In the United States students are strongly encouraged to continue their education after high school. High schools focus their efforts on preparing students for college and provide students with the specific study skills and credit requirements that are required for admission to colleges and universities.
High School counselors begin working with students during their junior and senior years to learn about what options are available for them after they graduate from high school and to determine what occupations their interests and personal preferences are best fit for. Depending on students post secondary interests, availability of financial resources, access to post-secondary education (proximity to community colleges, state colleges and universities, transportation and housing resources), family support and family resources, educational support and self-motivation students are advised and directed toward the post secondary options that are best for their specific needs.
A students earned high school grades are also considered when applying for college admissions and are important to some degree. However, a student’s grades are not the sole consideration because the public education system enrolls students in remedial classes and alternative learning environments when they show signs that they are not achieving at grade level, which results in student’s grades showing improvement in these alternative settings. Technical schools and colleges make provisions so that low achieving students have the opportunity to be successful in a post-secondary educational setting.
Significant efforts have been made in the United States public education system to encourage students to seek post secondary education and to increase the number of students who enter college after leaving high school. Many high schools partner with local state institutions of higher education to offer “Advanced Placement” and/or dual enrollment classes during a student’s senior year of high school. Advanced Placement classes are focused on providing challenging curriculum to college bound students. Dual enrollment classes give high school students an opportunity to earn college credit while finishing credit requirements to graduate from high school.
Post-secondary education is strongly encouraged in the United States and is a proven indicator of a person’s ability to participate as a responsible and active member of their community. Therefore, society and specifically educators measure a student’s success by how well they do in school and a student’s level of responsibility for their continued education. Highly educated people have more control over their lives and in their working environment. People who go to college earn more money than people that don’t and their rate of pay increases with their level of degree attainment.
A person’s level of education is the primary indicator of social class in the United States, even though the concept of the American social class system is vague and poorly defined based on family income, expenditures and a family’s ability to provide the necessities as compared to their desire for luxury items. American’s social class is determined by a person’s level of education, occupation and income. However, level of educational attainment has a significant impact on one’s occupation and income. This defines educational attainment as the number one measure of social status in America.
Post secondary education in America gives people the option to choose their own career, work at a level that they prefer (entry level, middle management, executive, CEO), work to earn the amount of money they want in their job, decide how they want to spend their free time (travel, hobbies) and give them the chance to achieve the kind of life they want to live. Post-secondary education is for the most part available to anyone who desires to go to college. Colleges and universities are wide spread and easily accessible. Colleges and universities work hard to get students in the door. Federal, state, local and private financial aid are available for disadvantaged students while both local, government and private scholarships are available to high achieving students. In 2009, it was estimated that more than 70% of high school students are entering college.
President Obama’s initiative is for every single American to receive at least one year of post secondary education, including higher education or vocational training. However, the concern is that every American does not possess the level of academic ability to be successful in a college setting. In fact it is estimated that less than 20% of Americans have the preexisting capabilities to be successful in graduating with a college degree. This is directly related to the cost of getting a college degree; the support students receive from the institution and their families and the financial resources available for students to complete their degree programs. With the cost of getting a college degree continuing to rise annually, more and more students are racking up student loans and failing to graduate in four years, Americans have to compare the benefits of a college degree to the potential for earned income with a higher education degree.
Herein lies the question, in a time of recession and economic crisis is a college degree going to improve current and future success of our graduates? With the work force of other countries becoming more and more educated, does the increasing number of American college graduates make us more competitive in the world economy? If America turns to alternative models or changes their focus to educate those individuals who are not successful at the college level, will that result in America having an undereducated workforce? Ultimately, people who are motivated to be successful in college are going to be successful regardless of their ability to gain a college degree, while individuals who are not successful in post secondary settings, may result in a greater number of unemployed workers and uneducated workforce that breeds its own cultural deficiencies.
The bottom line is, we all agree a college education is important, the success rate for college students is poor, the American economy is not able to support the workforce at this time, the American dollar is losing value while the nation’s debt is increasing and the bigger picture can all be tied back to unfair trade, with poor practices for U.S. importing and exporting.
In the scheme of things, the point is that a college education is easily attainable in the U.S. for any student who is motivated to attend and be successful; however, the future of our economy and educational sector is in the area of sciences, mathematics, engineering and technology. Students will have to seek education and work in the professions that are in high demand in order to obtain gainful employment to pay back student loans and secure jobs for the future.
