Arguably, most students are told to dream of joining a college based on the importance that it is attached. In most case, friends influence themselves on how college life is worth attending. Dropping out of college can make one lose friends, family, as well as oneself. What they forget to say is how college can also be difficult, making some students to drop out of it. Undoubtedly, some factors and effects of dropping out of college are unavoidable, while others could be avoided. Either way, college dropouts count substantial losses in their entire life. Certainly, the causes of dropping out of college are consistent, but its outcome is indispensable (Armstrong, 2006).
Perhaps, what should be understood is that dropping out of school does not prevent someone to be successful in life. College education is a pert to achieving goals in life, but it is not the only and ultimate way of achieving success. For example, some of the wealthiest people in the world are college dropout this include Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, David Geffen, and Michael Dell. Statistically the rate of college dropout is increasing each an everyday. It is believed that approximately 3 million students enroll annually for a specific course in higher education. For example, in the year 2000, 33% of 2.7 million college students dropped out of college for various reasons. Research shows that 40% of the students who join colleges will drop out of college without a degree Based on the dropout statistics, many dropped out because of financial reasons. In fact, 60% of college dropouts received no help from the parents and 70% had no loan support (Smart, 2009).
Being successful in life is very relative. This means that there are various ways in which people describe themselves or other to be successful. In life, there are people bound to be successful in everything they do. However, I do not believe that certain individuals were born to be successful. Generally, those individuals who succeed have implemented and learned various key to success. In life, there are rules and laws to success (Marc, 2005). Those who become unsuccessful in life have failed to use principles of success. Apart from following the rules of success, there are other environmental conditions that influence people to give up in life. In some occasions, students are socialized by the society towards bad habits which could lead o dropping out of college (Kornblum, 2011).
Financial crisis in the world has plunged various sectors of human life into a standstill. Most of the students who drop out of school are because of financial problems. Either they lack parental support, lack of loans, or come from a poor family. The cost of college fees is rising daily, making college costs one of the biggest barriers to college education (Vedder, 2004). College education has become a necessity in the world today; hence, the cost of college education makes most of the student to drop out of school. Children are entitled to education, but finding money to receive education is a problem.
Another reason for high rate of college dropout is academic failure. In most institutions those who fail to meet the required mark receive academic disqualification. Most students discover that college education is more demanding than high school. For example, most of the students in high school performed excellently without much effort. The difference between high school pre-algebra and college calculus hit hard, leading to academic withdrawals, forcing them to look for less challenging way of making in life. Failing in college mean that you should retake the course, which involves payment of fees for the second time (Kornblum, 2011.)
Family issues play a major role in college dropout cases. In families parents have no idea on how to support the children in pursuing their college education. In the new generation a parent concentrate on paying college costs, and forgets on molding the student to college education. In most cases, college lifestyle is about making crucial choices. Personal life of students are affected and interfered leading to college dropout (Schacht, Knox, & Mooney, 2008). For example, parents’ sickness, parents lose of job, as well as health issues of the student, in such a scenario college will be put on hold. Lack of parental guidance may lead to abuse of drugs, and misuse of freedom.
Certainly, joining the work force is also another major reason for high rate of college dropout. In reality, there is no individual who would forego a job for college education. When it comes to issue of jobs, various students critically analyze why they are attending college education. Those who see college as a way towards employment will leave college to be employed. However, students drop out of college, hoping that the job will put them into a better financial and social status in society (Vedder, 2004).
Conclusively, college is not meant for everyone in society. Whether it is financial issues, family issues, joining the work force, or academic failure, college education is very challenging that some students are not ready to face it. The concern stakeholders should develop strategies to reduce the rate of college drop out. College education is not a guaranteed path to success, but it is roadmap that has rewards worth its course. No one is born to successes, but those who succeed are believed to have adhered to the principles and laws of success.
References
Armstrong, T. (2006). The Best Schools. London. Springer.
Vedder, R. (2004). Going Broke by Degree: Why College Costs Too Much. London: Wiley.
Marc, C. (2005). A Young Man in Business. New York: John Wiley & Sons.
Kornblum, W. (2011). Sociology in a Changing World. New York. Wadsworth.
Smart, J. (2009). Higher Education. Cambridge: Cambridge Press.
Schacht, C. Knox, D. & Mooney, L. (2008). Understanding Social Problems. New Jersey:
Springer.
