The common perception that a two-year degree is worth less than a cred

Question

The common perception that a two-year degree is worth less than a credential from a four-year college is disproved by the recent data published by the government. The data shows that the average first-year salaries of graduates with a two-year degree are $1,000 higher than those with a four year degree. Also considering that students with a two year degree earn for two more years than students with four year degrees, it is in the economic interests of the students to pursue two-year degrees rather than four year degrees.

Which of the following option statements would help the most to evaluate the given argument?

(A) comparison of the proportion of students who graduate from a two year college and who remain unemployed in the first year after graduation with the corresponding figure for four year colleges.

(B) comparison of data pertaining to the growth in earnings over years for graduates from two year colleges and for graduates from four year colleges.

(C)A comparison of data pertaining to the highest salaries paid to the graduates from four year colleges and graduates from two year colleges.

(D)A comparison of data pertaining to the average savings made by graduates from four year colleges and those made by graduates from two year colleges.

(E)A comparison of the total number of graduates from two year colleges and from four year colleges in the last one year.

mehro023 · Answer

The common perception that a two-year degree is worth less than a credential from a four-year college is disproved by the recent data published by the government. The data shows that the average first-year salaries of graduates with a two-year degree are $1,000 higher than those with a four year degree. Also considering that students with a two year degree earn for two more years than students with four year degrees, it is in the economic interests of the students to pursue two-year degrees rather than four year degrees.

Which of the following option statements would help the most to evaluate the given argument?

(A) comparison of the proportion of students who graduate from a two year college and who remain unemployed in the first year after graduation with the corresponding figure for four year colleges. ----> Irrelevant, the stimulus at no point discusses unemployment between the two sets of graduates.

(B) comparison of data pertaining to the growth in earnings over years for graduates from two year colleges and for graduates from four year colleges. ---> Looks good, if the the growth in earnings of 4 yr graduate is higher than for a 2 yr graduate, then the conclusion falls apart. Also, if the growth in earnings is higher for 2 yr graduates than for 4 year graduates, the conclusion is strengthened. Keep B

(C)A comparison of data pertaining to the highest salaries paid to the graduates from four year colleges and graduates from two year colleges. ---> Irrelevant. Highest salaries paid at the time of employment is not an indicator of which degree is better (2 yr or 4 yr)

(D)A comparison of data pertaining to the average savings made by graduates from four year colleges and those made by graduates from two year colleges. ---> Irrelevant. Savings is not discussed in the stimulus.

(E)A comparison of the total number of graduates from two year colleges and from four year colleges in the last one year. ---> Irrelevant.

BenjaminS · Answer

The conclusion is it is in the economic interests of the students to pursue two-year degrees rather than four year degrees.
Premise: 1. The common perception that a two-year degree is worth less than a credential from a four-year college is wrong.
2. The average first-year salaries of graduates with a two-year degree are $1,000 higher than those with a four year degree.
3. students with a two year degree earn for two more years than students with four year degrees

In order to find the evaluate the given argument, the answer choices need to say how the four year colleges are better than two year colleges.
I'm confusing between A and B, even though I choose A, which is wrong.

If there are any suggestions, please let me know. Thanks in advance.

egmat · Answer

There is a common perception that a 2-year degree is worth less than a degree from a 4-year college.
Now, this common perception is disproved by some data revealed by the govt.

What do the data tell us?
The data tells us that 
• Average first-year salaries (2-year degree) = Average first-year salaries (2-year degree) + $1000.
• Additionally. Students with 2 years' degrees have the ability to earn for 2 extra years. Those 2 extra years that they do not have to study.
• Whereas, a student who is pursuing a 4-year degree does not have that option.
The author, therefore, concludes that 2-year degrees are economically more beneficial than 4-year degrees.

Question stem  – We need to find an option statement that helps us access the validity of the conclusion.

Conclusion - it is in the economic interests of the students to pursue two-year degrees rather than four-year degrees
• This means that 2-year degrees are economically more beneficial than 4-year degrees.

Basis of the conclusion –

Two pieces of information to arrive at the conclusion.
1. Average first-year salaries (2-year degree) = Average first-year salaries (4-year degree) + $1000
2. Graduates with 2 years degrees have the ability to earn for 2 extra years than graduates with 4 years degrees.

Does the author consider the overall earning?

What if after the first year, the salaries of 4 year degree students spike up 5 times in the second year, - which is significantly higher than a 2 year degree students. 
In essence, what if the total earnings of a 4-year degree graduate in his/her entire work life is more than that of graduates with a 2-year degree?

In such cases – the conclusion - that 2-year degrees are economically more beneficial than 4-year degrees – breaks down.

Assumption  – Graduates with 4-year degrees do not get significantly higher salary hikes than the graduates with 2-year degrees.

Therefore, the evaluation question would be 
Do graduates with 4-year degrees get significantly higher salary hikes than graduates with 2-year degrees do?

egmat · Answer

Hey there, Option A - A comparison of the proportion of students who graduate from a two year college and who remain unemployed in the first year after graduation with the corresponding figure for four year colleges. • Knowing the proportion of students who remains unemployed will not help us in evaluating the conclusion since the argument is based on averages. In essence, even if the proportion is lower or higher, it does not make a clear impact on the conclusion since the average salary figure already takes into account, unemployed people. • When you take an option statement to an extreme and see that there are different cases and the impact of these cases is not similar on the argument, then you can say (this is how I term it) " This extreme does not have a clear impact on the argument." • Note: Please don't confuse "clear" with "concrete/validation". I am not saying that one of the extremes need to prove the conclusion. • What I am saying is that at one extreme of the option chosen, let's say you notice 3 cases to be analyzed. Now, all these 3 cases must either strengthen the argument or weaken the argument. If this is not the case, i.e., 2 cases strengthen and 1 case weakens (let's say), then this extreme of the option does not have a clear impact on the argument. This is why option A is incorrect. Option B - A comparison of data pertaining to the growth in earnings over years for graduates from two year colleges and for graduates from four year colleges. • This option is in – line with our pre-thinking therefore, this choice is correct. (Please see the above post for passage analysis and pre-thinking) • If the growth in earnings for 2-year graduates is more than 4 year graduates then the conclusion is strengthened. • If the growth in earnings for 2-year graduates is less than 4-year graduates then the conclusion is weakened. • Therefore, this option choice satisfies the variance test. Hope this helps you.

VerbalBot · Answer

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The common perception that a two-year degree is worth less than a cred

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The common perception that a two-year degree is worth less than a cred

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