Why you should pursue higher education

We’re sure you’ve seen plenty of recent articles out there asking the question, is college worth it? Maybe you’ve been asking yourself if you should pursue higher education? In light of the current economic times and the vast underemployment of highly educated individuals, it’s definitely a question worth examining – and closely.

There have since been many studies exploring the value and quality of higher education. According to a study conducted by the Pew Research Center in Washington, DC, in 2011, the majority of Americans polled felt that the higher education system “fails to provide good value for money.” However, when the college graduates are isolated from the polled participants, the majority say their college degree was a good personal investment.

So, let’s discuss.

Considering today’s global economy, a high school degree alone is rarely enough to give students enough career opportunity. And considering that competition for positions is steadily increasing, post-secondary education can often set certain candidates apart from the rest.

And though some might argue the underemployment rate and increasing tuition costs is a good counter-argument to the value of higher education, unemployment rates for students who never attended any postsecondary institution are higher than those that pursued a higher education, and postsecondary students generally earn a higher salary, offsetting the cost of college tuition.

Aside from the typical survey answers, like cost vs value, salary payoff, and character development, a case can be made for how higher education helps students to develop a better understanding of their passions. By dedicating a four-year degree to exploring and studying further your passion, you’ll have the means to better understand how to use your individual talents, which in turn leads to greater professional successes and more happiness.

Indeed, some of the best advances in the 20th and 21st centuries can be attributed to individuals like Einstein who were exploring their unquenchable interest in their passions. And behind this interest lies curiosity and creativity.

So if you’re a grade 11 or 12 student – or the parent of one – you might be asking yourself, what next?

At Skooli, we’re all about developing a passion for learning. We encourage Skooli students to explore their passion through education, and look for ways to make a fulfilling career of it.

Your passion doesn’t need to mean a specialized career path either. Many higher education institutions offer courses in subjects of interest that could inspire you to branch out in new and interesting ways.

If you have a new interest budding, why not use Skooli’s tutors as a resource to hone your knowledge and expand personal passions. There are many ways to incorporate personal interests in a career path that will make you a more marketable professional in the long run.