In "Is Military Service the Path to the American Dream?," Ruben Brosbe discusses military service as a road to the "American dream" and raises important questions about where the other pathways are — and are not — for young Americans today.
Pair “Making college affordable: what needs discussing is the total cost of a degree” with “Is Military Service the Path to the American Dream?” and ask students to discuss the role that college and other post-high school education programs currently play in a young American’s ability to achieve the American dream. According to Eric Barron in “Making college affordable: what needs discussing is the total cost of a degree,” why is it essential to focus on the total cost of earning a college degree, rather than only on rising tuition prices? According to Barron, what is the most effective way to control the total cost of a college degree? Why are total completion and on-time completion rates significantly lower for first-generation and lower-income students? What relationship does Barron see between college completion and upward mobility? According to “Is Military Service the Path to the American Dream?,” how can military service contribute to the ability of more people — including first-generation and lower-income students — to earn a degree? According to critics cited in the article, how can military service also sometimes hinder college degree attainment?