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Is College Worth the Money? Gen Z Is Asking Bigger Questions (Unit 2)
Growing up, I was always told that college was the key to a good life. It wasn’t really a question though, it was a given. College meant success, a good job, and a stable future. But after analyzing the responses to the question “Do you think college is worth the money?” I realized something is different. People aren’t just saying “yes” or “no.” They’re thinking about it, asking questions, and starting to see college in more personal, complicated ways.
One of the biggest patterns I noticed was how often people answered “yes,” but only with certain conditions. Some people said it’s only worth it if you already know what career you’re going into. Others said that college only makes financial sense if you’re getting enough aid or scholarships to avoid going into debt. A few people talked about college being worth it for reasons other than money like making friends, gaining independence, or avoiding physically demanding jobs. This shows a shift in how we define “worth.” Someone also said “College is worth it if the experience helps you grow personally, build valuable connections, and gain the skills needed for your career without leaving you in overwhelming debt.” It’s not just about getting a degree and landing a job. It’s about what college gives you emotionally, socially, and personally, and whether that matches what you’re giving up to get it.
What stood out the most, though, were the outliers. The responses that challenged the whole idea of college being necessary at all. One person said that they are $80,000 in debt, which is hard to justify if your degree doesn’t directly lead to a job. Another person had a high-level job they earned without ever using their degree. And some students pointed out that younger people still see college as the “only” path, even when other options like trade school or entrepreneurship might make more sense. These responses made me wonder: What if we’ve been sold one version of success for so long that we’ve forgotten there are other ways to get there?
For our generation, college isn’t a guaranteed investment, it’s a personal decision that depends on goals, values, and financial reality. After reading the survey, I started to think differently about my own college experience. I don’t just want a degree; I want direction. I want something that feels meaningful, not just expensive. And I think a lot of other students feel the same way. We’re not rejecting college, we’re just asking it to be worth it on our terms.
I agree with what you wrote, nowadays it can feel like college isn't worth it because of the tuition cost. It depends on your beliefs, upbringing, and what you want to study if you want to go to college.
ReplyDeleteI really liked how you pointed out that the idea of college being worth it is no longer a simple yes or no. It has become a layered and personal decision. Your observation that worth is being redefined beyond just financial return really stood out to me. I have been thinking about that too, especially how some of the most honest responses in the survey came from people who talked about emotional growth, independence, or even just avoiding burnout later in life. It makes me wonder if the real value of college is harder to measure because it shows up over time, not just on a paycheck. I also liked your last line about wanting direction more than just a degree. That felt really real. Maybe part of making college worth it is shifting the focus from checking off boxes to actually figuring out what matters to us while we are here.
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I LIKE HOW YOU STARTED OF WITH TALKING ABOUT YOUR SELF AND THEN TIED IT BACK TO THE QUESTION. NOT ONLY THAT BUT YOU ALSO EMPASIZED YOUR ANSWER FOR THE QUESTION THAT YOU HAD.
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If I had to grade myself on this blog post, I think I did pretty well. I introduced the main question clearly—“Is college worth the money?”—and explained why it stood out to me. I noticed some clear patterns in the responses, like how a lot of people said yes, but only if things like financial aid or a clear career path were involved. I also included some interesting differences, like people who said college helped them socially or physically, and even a few who didn’t think it was worth it at all. I think I did a good job explaining what those patterns and contrasts mean and how they made me think differently about college myself. My writing felt clear, and even though it was in a blog style, it still got the point across. Overall, I think the post hits the key parts of the assignment and helped me understand the bigger picture behind the survey question.
ReplyDeleteI like how you really talked about how other people viewed the cost of college and if it's really worth all the money, then you talked about what you thought about the question. Overall, I would give you an 85, because yes you did hit some good key points, but I think you should dig deeper into your analysis to get up to a really good claim. -Kimora
ReplyDeleteI like how you focused on in the end how there are people who are in debt because of their degree while others have high paying jobs without on. It is a sad realty. Besides that I think your essay is overall really good. I would give it a 45/50 - Gio
ReplyDeleteI would give this an A if I had to grade this. I like how you choose to talk about how college helps you to build connections. Your work is clear and easy to follow. I like how in your conclusion you talk about how college isn't a guaranteed investment. I feel like this gives depth to the idea that college isn't for everyone. - Brooklyn
ReplyDeleteI liked how how in depth you went when talking about the topic at hand, just correct some of the writing because it looks weird on my end but other then that great job!!
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