The downturn of the economy has prompted many Americans to seek a college education in order to have a better opportunity at finding jobs.

The editorial members of The All State discussed the advantages and drawbacks of pursuing a post-secondary education during these difficult economic times.

Although a high school diploma had previously been the basic requirement to attain a blue collar or even a white collar job a decade ago, it appears a bachelor’s degree is now the new standard when it comes to bare minimum credentials.

With this in mind, a great number of Americans are now pursuing a four-year degree with the purpose of presenting themselves as valuable and indispensable prospects in an extremely competitive work place.

However, with so many people looking to add a college degree to their résumé, the worth of the degree itself is losing validity.

While the idea of being employed and even finding a prosperous career is enough to motivate anyone into furthering their education, this may not be the wisest route to take.

Unless student grants and scholarships cover the full tuition and fees of attending an institution, the reality is student loans are more likely to contribute to an already dreary financial situation.

Some of the editorial members at TAS agree the misuse of student loans is one of the main negative aspects of attending a university out of economic stress.

A multitude of students rely on their loans as a means of partial income, in turn, disregarding any common logic or consideration for the future.

But not everyone finds themselves in such a predicament. Even though college students have, for the most part, been known to struggle financially, this may not entirely be true. There are many opportunities such as work study programs and lower paying jobs like waiting tables and customer sales at the local mall, which are enough for most young college students to get by.

So, is there reason for college students to be concerned with the economy and the job market? It all depends on who you ask.

A career is obviously the ultimate goal for all those who choose to pursue a college degree, however, it is not until that goal is nearly achieved that most students begin to reflect on the next step of the process.

One editorial member mentioned “I do not have much of an opinion about jobs, because I am not thinking about it yet… If I was not considering going to graduate school, the current economy and job market certainly would have changed my mind. Figuring out and finding a career is a scary concept, especially if jobs are limited and everyone is making your future options seem bleak.”

In contrast to this, there are a multitude of students who are near their graduation day or have already graduated, and still can’t seem to find jobs, including those not requiring college degrees.

They have chosen to better their chances at finding well-paying, secure careers, only to find themselves in desperation and ambiguity.

In the end, there is nothing left but uncertainty. Attending college is, for lack of a better word, a gamble. The best thing a student can do is to have a concrete plan. Research your chosen career field, its trends, future outlook and the return on the investment you’re making.

A bachelor’s degree has become not only immensely accessible, but a necessity to anyone who desires a better future.

With the economy and job market slowly gaining momentum, students can only hope their degrees will reward them at long last; nevertheless, it’s sad and unfair to think that in today’s modern society, college could be a risky option.

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