A college education is becoming ever more popular, with 36% of females in the United States having completed a two or four-year degree, and 35% of males in the United States having completed at least four years of a college education. It has been estimated that singers in the United States earn almost 30 USD per hour; a college degree is recommended for singers but not mandatory unless you wish to become an opera singer – so did the Don’t Start Now pop singer Dua Lipa go to college?
Dua Lipa didn’t go to college, instead, she attended the Sylvia Young Theatre School, an independent school specializing in performing arts located in Marylebone, London for people between the ages of 10-18. Interestingly, this is the same school that other famous people, such as Amy Winehouse, have attended.
Keep reading to find out more about the theatre school the great Dua Lipa attended, and find answers to your questions about having a college education.
Sylvia Young Theatre School: Overview
Established in 1981, Sylvia Young Theatre School offers the services that will help you or your child excel in performing arts while allowing self-esteem to be developed and increased. Children starting at the age of four can be enrolled at this school for part-time classes.
Sylvia Young Theatre School: Fees and Admission
For part-time classes at Sylvia Young Theatre School, there is a £30 deposit for new students and an online booking fee of £2 that’s non-refundable. Depending on your age, prices range from £89 to £118 per class.
For a full-time education at Sylvia Young, it will cost you between £4770 and £4850 per term depending on age. Admissions into the school for full-time positions typically occur at age 10, but you can be admitted later on depending on availability.
Although Lipa did not attend college, you might be wondering why some people choose this route. Next, we’ll talk about a college education in more detail.
The College Education Debate
In America, the college education debate has been around since 1636 when colonists arrived and founded Harvard University. Currently, there are 5,600 colleges and universities across America, and in 2018, it was reported that there were over 18 million students enrolled at a public or private college in the United States.
The College Education Debate: Pros and Cons
There is a variety of pros and cons attached to pursuing a college education, and this is what the college education debate addresses.
For instance, a well known and accepted advantage of having a college education is that you will earn more in comparison to your non-college-educated peers. The average college-educated person will earn $570,000 more than a high school graduate in their entire lifetime.
The disadvantage to a college education is the hole you will have burnt in your wallet by the time you have graduated. The average student loan debt accumulated during a college education totals at $29,800, with the average payments each month standing at between $200 and $300.
Another advantage of pursuing a college education rather than stopping at high school is that your employment opportunities will be improved in comparison to your non-college-educated peers. Americans with college degrees have reported higher job satisfaction, noting that they are “very satisfied” in their jobs, compared with 50% of high school graduates and 40% of participants without a high school degree.
But is a college degree honestly necessary? Well, not if you want a job where you aren’t specializing in something specific.
As many as 17 million Americans with college degrees work in jobs that do not require college degrees, with many being employed in a position that requires high school education or less.
Should College Education Be Free?
According to this blog, there are five main reasons why college education should be free. They argue that debt-free college education improves society, broadens the workforce, boosts the economy, increases equality, and enhances students’ focus on their education.