The  AVERAGE  COLLEGE  “Myth”

There are MANY good reasons to attend college. Examples:

●          Opportunity to meet new / different people

●          Explore new / different ideas

●          Participate in extra-curricular activities often not easily available outside of school

●          Experience living away from home

●          Study new / different subjects

●          Increase career options

●          Obtain degree necessary for entry into some careers

●          Network with people

●          Delay getting full-time employment

●          Enjoy learning / school

BUT surveys of high school parents shows that 95% expect their children to pursue education AFTER high school.  This is not necessarily college  More than 95% of students enrolled in chemistry or physics at Jeff West² plan to attend college

WHY  should most people attend college ?

Often the reason given is because “you will earn more money”.  

In fact before a student can officially drop out of a Kansas high school state law requires them to sign a document that states the AVERAGE high school dropout can expect to earn $12,809³, a high school graduate can expect to earn $18,737, some college but no degree $19,666, an associate's degree $24,398, a bachelor's degree $32,629...

HOWEVER, this does not answer some important questions.

    1 -- HOW  MANY jobs will there be ? (Example: If Kansas needs 1 more                         clinical psychologist next year and 100 college students are seeking the job it                         means it will NOT happen for 99 of the 100)

     2 -- The AVERAGE is often confused with MOST.

              Example #1:  The AVERAGE male in America lives to almost 75 years old.                        However, this includes males that die much younger.  If a teenager dies at age                        15, there must be 4 other males who live to 90 so MOST males would                         live longer than the AVERAGE . . . if a child dies before his first birthday,                         there must be 9 other males who live to be older than 83 . . .

              Example #2:  If some college graduates earn more then others MUST earn less.                         Take 10 people with a Bachelor's Degree from college. All doctors                         are college graduates . If the AVERAGE doctor in  Kansas earns $125,000                         per year then the other 9 with Bachelor's Degrees would earn $22,366.

The myth is that MOST people EARN more than they would if they did not attend college.

BUT return to the original list of GOOD reasons to attend college.

Without a college degree there are many new people you will NOT meet, many new ideas you will NOT explore, opportunities to participate in extra curricular activities you will NOT have, many career tracks you will NOT be able to follow, etc.

This is NOT a college myth !