Education VS Experience

         The other day my husband was looking through a pile of resumes he had received for applicants to work for him. He had came across a resume so astonishing that he had to show me. Being that he finds most of his interviewees through craigslist, it was more surprising. This applicant was a graduate of UM and Harvard, and also attended an elite film school. The first thought that came to my mind was how can someone so educated be unemployed and looking for a job on craigslist.

         It seems that the importance of education is fading into out capitalist society. Schooling now is just another way to milk us and our parents of their hard earned cash. With semesters costing as low as $3,000 not including the 5 to 6 $300 textbooks, education institutions are becoming the number one hustlers in today's economic thrive.

        We are pressured through society, family, friends, teachers, and the media that an education is a must to become successful. But how much truth is there to that? We give in to these pressures, trying to get the best on SATs and pushing our limits with AP classes and dual enrollment. But what is the purpose? If you don't receive financial aid or a scholarship, you are forced to take out a loan.

       So you get in the school you were aiming for, and eventually, after thousands of dollars later, receive a degree. Now what? You are forced to find a job in your field. What are the chances you will? Now, you must have experience to attain a good paying job in the field you studied X amount of years and spent X amount of dollars on. Again, we are forced to take internships, another way this society takes advantage of our talent. And a majority of the time, you do not get paid for it. So you have your degree, working a non-paid internship, and have the loan bills still coming in every month. We are forced to work a bureaucratic job earning as low as $8 per hour.

     This is not fair at all, and I am sure that the applicant my husband received was experiencing what I had just described. So now I myself, as a degree graduate,  question education over experience. Is education worth it? Is experienced valued more? It really depends your field. If you are becoming a doctor, education is more valued but if you are in the marketing field, experience is. What are your views on this topic? Do you believe the government has created this ongoing cycle of financial stress for education? What shapes you to strive for education? is education necessary? is the price for education worthy?

I would love to hear all of your opinions. Do not hesitate to comment.