Why College?

During the course of your junior and senior years, you will receive frequent communication about the college application process from the Calvert Hall counseling office, from your family and friends, and from hundreds of colleges and universities around the world. You’ll spend so much time thinking about which colleges to apply to, how to submit your applications, and when your applications are due that the idea of why you should pursue a college education can quickly become an afterthought.

As you explore college options, it is important to discover your own answer to the question, “Why College?” In the course of that discussion, we highlight a few key points:  The world of work is ever-evolving and increasingly competitive. Employers now require a college degree for many well-paying jobs. For some jobs, specific degrees are required, but regardless of your eventual college major or degree, having a college education will give you a leg up in the job market and will broaden your career options.  College provides an opportunity to further explore and develop interests. Nationally speaking, approximately 80% of students will change their mind about their college major at some point during their college career. You will have the chance to take classes in academic departments or fields that you may have never otherwise known about without the college experience. Oftentimes, students discover a true passion or calling that they never previously knew they had. Colleges help students find, explore, and cultivate these passions.  Financially, a college degree can make an enormous difference in career earnings. The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ 2020 data on median annual earnings by education level shows the impact education can make on income:

Educational attainment

Doctoral degree Professional degree Master's degree Bachelor's degree Associate degree Some college, no degree High school diploma, no college Less than a high school diploma

Median annual earnings Unemployment rate

$98,020 2.5%

98,436 3.1

80,340 67,830 4.1 5.5

48,776 45,604 40,612 7.1 8.3 9.0

32,188 11.7

 College helps to prepare you to lead a life of consequence. Beyond the academic preparation and training students receive in college, you will see enormous personal development as you share a community with students from a wide range of backgrounds, experiences, interests, and perspectives.

For many people, the friendships they make in college will last for the rest of their lives.