More Than Just a Degree by Maryzabella

More Than Just a Degree by Maryzabella - October 2024 Scholarship Essay

Something that is on the minds of many is what they will be doing after high school. For many years, college was the way to go; anyone who didn’t go was deemed not to be able to be successful later on. However, over time, many proved that belief wrong when they became successful in their careers without having a college degree. While many may argue that for some pathways it is not needed, college degrees provide so many benefits, even more than the degree itself.
Initially, college degrees allow students to network with others while in college. During college years, students meet many new people and make connections with people such as professors, fellow students, and others. Networking has many benefits for an individual. They can build relationships with others that make their college experience more enjoyable and fulfilling. Students can establish a reputation and use these connections in the future. For example, while in college, many students need internships that provide valuable experiences. Networking can help students when they know someone who can help them get an internship. Internships during college even allow for more networking and possible job offers in the future. Even after college, when someone needs a job or advice on a career move or advice in life, they can ask the people they networked with. Networking has many advantages and college is a place to be able to do that, so a college degree is beneficial.
College degrees also let students get to know more about themself and others. While they are immersed in the education of their chosen field, they can gain more insight into who they are, especially since most go to college away from home. They can learn independence, how they work, and what their values are. Additionally, college allows students to broaden their horizons and learn about others since they meet people from different backgrounds and from different areas of the country and even the world. Getting a degree is hard work, and while students are in the midst of it, they can develop study, organizational, and time management skills as well. These personal skills that students develop can help students in post-graduate studies, in their jobs, and even in their lives. All these skills and knowledge that students can gain show another great benefit of a college degree.
Moreover, college degrees open up opportunities for students. While in college, individuals gain extensive knowledge in their chosen field. With educated professors and programs, students can be taught all about their major and be prepared for their careers. Receiving a degree shows that the individual has shown mastery of their major and has gained lots of knowledge and skills. This makes them more appealing to employers as they have taken classes and participated in activities that have prepared them. College degrees open up more jobs especially since many jobs require a college degree. While some may not, someone with a college degree is still more appealing than someone who doesn’t because of all the training, knowledge, and experience they already have. Many degrees also require internships or some sort of real-life experience in the field. This requirement just adds to the student's knowledge and makes them more ready to get a job, proving that college degrees are greatly beneficial.
Overall, a college degree is extremely beneficial, not just for the degree itself, but also for the fact that it allows for networking, lets students learn about themselves and others, and it opens up opportunities for them after graduation. College degrees provide many experiences and learning opportunities as an individual studies and works for it; they are extremely beneficial and helpful for a person’s personal and professional growth.