Why Go to College? An Address

In this compelling address, a former president of a leading women’s college argues that higher education offers far more than a simple pathway to financial security for young women. She observes the growing number of doors opening for girls, yet many parents still question the need for college when a respectable marriage seems enough. The speaker challenges that narrow view, emphasizing that true independence comes from disciplined learning and the chance to develop a genuine expertise that society will value.

Drawing on vivid examples—from a daughter who mastered music under the finest European teachers to another who built a reputation as a professional artist, and a third who turned culinary skill into a thriving business—she illustrates how college can nurture distinct talents while preserving a woman’s social and personal appeal. While acknowledging that not every girl is suited to rigorous academic life, she urges families to recognize the broader gifts of scholarly community: intellectual curiosity, moral courage, and the confidence to reshape one’s own future.