#90. Cost of a College Degree

1).Today’s cost of a college degree is nothing less than

......astronomical.

2).What’s more, the value of higher education is simply.
.....incomprehensible.

.....................3).Both of these statements are the consequences of our
..........................advanced.civilization.

No doubt, you have noticed the italic type above – such is a means of adding emphases to the word or phrase. During my years at Ohio University in the 60’s, I could not italicize words, for a computer in those days would take up an entire room – and I had to sleep somewhere! In a hand-written composition, there was simply no way I could ‘print’ or ‘write’ in italics. So, we underlined the words to indicate italics.

You probably have also noticed – if you’re thinking right along with my path of reasoning – that the ascribed italicized words could have been presented in boldface type. For sure, bold type gets your attention!  

1) Today’s cost for my college degree at Ohio University would be $12,500 per year which adds up to a grand total of $50,000 for a four-year degree (that does not include room and board, which doubles the figure). Fifty years ago, I paid no more than $500 per year for tuition, or a grand total of $2000 for my degree. The increase in cost is twenty-five  (25 ) times what it cost me in the ‘60’s. Furthermore, the cost of room and board on the university campus has increased 25 times, as well. In spite of these figures, today’s salaries do not come close to that per cent of increase. Wages are most likely no more than six to ten times what they were in the 60s.

2) The value of higher education is subjective, at best – it’s certainly not for everyone. That’s why I asserted in the first paragraph that its value is incomprehensible. Who knows? Is it a profitable investment for an 18 year-old … or the father of an 18 year-old; or is it a fork in the road leading to indebted living … forever? On the other hand, it appears to be quite lucrative for those in the business of higher education. Somebody there … must be benefitting from the astronomical tuition rates required … for getting that degree!!!

3) Yes, it must be simply the cost of progress! One of the finest examples of our advanced society is the invention of the personal computer (now the size of a fat postcard) that can manufacture italicized type or boldface type or both italicized and boldface type … with merely the pointing of a mouse. What's more, I can juice it up even more ... with color!

However, we have not discovered the formulas for living without war. We appear to value our money more than our integrity. We most likely place a higher priority on our TV’s than on the continuous development of our minds and the broadening of our wisdom. And we do not seem to have learned … the secret of being happy.

In conclusion, I have always valued my experience in college. I discovered self-reliance and determination; learned to stand in lines day after day until I was able to get the class and instructor I wanted; enjoyed belonging to the sailing club and playing on the soccer team; passed an astronomy course in which I never attended a class … due to a work conflict. I even tried to take two courses that were offered at the very same time – it didn’t work out to my satisfaction. It is in the school of life, however, that I have discovered the highest education; it is attained by creatively drawing out of the inner well of untapped possibilities those hidden treasures … just waiting to be revealed.

I chose not to use italics or boldface in the previous paragraph for you would not have been able to read it … with all the emphasizing and attention-getters! ...
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