Charles Murray Colleges Prepare People For Life Summary

In Colleges Prepare People for Life by Charles Murray, it is argued that college prepares people for a job after graduation, but above a career, it prepares people to achieve a successful life. An excellent, satisfying job is only the beginning of the benefits that college may offer. Individuals because of college are faced with countless possibilities compared to those who never attend. The piece begins with a quote that provides insight on the importance of college. It argues that those who believe college is unimportant don’t fully realize the benefits of attending college. Contrasted with primary reasons people don’t attend college such as cost, debt and being unprepared which are introduced in a New York Times illustration called, “College is for Suckers”. Continuing on, Murray establishes credibility when he provides insight on the achievements of Freeman Hrabowski such as his presidency at the University of Maryland, being announced the chair of the President’s Advisory Commission and Educational Excellence for African Americans, and coauthor of many books. It is stated that most of quickly expanding jobs usually require a college degree. In addition, college graduates obtain the advantage over high school graduates when seeking a job, and ultimately earn more
Many students fall short of being adequately educated when selecting a college that is in their best interest because individuals base their decisions too much on the financial factor rather than the significance of being educated. Murray uses “contributing to the public good” as an example to a deeper context of what being education really means. The main assertion in the passage is that although college does in fact prepare individuals for work, it goes beyond a job and actually prepares people for