In a coffee shop, there are two men
sitting at a table, on one side was David Leonhardt, the writer of “The College
Dropout Boom,” and with him was Jeffrey Dorfman, the writer of “There’s No
College Tuition Bubble: College Education is Underpriced.” Both men sat,
explaining each of their opinions when Leonhardt says,
“I
really don’t understand why people think it is essential for their children to
go to college. Although I
understand that everyone believes that they’ll make more money and live better lives if they do so, that is not
always the case. Anyways, the cost of tuition is too inflated.”
Questioned by why his friend
thought that way, Jeffrey Dorfman responded by stating,
“My friend, I know that you
think that college may not be for everyone, but you couldn’t be more incorrect.
Although my daughter may go to a private university, which costs me a fortune,
there are plenty of other options for people who have lower incomes. Just as I
had stated in my article, Harvard’s full
price for tuition may be $59,800 but the average price paid by students and
their families who qualify for financial aid is almost one-fourth of that. This
goes for just about any college too, not just Ivy League schools. For in-state
residents, even the most expensive public university is generally quite
affordable with a total cost often around $20,000 per year even at full price
or with community college and technical schools as affordable options.
Leonhard smiled and laughed at his
friend’s argument.
“Well,
I guess our future will have to consist of a lot of grocery baggers and
waitresses with PhDs, correct? I know
of a man who is only 29 years old and is doing just fine without a college education. He is on a path typical for someone
who attended college without getting a
four-year degree, being a produce buyer, earning $35,000 a year with health benefits and a 401(k) plan. I
know you said that community college was a good
and affordable option for people who weren’t prepared or couldn’t afford to go to a university, but according to studies, 75
percent of students enrolling in community
colleges said they hoped to transfer to a four-year institution but only 17 percent of those switch within five
years. Why would we waste money on education that
not all people can finish?”
“Well
didn’t you mention in your article that some universities will charge no
tuition and require no loans for students
who are below the poverty level? That would be quite the motivation for me to get an
education, so my future family and I can live a better life than my parents did, am I right?”
Dorfman retorted, with a smile. He
knew that he was going to win this argument and get his point across to his
friend.
“Think
of it this way: there are many different types of cars in the market. You could
spend a fortune on a luxurious
sports car, or you could buy a more affordable car. Either way, the car will take you where you want to
go. As long as affordable options are out there, why should we be concerned if there
are also expensive choices? We need to take
the time to reach for these opportunities, while we have them! We may not have them in the future!
Leonhard smiled and nodded to his friend, and the two continued with their
meal at the coffee shop. Both arguments were strong in points and perspective,
but are valued and considered differently for each individual and based on
their circumstances.
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