5 answers
ally
Student
Tucson, Arizona
1
Question
Asked
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Why is going to college important for my furture?
Attending college costs a lot of money that could be invested else where, why is it a good discison to go to college instead of traveling or immeadly going into the work force?
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5 answers
Brianna C., MS, SLP
Speech language pathology
148
Answers
Nashville, Tennessee
Updated
Brianna’s Answer
Hi, Ally,
There is a misconception that college is absolutely necessary if you want a well paying job, and that is not the case. There are jobs that require trade school, apprenticeships or just on-the-job training that have liveable salaries on average.
However, salaries aren't the only aspect of a job/career, and salary may not be someone's largest priority.
So what KIND of work do you enjoy doing? If you enjoy working with your hands, fixing machines, and doing more physical labor, a job like HVAC, electrician, mechanic, or welder sounds great. If you want a more person-centric job, technical certifications like xray tech or sonograph tech may be more your speed.
If you want to work in healthcare, many of the jobs take such a long time to train because it's very specialized and important information. For example, administering anesthesia wrong can literally kill someone or leave them with lifelong problems. I WANT my anesthesiologist to be someone who committed to the scientific and medical training necessary to do that job well. If you are someone who enjoys learning more specialized, academic information, attending college or health care sounds like a great idea. However, of you aren't a fan of extended schooling, and you don't like health care work environments, that may not work for you.
Try shadowing professionals in multiple different jobs that you are interested in to see which work environment you can truly see yourself enjoying and working well in. It may be one of the trades, it may be something that requires college.
There is a misconception that college is absolutely necessary if you want a well paying job, and that is not the case. There are jobs that require trade school, apprenticeships or just on-the-job training that have liveable salaries on average.
However, salaries aren't the only aspect of a job/career, and salary may not be someone's largest priority.
So what KIND of work do you enjoy doing? If you enjoy working with your hands, fixing machines, and doing more physical labor, a job like HVAC, electrician, mechanic, or welder sounds great. If you want a more person-centric job, technical certifications like xray tech or sonograph tech may be more your speed.
If you want to work in healthcare, many of the jobs take such a long time to train because it's very specialized and important information. For example, administering anesthesia wrong can literally kill someone or leave them with lifelong problems. I WANT my anesthesiologist to be someone who committed to the scientific and medical training necessary to do that job well. If you are someone who enjoys learning more specialized, academic information, attending college or health care sounds like a great idea. However, of you aren't a fan of extended schooling, and you don't like health care work environments, that may not work for you.
Try shadowing professionals in multiple different jobs that you are interested in to see which work environment you can truly see yourself enjoying and working well in. It may be one of the trades, it may be something that requires college.
Emma Verde
Physical Therapist
172
Answers
Tucson, Arizona
Updated
Emma’s Answer
Hey Ally,
Lots of thoughts on this -
Rather than thinking about what career you want, ask yourself what problem do you want to solve in the world? What do you really want outside of societal expectations? And honestly it’s not what you want to do with your life, it’s what life wants from you. What are you drawn toward and what are you really good at? Its okay if you don’t know - just kinda have that in the back of your head.
That aside, if you do choose to go to college right after high school, here are some pros and cons:
PROS:
- You’re with your peers, most of whom are probably trying to figure out what to do with their lives too. Community is important
- There’s this amazingly fun kind of chaos that happens when there’s a group of young people all simultaneously trying to figure out how to be adults. It’s wild and its the most fun you never want to have again. But you will remember those years forever
- College may expose you to people, places, ideas, perspectives, career paths, lifestyles, cultures, etc. that you may or may not be exposed anywhere else
- A college degree means more earning potential not just right out of college but down the line. Say you want to change your career in your 30s or 40s and become physical therapist or a teacher or something like that - you have to have an undergrad degree first
- You have options here. You could go to a community college vs. a traditional 4 year college. Each will give you a different experience along with a different price tag and possibly job opportunities but not necessarily
CONS:
- Expensive as hell and you may be paying off loans for 30+ years which can dictate which jobs you will choose to work in order to pay off these loans, where you live, who you will interact with and meet, your quality of life, etc.
