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The Value of a College Education
Have
you ever asked
yourself the question:
“
Why
should I go
to college?
”
It seems to be
a simple question
and
its
importance
is
self-evident.
A
college
education
will make you a better person. It will
make you a better
person as I see it in
five ways:
It will likely make you more
prosperous.
It will give you a better
quality of life.
It will give you the
power to change the world.
It
will
be
something
you
can
pass
on
to
your
children.
It makes you a
major contribution to your beloved
country.
First
things
first,
becauseIknow
you
?
re
thinking
“
Show me
the money.
”T
he lifetime
income of families
headed
by
individuals
with
a
bachelor
?
s
degree
in
the
USA will be about $$1.6 million more
than the incomes
of families headed by
those with a high-school diploma,
according to an official report. The
U.S. Census Bureau
tells us that in
1999, average income for a male aged 25
or
over
who
holds
a
bachelor
?
s
degree
was
about
$$6,1000, compared to about $$32,000 for
a male with a
high-school
diploma
—
so the college
graduate
?
s income
was about $$29,000 more annually than
the high-school
graduates.
And
incomes
of
those
with
only
a
high-school education are
sinking steadily lower.
Now,
unfortunately, women still make less money
than men do, but the news for female
who choose higher
education is
truly phenomenal:
In
a 1997 study,
young
women
who
had
completed
a
bachelor
?
s
degree
or
大学教育的价值
“我为什么要上大学
？”你曾
问过自己这样的问题吗？它看似一
个简单的问题，并且
其重要性不言
自明。大学教育会让你成为一个更
完美的人。我认
为，它会从五个方
面让你成为更完美的人：
它将可能使你更加富有；
它将让你拥有更高的生活质
量；
它将给予你改变世界的力量；
它将惠及你的子女；
它让你为深爱的祖国做出巨大
贡献
<
/p>
先说重要的，因为我知道你们
在想：
“钱
在哪里。
”一份官方的报
告显示，在美国，由本科学历人士
主导的家庭，其家庭的终身收入会
比一个高中人士主导的家庭高出<
/p>
1600,000
美元。美国人口普查局在
1999
年指出，具有本科学历的
25
岁
以
上
的
男
子
的
平
均
年
收
入
是
6,100
美元，比高中文凭男子男子
3,,2
00
美元的年收入高出
2,900
美<
/p>
元。并且，那些只受过高中教育者
的收入在持续降低。
不幸的是，目前女性的收入仍
然低于男性。但是
，那些接受过高
等教育的女性的情况却令人称奇：
higher
earned 91 percent more than young women with
一份
1997
年的研究显示，
完成本科
no more than a high-school
diploma.
以上教育的年轻女性的收入，比没
A
college education is an extraordinarily profitable
上过大学的年轻女性高出
91%
。
investment. Every dollar
spent on a young man
?
s
college
大学教育是一项利润超高的投
education
produces $$34.85 in increased lifetime income.
资。年轻男性在大学教育上每投资
Any financial
expert would envy that kind of investment
< br>1
美元，在提升的
/
较高的终身
收入
yield
—
especiall
y
these
days.
You
say
you
can
?
t
afford
中，就会有
34.85
美元的回报。任
to
go
to
college?
Educational
experts
say
you
can
?
t
何金融专家都会嫉妒这种投资产出
afford not
to.
——特别是当前。你还说自己没有
College
may be expensive, but the only thing more
钱去上大学吗？教育专家说，你耽
expensive
than getting a college education is not getting
搁不起。
one.
The
meaningful
difference
in
income
empowers
you to make choices that enrich your
life.
上大学也许很费钱，但是，唯
一比上大学代价更高
的事情是不上
Unlike
most
purchases,
a
college
education
大学。在收入上的巨大差距，会促
appreciates
in
value instead of depreciating.
And don
?
t
使你选择一生富足的选项。
forget
that
there
are
ways
to
get
around
the
high
不像大多数的消费，大学教育
cost-
scholarships,
financial
aid,
community
colleges,
< br>会增值，而非贬值。另外
，不要忘
and
emerging
choices
in
distance
learning
that
can
了，有很多办法应对高额开支：争
enable you to
take classes on your computer while also
取奖学金、获得经济资助、上社区
participating
in the workforce.
