Assumptions

Let’s turn from psychology to sociology. Part of Erikson’s task involves finding one’s place in society. Not every family sees college as a foregone conclusion, but many do. Regardless, it’s widely assumed that a college education will pave the way for better jobs and higher pay. It also happens to be statistically accurate, as seen in the Social Security Administration data.

For many American families, this assumption is deeply ingrained and reinforced by geographical sorting. I was shocked to discover that only 37.7% of Americans over 25 hold bachelor’s degrees. But my distorted view makes sense based on where I’ve lived and worked. Among my friends, family, coworkers, and students, the question is always “where are you going to college,” and never “Should you go to college?” Take a look at this graphic from the Lumina Foundation. It’s a county-level comparison of degree attainment across Virginia’s 134 counties. Lumina set a national goal that 60% of Americans would have post-high school accreditation by 2025. This graphic will probably be shocking if your social circle is like mine.

All the way to the right, you’ll find Arlington County. It’s a large, diverse county bordering Washington, D.C., with 148,000 residents aged 25-64. On the opposite side, you’ll find Emporia County and its 7,000 residents in that same age range. These two counties are separated by a three hours drive and a light year in educational attainment. Over 82% of Arlington County’s 25-64 years old have at least a bachelor’s degree compared with less than 15% of Emporia’s.

If you live in an area where the overall level of educational attainment is high, you will undoubtedly feel enormous pressure to attend college. Even if you don’t, you might live in a neighborhood or go to a school where most of your peer group are keenly college focused. It’s hardly surprising that students with a passion for musical theater assume that pursuing a degree in the subject is the best option.