- It’s the “easy option.” What we’ve been taught is the “right” order of events is to graduate high school —> go to college —> get a job. It’s hard to go against the grain and choose a different order for yourself and there’s something admirable about that. This is not that. This is the easy option
- If you start college and you realize it’s not actually what you want, you can put college on hold to go travel or work. But it can be hard to get back into school when you’ve been out for awhile. I know a lot of people for whom this was the case. You may find it too difficult to get back into it. Maybe waiting to go to college until you know you want to could help you avoid this. Or maybe it makes you realize you never want to go and that’s okay too. But I don’t know, only you know this
- Not going to college right out of high school does not mean not going at all. You can always plan to attend college but just not right now. You can set a timeline for yourself, if that makes you feel better. Say a 6 month or 1 year for you to travel or work or f around or do whatever you want to do. And then you go to college. This option could allow you to save money for college or living expenses or whatever.
Ultimately, its your decision despite what other people in your life (or here lol) are saying. The way you’re asking the question (“why is it a GOOD decision to go to college…”) makes me wonder if what you’ve been told is that going to college is the “right” thing to do, the “smart” thing, etc. This advice is not one-size-fits-all and that is particularly relevant here. Be careful about the stories other people tell you and the ones you tell yourself. It’s your life and you are steering the ship. Best of luck 🤙
Best,
Emma
Lots of thoughts on this -
Rather than thinking about what career you want, ask yourself what problem do you want to solve in the world? What do you really want outside of societal expectations? And honestly it’s not what you want to do with your life, it’s what life wants from you. What are you drawn toward and what are you really good at? Its okay if you don’t know - just kinda have that in the back of your head.
That aside, if you do choose to go to college right after high school, here are some pros and cons:
PROS:
- You’re with your peers, most of whom are probably trying to figure out what to do with their lives too. Community is important
- There’s this amazingly fun kind of chaos that happens when there’s a group of young people all simultaneously trying to figure out how to be adults. It’s wild and its the most fun you never want to have again. But you will remember those years forever
- College may expose you to people, places, ideas, perspectives, career paths, lifestyles, cultures, etc. that you may or may not be exposed anywhere else
- A college degree means more earning potential not just right out of college but down the line. Say you want to change your career in your 30s or 40s and become physical therapist or a teacher or something like that - you have to have an undergrad degree first
- You have options here. You could go to a community college vs. a traditional 4 year college. Each will give you a different experience along with a different price tag and possibly job opportunities but not necessarily
CONS:
- Expensive as hell and you may be paying off loans for 30+ years which can dictate which jobs you will choose to work in order to pay off these loans, where you live, who you will interact with and meet, your quality of life, etc.
- It’s the “easy option.” What we’ve been taught is the “right” order of events is to graduate high school —> go to college —> get a job. It’s hard to go against the grain and choose a different order for yourself and there’s something admirable about that. This is not that. This is the easy option
- If you start college and you realize it’s not actually what you want, you can put college on hold to go travel or work. But it can be hard to get back into school when you’ve been out for awhile. I know a lot of people for whom this was the case. You may find it too difficult to get back into it. Maybe waiting to go to college until you know you want to could help you avoid this. Or maybe it makes you realize you never want to go and that’s okay too. But I don’t know, only you know this
- Not going to college right out of high school does not mean not going at all. You can always plan to attend college but just not right now. You can set a timeline for yourself, if that makes you feel better. Say a 6 month or 1 year for you to travel or work or f around or do whatever you want to do. And then you go to college. This option could allow you to save money for college or living expenses or whatever.
Ultimately, its your decision despite what other people in your life (or here lol) are saying. The way you’re asking the question (“why is it a GOOD decision to go to college…”) makes me wonder if what you’ve been told is that going to college is the “right” thing to do, the “smart” thing, etc. This advice is not one-size-fits-all and that is particularly relevant here. Be careful about the stories other people tell you and the ones you tell yourself. It’s your life and you are steering the ship. Best of luck 🤙
Best,
Emma
Douglas Ray, CMR, AMR
Sales, consulting, and marketing
49
Answers
Marietta, Georgia
Updated
Douglas’s Answer
Hello Ally,
I remember being in your shoes, having to make the same choice when I was in high school. I eventually chose the college path. As a first-generation college graduate, I can honestly say it was worth the time and financial investment. When it comes to investing money, remember that investing in yourself and your future is always a top priority.
Getting a college degree doesn't mean you have to spend beyond your comfort zone. Employers who require a degree usually have a fixed salary for new hires, irrespective of the college they attended or the amount of debt they might have accumulated. If budget is a concern, think about attending a state college, living at home if possible, and looking for scholarships or grants.
