Life isn’t fair. How many times have I heard that before? Lots. And I’m pretty sure I’ve said it one time or another as well, especially dealing with academics. I’ve heard of many people working hard to go to prestigious colleges, but the question is: is it worth it? Because sometimes, people who don’t go to college end up with a better living.

When most people hear the phrase “Harvard graduate,” the initial reaction would probably be to think that person would be rich. Harvard University is just an example, but in general, people would think that one who has graduated from a very prestigious college makes a good, firm living.

And that isn’t just an opinion; it’s also proven in statistics. According to PayScale (http://www.payscale.com) and Community College Review (http://www.communitycollegereview.com), an Ivy League college graduate earns a salary of anywhere between $50,000 to over $120,000 per year, while a graduate from a less prestigious college earns around $30,000 to $40,000.

So why is it that some people who go to well-known colleges don’t make as much money as people who don’t? I think the most important reason is that college students end up paying off their college tuition, loans, etc. and they end up with half of the money they earned. According to Student Doc Medical Source Resource Guide (http://www.studentdoc.com),  students who graduate from private colleges like Harvard end up owing around $30,000 or more in loans.

So, maybe life isn’t fair, but our choices are to blame too. People choose to go to colleges with really high tuition fees and weak scholarship programs, so they don’t make as much money as people who don’t go to college. People shouldn’t just go to an Ivy League college like Harvard just because it’s an Ivy League; they should also consider if they can afford it or not.

I think if we make our choices carefully, and make sure that the college we go to really does fit our budget but at the same time heighten our potential, then the statistics can have fewer exceptions.