WACFL 4 Pro Case

Resolved: The costs of a college education outweigh the benefits.

Judge, modern economics functions on the basis of understanding that the amount of dollars we
pay is indeed equal in value to the item or service we receive in return. For example, one would
not pay $100 for an apple (the fruit), much less a decaying one. For the following reasons we
would like to urge you a pro ballot.
Contention 1: Colleges fail to provide students with the skills required by todays society.
Cost does not necessarily refer to money. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, cost
refers to any loss or penalty incurred especially in gaining something. In this context, the cost of
attending college is the failure to learn skills to be a successful member of modern society.
What kinds of people does our society need right now? More doctors? More scientists? More
lawyers? The answer is no. According to Robert B. Schwartz, the Academic Dean and Professor
of Practice at Harvard University, and the Georgetown Center, 14 million future job openings are
predicted to be filled by those with just an occupational certificate. This includes electricians,
construction managers, and police officers. In addition, 27% of these middle-skill workers will
go on to earn more than those with a bachelors degree. So does not attending college mean that
society will not accept you? That you will not be able to live an adequate lifestyle? The answer
again is no.
Even the President agrees that the need for middle-skill workers are a much higher priority than
occupations that ask for a higher level education. In July of 2011, Obama was quoted saying
The goal isnt just making sure that somebody has got a certificate or a diploma. The goal is to
make sure your degree helps raise a job.
Again according to Robert B. Schwartz, employers today, including large-scale corporations
such as Cisco, Apple, Pearson, and Microsoft, recognize that colleges fail in teaching students
the skills needed to become part of a successful workforce. The skills they refer to are not
knowledge in the sciences or literature, but rather critical thinking, problem solving, creativity,
communication, and self-management.

Contention 2: The monetary outcome of attending college makes such institutions a much
less desirable.
Take two people for example, A and B.
A decides to not attend college, therefore not owing any debts for student loans. He immediately
joins the workforce after graduating college earning from $15,901 to $32,528 in annual salary.
B attends college and spends $49,286 on tuition and required fees. When he graduates after four
years, he still has a debt of $17,450 at %5 interest. He has a higher pay than A, earning $23,505
to $56,808 per year. However, it takes him 12 years to pay off his college debts.
Taking into account taxes, utility bills, and other spending, at age 65, A, who had not attended
college, will have saved up $1.3 million while B will have approximately a third.
This was the strange but true situation that Jack Hough of SmartMoney proposed using realistic
figures in his November 2010 article. Although the person with a degree did earn a higher pay,
his savings were deterred significantly by his college debts. Only by the age of 34 was the person
who attended college able to make considerable contributions to his savings.
What is really scary is that these debts are projected to only grow larger deterring graduates from
making significant savings for a longer period of time. Richard Vedder, professor of Economics
at Ohio Universtiy, states that the average tuition, with adjustment for inflation, climbed about
130% from 1988 to 2008. On the other hand, the median income level dropped, and financial aid
programs for college have remained relatively unchanged.
Conclusion
Judge. We end with this quote from Dale Stephen, recipient of the Thiel Fellowship. I left
college two months ago because it rewards conformity rather than independence, competition
rather than collaboration, regurgitation rather than learning, and theory rather than application.
Our creativity, innovation and curiosity are schooled out of us.