College+Kids


 * Essential Question:** In today's economy, is college really necessary for success?


 * Challenge:** Research and discover how necessary college is, discover other paths to be successful without college.

Will college achievements actually bring you to success? Am I looking at any colleges, if any which colleges? How much does college cost now-a-days? Is being in debt, specially with a risk of not getting a job, really worth it in today's economy? What other methods can be taken to achieve success without college?
 * Guiding Questions:**

1. Why did you decide to drop out? I never started, I wanted to but I already had been managing my first restaurant with a co-worker. 2. Do you think it was a good idea? Fortunately yes, but it was a different time. For others it may not have been the same case. 3. Was it a sudden decision? Yes, after my father passed at the age of 17, it was a tough decision to either continue my fathers business or lose all his hard work. 4. Is college necessary to live a comfortable life and be successful? I believe so, because it gives you assurance and something to fall on. If not, you might not know where you’ll end up. 5. Do you recommend not going to college, in today's day and age? No, I do not recommend not going college. But you must achieve something more than a bachelor’s degree. I consider that is just like a high school diploma. 6. Do you think education or the people you know is the best way to find a job? A little bit of both; first education because you build a foundation. Also your “people” because if you know a friend in your career choice who owns a business or knows of someone, he or she can give you an opportunity. 7. How long have you known what you wanted to do with your life? Twenty-four years ago because I was also so determined on owning my own business and being my own boss. 8. When you decided to drop out of college, what did you think your life would be like? More/less successful than you are now? I wouldn’t know because I never thought about it. I’m the type of person who focuses on what’s happening now and act right away.
 * Rolando Questions:**

Take survey of how many student's parents went to college. Speak to guidance counselors about the different colleges, and their prices. Use internet to research statistics about kids going to college/ drop out rates/ success rate.
 * Guiding Activities:**

__Survey Question__: Who's parents went to college? Class 1- 18/25 students Class 2- 10/10 students Class 3- 26/27 students Class 4- 17/25 students Class 5- 20/26 students
 * Guiding Resources:**

Total- 97/113 students
 * 85.8% of student's parents went to college.**

__Internet Statistics__

“If you work in a job that doesn’t require a college degree, you’ll make 30 or 40 percent less,” he said. “One reason a lot of high school grads are having such a hard time is you have college grads willing to take jobs that high school grads used to get.” - ([])

Youtube Video- college drop outs/ success of college

US Census Bureau report on economic plan.

[]- Unemployment Statistics

"About 37% of students who enter a four year university do not graduate even though almost all students report that they intend to graduate when they enter college." http://www.collegesummit.org/blog/blog_detail/the-other-dropout-rates/

"For students who started in fall 2002 as full-time students seeking a bachelor’s degree but failed to graduate six years later, the cost to the nation was approximately: • **$3.8 billion in lost income**; • **$566 million in lost federal income taxes**; and • **$164 million in lost state income taxes.** These estimated losses are for one year and for one class of students. Because the losses for these students accumulate year after year, these estimates understate the overall costs of low college graduation rates." http://thinkprogress.org/education/2011/08/23/301932/college-dropout-lost-earnings-taxes/

"The report also estimated the lifetime costs of the college dropout rate state by state. In California, for example, “college dropouts are losing nearly $15 billion in earnings over their work lives, costing the federal government more than $3 billion in lost income taxes.” Meanwhile, states such as Texas and New York “are losing more than $13 billion in earnings over their lifetime and more than $2.5 billion in federal taxes.” http://thinkprogress.org/education/2011/08/23/301932/college-dropout-lost-earnings-taxes/

__**Solution**__ Is college really necessary for success? Can you be successful without a great education? Well our group, College Kids, went and researched this topic. We took surveys, used Internet resources and even interviewed Rolando’s dad to see what his view on the topic was. We came up with a lot of information and statistics and we concluded that college is necessary to increase your chances to be successful.

To find out about how many parents have gone to college in this area we conducted a survey. In our survey we found that out of the 113 students we asked, 85% of their parents had gone to college. This statistic shows how college is necessary because so many people in this area have a college education. We asked a restaurant owner if he believes that college is necessary in today’s society. “ I believe so, because it gives you assurance and something to fall on. If not, you might not know where you’ll end up.” This shows how having a college education is something that you should have because without it it can be much harder to achieve what you want in life. It’s obviously possible to reach your goals without college but it is a lot harder than it used to be because so many other people have college educations.

While doing this project, we had come to the conclusion that college certainly has the potential of guaranteeing success; but is definitely not for everyone. In order to achieve a certain career such as a doctor, lawyer, teacher, or accountant, a certain level of education is needed, as well as a college degree. But to work under some one in a business or work for an electronics company, such a college education is not needed because that is what you have self-taught yourself. In my opinion, it’s not a matter of what you wish to pursue later in life. It’s more about the fact that college gives you a wonderful education and anyone that has gone to college will tell you that not going to college is a decision that everyone will regret.

Our group went into this project thinking that there would be a number of people who did not graduate college and were living a comfortable life. But sooner or later, we ended up in coming to the solution that no matter what, you need above a Bachelor’s degree to build an educated foundation and can feel assured of what you’re doing. As said, you can achieve success without college but it is indeed a struggle because its either a pass or fail. But if you fail, where will you go?

In conclusion, kids go to college! You will have a better chance in living a comfortable and hopefully wealthy life. Our group ended up changing our entire mindset thinking it wasn’t really necessary in today’s time, especially with the economy because people aren’t guaranteed jobs right out of college. But your better off having the confidence of getting a great job because of your degree rather than worrying that you might not get it because you don’t have one.