When it comes down to the importance of an education there
is no denying that the longer you stay in school the better off you are when it
comes to earning potential over the course of your lifetime. Recent estimates
have presented some rather astonishing figures to support these claims however,
and I for one think they are well worth mentioning.
Let's discuss first things first however. A high school
diploma will net the average citizen $200,000 additional dollars of lifetime
income on average. This is one small baby step when it comes to the educational
process however. Some college, even without a degree will even increase that
figure an additional $150,000 for a total of $350,000. If this isn't enough to
convince you however try the facts and figures that are associated with the
additional earning potential that a four-year degree introduces: $500,000. This
addition makes a total of $850,000 more over the course of a lifetime in
earning potential. I don't know about you but I find those figures to be quite
a nice motivator for going back and finishing a degree.
While a person's education may not be an accurate indicator
of his or her actual ability it is often used in the business world to narrow
down a growing field of applicants for a sadly stagnate number of positions
across the country. There are things you just can't see on a piece of paper and
ability and capabilities are among those things. Businesses need a defining
factor by which they narrow down the field of potential employees and that defining
characteristic is often a college degree in the field of business or a
complimentary major course of study.
While this may not seem fair to many who have the practical
skills companies are seeking employees that can fill multiple roles in order to
eliminate positions that have been occupied in the past. For this reason they
want business people who have technical skills and a college education provides
a brief introduction to many skills that are useful in these situations.
Unfortunately, the only way to know whether or not you have these specific
skills is if you list them on your resume while those who have a four-year
degree are believed to have them by the merit of their educations.
The earning potential alone should be enough to turn your
head when it comes to the importance of earning a college degree though there
are many more excellent reasons to pursue the completion of your degree. If you
haven't considered some of the other wonderful reasons for returning to college
and getting your degree, perhaps the reasons below will provide a little
additional motivation.
1) Challenge. There is very little in life that offers the
challenge of returning to college after an absence. It is a frightening
prospect for many and yet can be equally as exciting. You will find that the
constant exposure to academic debate is a great way to feed your mind and open
your eyes to new ideas. Challenge your preconceptions and challenge the limits
of your own experiences by opening up your mind to the thoughts and ideas of
others.
2) Learn New Skills. There is never a bad time to begin
learning new skills no matter what they say about old dogs and new tricks. The
truth is that as long as you open your mind to learning you are feeding it and
that is a great thing.
3) Career advancement. Whether you realize it or not, a
college degree is one of the quickest paths you can take to career advancement.
If the money wasn't enough to convince you of the impact
that a four-year degree can make in your life perhaps the reasons mentioned
above were enough to do the trick. Whether or not you realize how much a degree
can affect your life the truth of the matter is that it can improve so many
things about your life and how you view yourself and the world around you. Now
is the perfect time to go back to school and earn your degree.
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