Stigma Behind College

In today’s world, young adults are pressured to attend either college or university. It is a well-known fact that post-secondary education is one of the many key factors to a successful career. But how does one choose between either college or university? There are so many elements that come into play and of course, pros and cons to both types of education. That being said, college has been significantly underrated for many years.

With a stigma behind colleges being for those who want to go into trades or who are “not smart” enough for university, it has directed many young adults towards universities and down a schooling career full of debt and unfulfillment. As stated by Meaghan Wray (2019) “About 14 per cent of first-year students across the country dropped out of their university programs, according to the 2011 Youth in Transition Survey from Statistics Canada. When accounting for all undergraduate students, the number rose to 16 per cent.” She then continued there are many reasons behind these students dropping out such as, “academic pressures, trouble meeting deadlines, choosing the “wrong” program and for many, cost.”

As students finish their university degrees, many still choose to attend college afterwards. Realizing that hands on, work related education is very important. College offers students the opportunity to get graduates into their field (Wray,2019), teaching them useful skills that would be beneficial in a working force. Students are exposed to more opportunity with college as colleges are “supposed to be in touch with the industry” (Wray, 2019). By equipping students with programs designed to help them develop skills needed to enhance their career planning, interview skills, portfolios and how to incorporate career goals into job searching (Sir Sandford Fleming College, 2019) results colleges guiding students towards getting a job right after graduating.

There are so many benefits to going to college, the opportunities are endless. Also, at the end of the day colleges are relatively cheaper than going to university. College can be a good start for anyone who is either fresh out of high school or someone looking for a career change. With costs being lower it allows students to explore their options more and ultimately feel more fulfilled even if they graduate with a diploma they don’t necessarily use in the job force. The opportunities and skills learned can be beneficial in any field. Students would finish post-secondary with less debt and more likely to have a tool box full of tools to be an all-around great employee.

At the end of the day, it is a very personal decision for one to make. But we cannot allow young adults to feel pressured to going into university as if that is what “they are supposed to do”. There are many pros that go into a college diploma and we cannot forget that. Personally, I have benefitted from attending college. I chose that route because it was a career path that I felt fulfilled in. College has allowed me the opportunities of networking and having open conversations with people who are established in the career I wish to peruse. It has been a very personal experience and especially attending a smaller college, Fleming College Frost Campus. I can feel confident that I am surrounded by people who want to see me, as well as other students, succeed. Not only while attending the college but also post graduate in our careers.

 

References:

Fleming College. (2019). Career Preparation Course. Retrieved from: https://mycampus.flemingcollege.ca/group/portal/my-program

Wray, Meaghan. (2019). Global News, “University isn’t ‘better’ than college. Why does it get all the glory?”. Retrieved from https://globalnews.ca/news/5961371/choosing-university-or-college/