Today: Mar 28, 2024

Is college worth the financial debt?

Lynandro Simmons – Special to the Southern News

Kynyata Pouncey upon graduation said she never felt a joy like having a degree in her hand, however she is now faced with real world problems that she may have not been prepared for.

“College never taught me to balance a checkbook or pay bills,” said Pouncey, an Exercise Science major, “I was nowhere near prepared, I still work at CVS and I’m still trying to find a job.”

Pouncey points to her circle of friends as varying reasons to go to college or not to, “I chose my degree because my mother suggested it, but I ended up loving my degree,” said Pouncey, “Some of my friends don’t even love the majors they’ll have to pay for.”

Pouncey quickly added “Nobody I know talks about creating a plan to pay for college until maybe there senior year, it’s almost an afterthought.”

For Pouncey she said college was something her parents reinforced from a young age.

“I actually think as long as you have a solid plan you’ll be fine,” said Pouncey.

Pouncey adds that this plan does not necessarily have to equate college.

“I don’t think a college degree is necessary, I actually think college is becoming like the new army.” Pouncey said with a laugh, “Back in the day if you didn’t have a plan, just go to the army. Now if you don’t have a plan just go to college.”

Devin Myers, a senior Sociology major and Spanish minor, also weighed in on the necessity of a college degree.

“For my degree personally, it really depends on what you want to do with it,” says Myers “There’s a wide array of jobs I could go work at, I would say my degree is worth the debt.”

However Myers quickly pointed out no one should kill themselves trying to pay for college.

“I don’t think it’s necessary to go to the most expensive school just to get a degree unless that school is known for preparing students really well for that specific major,” Said Myers.

“As long as the degree that somebody is pursuing is truly what they’re passionate about once they graduate I think your degree will be worth it,” Myers said shrugging his shoulders.

According to the 2015 Gallup-Purdue Index report on college graduates only 38 percent of graduates agreed that college was worth the cost.

David Guest, a roofer in New Haven, chose to forego college and instead entered the military right away.

“For me college was an option, but I knew I didn’t want to do classwork so I chose not to waste money,” said Guest.

However Guest adds that from his group of friends he can see the various reasons you may or may not attend college.

Guest said a degree represented an opportunity for many of his friends; to Guest, debt.

“It really just depends on your field, doctors, lawyers, things like that I could see you taking the debt to attain a degree,” said Guest.

However Guest points to friends in his circle who he has personally seen go to college just to come home and face debt.

“A lot of people I know with degrees who are smart were just unfortunate that the job market wasn’t open in their favor.” Said Guest.

With a slight chuckle Guest added, “A lot of people went to college to get degrees,” Guest shrugged and laughed, “And now they’re just simply shoveling snow.”

 Photo Credit: Staff Photo

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