Shirts and Shoes Required, Sheepskin Optional?

Abstract

The author challenges the current trend of seeing college as mandatory and questions whether schools and students alike might be better served by academic administrators, parents, and other well-meaning role models acknowledging that education has many forms, and that not every student will have the same aptitude or investment in the outcome. Investigating the balancing values of economics and societal duty in choosing whether to attend college, the author maintains that while college is a great investment for many people, college students should pursue their paths for the sake of knowledge itself while not making undue assumptions about those who choose not to pursue higher education.