Life after College
Caitlin Petre is a graduate from Stanford University. She graduated with a 3.90 GPA with a Master’s degree in Philosophy. One day after graduation, Petre went for an interview for a job and she was asked to fill out a W-4 form. When filling out the form, Petre experienced some trouble because she didn’t know what the meaning of some words meant, such as “allowance.” Although her academic knowledge is impressive, her knowledge of the real world was lacking. According to her article “The Lessons I Didn’t Learn in College,” Petre was never taught how to deal with situations that involve money management in college. She feels that colleges don’t offer classes that teach students how to deal with real life situations, such as renting an apartment, paying off student loans, filling out forms, and managing budgets. She suggests that colleges should create classes that will benefit students in their career life and in their future financial life.
I disagree with Petre’s view that colleges don’t help students in real life situations. It is true that colleges mainly focus on teaching students what’s written in books. However, colleges do offer classes and a variety of workshops that help students see the general view of situations and problems that will occur in their life. The only disadvantage for students is that these special classes are not required for graduation. Classes like chemistry, math, and English are required, so students don’t bother to look at special classes. I believe that colleges do offer skills needed for life, such as money management, but it is up to the students to motivate themselves to take that extra step even if it is not asked from them. Even though colleges don’t teach specific things about money, they do have classes that give a general perspective on financial situations that students will face in the future. It is then up to the students to take that information learned, apply it to their future, and learn from their own experiences.
An example of a class offered in college that benefits students in their financial life is economics. In an economics class, students are educated about many life skills that will help them succeed in their future. Topics that are covered in this class are the economy of the U.S., role of the government, economics of business and production, supply and demand, price, banking, and money. These topics all connect to most of the financial issues a student will face in his or her near future.
For example, learning about banking and money in an economics class is an essential topic. Students learn about money, where money comes from, how banks work, how banks lend loans, and interest rates. All this pertains to a student’s life after college, because a majority of students after college have trouble paying off their loans. Despite of all this information, this class won’t specifically explain how much one has to pay every month to prevent debt. However, when students walk out of this class on the last day, they will feel comfortable and be more familiar with banks than they were before.
The next step for a student to do is to take all of the information he or she learned in the class, and apply it to his or her future. For example, when one buys a house in the future, it is necessary to take out a loan. To do this, one has to consider interest rates and must have a general knowledge of how banks work. The person can think back to his or her economics class and try to remember what they learned about banks and interest rates. The economics class will play a big role at this point of time because the person will know what kind of questions to ask and what information is important to know from the bank person. This is how students should take what they learned in college and apply it to their real life situations.
Colleges also offer research and learning skills in classes. For most projects assigned in college, students have to use the internet to find information and educate their selves on a topic. As Petre mentioned in her article, she graduated from Stanford University with a 3.90 GPA. A person that smart should be able to find and interpret information without specific formal educational classes. If she had trouble filling out her W-4 form, she should have used a computer or a dictionary to find the definition of “allowance.” The whole purpose of conducting a research for an experiment or a project in college is to teach students how and where to find the information they need.
Colleges provide enough information and skills for students to use outside of class. Although the information presented isn’t detailed or specified, students need to realize that colleges can’t teach every little thing. Classes like economics provides general information about a topic matter. It is then the students’ responsibility to expand their mind to use that information for help when dealing with real life situations. Demanding a class for every problem in life isn’t a good solution, because one has to learn from experience as life goes on.
this is only three pages. i need four pages. so what information can i add to make it longer.
also please comment on the grammar, content, and if i'm focusing on my thesis or if i should change it.
I suggest you focus on the purposes of colleges and universities. You can research this topic. Essentially, though, I think you'll find that their purposes are three-fold:
to educate students in the classical sense of being well-rounded educated citizens with a knowledge of the world
to train students to make a living as professionals
to ensure that students know how to research and learn
You could also point out that many people without college educations (much less degrees from Stanford)fill out W-4s, rent apartments, and contract for mortgages and credit cards. This knowledge should be acquired before college. If not, then the individual is responsible for educating him/herself on these basic necessities.
We don't expect universities to teach students to cook, drive a car, budget their money, or fill out government forms.
To make your essay longer and provide more depth to your argument, you can consider adding the following information:
1. Expand on Caitlin Petre's perspective: While you disagree with Petre's view, you can elaborate on her experiences and use them to strengthen your argument. Discuss the challenges she faced, how she overcame them, and the lessons she learned. This will provide a personal perspective and make your argument more nuanced.
2. Discuss the importance of internships and practical experience: Colleges often facilitate internships and co-op programs that provide students with real-world experience. Talk about how these experiences can enhance students' understanding of money management and other practical skills. Elaborate on the benefits gained from internships and highlight specific examples of successful student experiences.
3. Explore the role of extracurricular activities and clubs: Many colleges offer clubs and organizations that focus on areas such as finance, entrepreneurship, and budgeting. Detail the benefits of joining these clubs, how they can provide practical skills, and how they can complement classroom learning.
4. Include statistical data: Incorporate relevant statistics or studies that support your argument. For example, you can cite research that shows the positive impact of college education on financial literacy and success in post-graduate life. This will add credibility to your argument and provide a broader context.
5. Discuss the importance of networking: Emphasize the role of building connections and networks during college. Talk about how networking events and career fairs can teach students essential skills like resume building, interview preparation, and negotiation techniques. Highlight real-life stories of students who benefited from networking and how it positively impacted their career paths.
Regarding grammar and content, your essay seems well-written and organized. Your focus on economics as a class that provides relevant skills is clear and effectively supports your argument. However, to improve the essay, you can consider balancing the counter-argument by dedicating a section to acknowledging some limitations of college education in preparing students for real-life situations, and then effectively counter those limitations.
Overall, your thesis is focused and clear, defending the idea that colleges do offer skills needed for life, but it is up to the students to take the initiative to apply and expand on what they have learned.