CMV: You don't have a right to a college education

Before I get into this, I'm not necessarily saying college isn't important, or that you can achieve your dreams without it. I think that for many people, they would benefit greatly from going to college. I also think that college often brings a lot of benefits in regards to life experience, socialization, and access to important resources. The point I want to make, is that we need to stop pretending that *everyone* deserves a college education. <br><br>First of all, everyone doesn't want a college education. Second of all, not everyone is cut out for a college education. This is not to say that someone who doesn't finish college will never amount to anything. There are tons of examples of wildly successful and wildly unsuccessful people both with and without college educations. <br><br>I don't think that college is the end all, and I think it's been disingenuous to push this narrative. There is a huge difference between wanting something, and deserving it. I don't think someone *deserves* to be a brain surgeon. I don't think they *deserve* to be a lawyer. I don't think they *deserve* to be a doctor, teacher, engineer, nurse, etc. <br><br>For one thing, some people will never put in the effort to become these things. This is the first requirement. You have to put in the work. It takes a lot of time, money, and effort to have a college or graduate level education. I don't think that everyone who wants these things *deserves* to have them. It's not like these are basic human rights. No one deserves a basic human right if they aren't putting in the effort to get it. <br><br>We all *deserve* access to healthcare. We all deserve a place to live, clean water, food, clothes, etc. We all deserve these basic things. No one deserves a degree in law unless they are willing to put in the effort to get it. <br><br>The other issue is that some people just aren't cut out for these careers. I think there are tons of reasons why. Not all medical students are cut out to be doctors. Not all students who join engineering programs are cut out to be engineers. We have to stop telling students that if they just work hard enough they can be whatever they want. This isn't true. <br><br>For example, I've always wanted to be an astronaut. I find the entire concept of space travel, space exploration, and astronomy to be completely fascinating. It is literally my dream job. I am, however, 28 years old and about 80 lbs overweight. I don't think it would be physically possible for me to be an astronaut. I work hard, but I just don't have the physical capabilities for it. I also don't think I've put in the effort that I need to put in to be an astronaut. But I'm not sitting around feeling sorry for myself that I will never be an astronaut. I don't think I deserve to be an astronaut. It's my fault for not putting in the effort. <br><br>Finally, I also don't think that everyone who currently goes to college is cut out for it, nor should they feel pressured to go. I think we need to stop romanticizing the idea of college, and instead start focusing on what will actually benefit each individual the most. College isn't for everyone, and that's okay. If someone wants to start a career right away, cool. There's nothing wrong with that. We all have different paths to take, and college isn't the only option. <br><br>I think that college has been portrayed by schools and society as being the gold standard, and I don't think that's fair. Not everyone will finish college. Not everyone is cut out for college. Not everyone wants to go to college, or *should* go to college. I don't think that everyone deserves a college education. I don't think this is fair to anyone.