- Are more self-confident in social situations
- Are more effective communicators
- Have more friends
- Suffer less frequently from anxiety
- Have higher self-esteem
- Are more likely to believe they have control over their own lives.
Facing challenges within an environment that also demands performance in the classroom gives students confidence. They learn that they can take steps to control their own lives, and they develop strategies that make them more resilient to challenges. As a result, they have a more positive self-image, are more confident about their choices, and are comfortable interacting in groups and engaging in personal sharing necessary to build friendships. These attributes continue after college and into students’ careers and adult lives and relationships.
Overall, making a good living, being confident, and having strong personal relationships are key components that leads to greater health and a higher quality of life
Oversaturation of College Grads
To get the hard hitting truth out of the way: Post-secondary education is viewed as a necessity because companies take advantage of the excess of degrees by lowering overall wages and increasing the experience required for these positions. Before the great recession in 2008, college degrees were the standard to obtain entry level salaried positions. Today, a college degree typically earns lower level positions compared to previous generations with the same level of education.
Why? Because big companies can get away with it. Many of us graduate with little to no experience. “The graduates that do earn the salaried positions are the ones that hustled in college, had side jobs, and developed the soft skills needed to succeed.” Those who do earned the salaried positions after graduation are the those who did more than just study in university. More than 80% of employers want entry-level candidates to have real life work experience. As contradicting as “entry-level” sounds to their expectations, simply fulfilling your credit requirement isn’t going to cut it anymore. As an employer, who would you rather hire: a college graduate with decent grads, skilled jobs, internships, and volunteering, or the straight A college graduate who can’t communicate professionally. Getting your first “real” job after college is a well-known challenge. There are certain steps you can take to get past being underpaid and undervalued as you enter into the job market, and all these steps are readily available to you as a university student.
The Blank Slate
Every student who enters university gets the “blank slate” of opportunities. We have resources that are readily available to us, all we need to do is reach out to them. Once entering university, every student has the opportunity to network, volunteer, do co-ops/internships, get a stellar GPA, win awards, gain valuable skills and much more. These are opportunities you have simply because you’re enrolled at the university. Speaking in terms of credits and tuition, your English degree is worth the same as your peers. As an English major, why would an employee hire you rather than another English student? You both have the same academic credentials, so why should they hire you? You’re going to need some credentials to set yourself apart from your peers. Because in the 21st century, experience and networking, and not just a university degree, will help you land a job. You can make your degree worth more depending on the opportunities you decided to pursue.
Some Regrets to Avoid
A 2014 study surveyed college graduates on whether, while still in school, they could have better prepared for the type of job they wanted by gaining more work experience, studying harder, beginning their job search earlier, or choosing a different major.
About three-quarters of all college graduates say taking at least one of those four steps would have enhanced their chances to land their ideal job. Leading the should-have-done list: getting more work experience while still in school.
What we learn in the classroom can only give us so much. It’s more what we do with the information and how we apply it to our lives. Therefore, the value of your education isn’t the piece of paper you get after 4+ years. A lot of the value of our university degrees stems from what we chose to pursuit outside the classroom.
Gain Skills, Not Just Knowledge
Pursuing a degree is a good starting point to getting your dream job. 66% of new employees are hired based on experiences rather than academics. Relevant experience is just as important as your degree.
If you’re worried that you don’t have skills that are gained from experience, think of the skills you’ve gained in the classroom.
For example, if you’re in the arts and social science field, your field teaches you transferable skills such as critical thinking/problem-solving, work ethic, teamwork and strong oral and written communication skills. If you’re itching to gain new skills and don’t know where to start, universities offer a ton a free workshop which give you the opportunity to learn more about yourself, while also connecting with like-minded individuals like yourself.
Completing co-op jobs/internships allow you to gain insight on how to manage in professional industries. You’ll also learn if you actually like working in the field you’re studying in. For example, a lot of criminology majors want to become police officers. But how many of them really have a grasp on what being a police officer is actually like and whether or not they would enjoy it in practice and not just in theory. Now, I know you can’t just send in your resume and get a part-time job as a police officer while completing your undergrad. For example, you could do a co-op with the RCMP, volunteer at a police detachment, or speak to a professor with a policing background. It’s not keen to enter a profession completely blind (especially if you end up hating it). Reaching out is the hardest step, but it’s the step the most worthwhile.