大学，或者选择新潮的远程教育，
John G.
Ramsay, a professor at the Perlman Center
边工作，边通过电脑上课。
for
Learning and Teaching, said that the credentials
you
珀尔曼学习与教学中心的约
gain with a
college education
“
are about
setting yourself
翰·
G
< br>·
拉姆塞
/
约翰·
格雷厄姆·
拉
apart,
being
employable,
and
becoming
a
legitimate
姆塞
(
John
Graham
Ramsa
)
教授指
candidate
for
a
job
with
a
future.
They
are
about
出，
你通过大学教育获得的能力
“将
climbing
out of the dead-end job market, and achieving
使你与众不同，易于就业，好工作
one
of
life
?
s
most
difficult
developmental
tasks:
的合格接班人。他们将跳出苦海无
independence
from
one
?
s
parents.
Strong
credentials
边的劳动力市场，并实现人生中最
trigger that
magical set of middle class
?
firsts
?
.
”
Ramsay
困难的发展目标：独立于父母。良
said:
“
The
first
real-world
job,
the
first
non-
student
好的能力引发了一系列神奇的中产
apartment,
the first new car, and of course, the first loan <
/p>
阶级
‘第一’
：
第一份非兼职的工作，
payments. Weak credentials
can be painful reminders of
第一间非学习的公寓，
第一辆新车，
a
string
of
misfortunes:
poor
advice,
money
problems,
当然，还有第一次偿还贷款。较弱
bad
decisions, and wasted time.
”
的能力会让你痛苦地面对一连串不
Next, quality
of life. Is there anyone who
wouldn
?
t
幸：听不进建议，财务危机，拿不
like
to
live
a
longer,
healthier
life?
Studies
show
that,
定主意，白白浪费时间。
”
compared
to
high-
school
graduates,
college
graduates
第二点，生活质量问题。有任
have:
longer
life
spans,
better
access
to
health
care,
何人不愿意活得更久、更健康吗？
better
dietary
and
health
practices,
greater
economic
研究发现，相对高中毕业生，大学
stability and
security, more prestigious employment and
毕业生会有：更长的寿命、更优质
greater job
satisfaction, less dependency on government
的医疗服务、更好的饮食和健康状
assistance,
greater
use
of
seat
belts,
more
continuing
况、更安全稳定的经济状况、更高
education,
greater Internet access, greater attendance at
的工作层次和工作满意度、更少的
live
performances,
greater
participation
in
leisure
and
依赖政府救
助、
更多地使用安全带、
artistic
activities,
more
book
purchases,
higher
voting
更持续的教育、更长时间上网、更
rates,
greater
knowledge
of
government,
greater
经常地观看现场演出、更频繁地参
community
service
and
leadership,
more
volunteer
与休闲和艺术活动、更多地图书购
work,
more
self-confidence,
and
less
criminal
activity
买、更高的投票率、更好的了解政
and
incarceration.
府、更优秀的社区服务和领导力、
Thirdly,
more
money
and
greater
quality
of
life
更多的志愿者活动、
更自信、更少
are
n?
t
the
only
reasons
for
a
college
education.
犯罪和坐监。
Children
?
s
Defense
Fund
director
Marian
Wright
第三，更富有和更高的生活质
Edelman
cautioned
that
“
Once
you
have
that
college
量并不是大学教育的全部。儿童保
diploma
in
hand
never
work
just
for
money
or
power. <
/p>
护
基
金
会
主
任
Marian
Wright
They
won
?
t
save
your soul
or
build
a decent
family or
Edelman
指出，
“一旦你手中有了那<
/p>
help you sleep at
night.
”
份大学文凭，就绝不要为了金钱和
Edelman
explains why this advice is so important:
< br>权力而工作。它们无法帮你挽救灵
“
We
are
the
richest
nation
on
earth,
yet
our
魂、构建良好家庭或者睡个好觉。
”
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