Numerous studies consistently indicate that over a lifetime, a person with a bachelor's degree earns $500,000 to $1,000,000 more than a high school graduate. That's a pretty impressive return on investment, don't you think?
Whatever path you choose, I wish you all the best. Remember, your journey is unique to you, and you're going to do great things. Good luck!
I remember being in your shoes, having to make the same choice when I was in high school. I eventually chose the college path. As a first-generation college graduate, I can honestly say it was worth the time and financial investment. When it comes to investing money, remember that investing in yourself and your future is always a top priority.
Getting a college degree doesn't mean you have to spend beyond your comfort zone. Employers who require a degree usually have a fixed salary for new hires, irrespective of the college they attended or the amount of debt they might have accumulated. If budget is a concern, think about attending a state college, living at home if possible, and looking for scholarships or grants.
Numerous studies consistently indicate that over a lifetime, a person with a bachelor's degree earns $500,000 to $1,000,000 more than a high school graduate. That's a pretty impressive return on investment, don't you think?
Whatever path you choose, I wish you all the best. Remember, your journey is unique to you, and you're going to do great things. Good luck!
Elizabeth Mitchell
User Experience Architect
33
Answers
Saint John, Indiana
Updated
Elizabeth’s Answer
Your skills out of high school will be limited if you go straight into the work force. There are many trades that you can enter that have their own education (not college) and you'll still have to learn the trade. The point is, the learning is never done. You can learn a trade (and learn how to do it better over time) or get a degree (still learning, plus on the job learning once you get hired).
Traveling costs money. Unless your parents are willing to fund that, you may not have enough to venture very far on your own. Even if you chose that path, guess what awaits you when you get back? Learning!
I understand wanting to see the world (I know I do!). If that's a priority, it can be done after you've started earning a salary. You just have to prioritize and budget for it.
Traveling costs money. Unless your parents are willing to fund that, you may not have enough to venture very far on your own. Even if you chose that path, guess what awaits you when you get back? Learning!
I understand wanting to see the world (I know I do!). If that's a priority, it can be done after you've started earning a salary. You just have to prioritize and budget for it.
Michelle M.
Entertainment Industry
1179
Answers
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hello, Ally !
This is a very difficult question to answer because there are two sides to every story. Not everyone thinks college is important. Personally, I do think that college is not only important to one's future, but also very important to one's personal development. I do know millionaires who have not gone to college, although they are older people now and it was a different era when they were in their teens and 20's. So it's not all about the money, salary or position often associated with college degrees.
College is both an information educational system and an experience for personal development. Although a person can achieve this independently, college offers structure, discipline, exposure to diverse people, stimulation of the mind, accountability and various challenges. In the labor market, a college degree is very much an added incentive for companies to be interested in a person, so much so that they make it a requirement. So there is a huge personal side to college and a huge future professional side to college. Going to college also helps you specialize in something that you love doing and certifies that you can do it.
Many decades ago, a college degree was not that important for the job market aspect of things. There were many jobs back than that no longer exist today such as factory work. There are still some unskilled labor type jobs but not as many as there used to be. But wanting to go to college is a very subjective thing that is different for everyone. There is nothing wrong with going into the work force or traveling instead of enrolling in school, but so many people I know who decided to go to college when they were older found it quite stressful to fit in to their already established life. It is expensive. You have to decide what is most important to you, what road you'd like to take for further personal development and hopefully it will be the best choice for your life.
Yes, college is expensive, however, one of the best investments one could make. There are financial aid, grants, scholarships, employment and sometimes family helps out. It is also expensive to travel. If you are finding it hard to decide what to do, I suggest that you obtain employment, take one course at college to see how you like it and after the course ends, make your decision. But keep in mind today's competitive job market. The one thing you want to avoid is getting a job that you are bored with or alienated by. Consider doing a short term training or certification in something, but right after high school, and even before, is the crucial time to think about your future and activate a plan.
I hope this has helped you a bit. College is not for everyone and a person has to find the answer in their own time. Best wishes in making a good decision for yourself.
This is a very difficult question to answer because there are two sides to every story. Not everyone thinks college is important. Personally, I do think that college is not only important to one's future, but also very important to one's personal development. I do know millionaires who have not gone to college, although they are older people now and it was a different era when they were in their teens and 20's. So it's not all about the money, salary or position often associated with college degrees.
College is both an information educational system and an experience for personal development. Although a person can achieve this independently, college offers structure, discipline, exposure to diverse people, stimulation of the mind, accountability and various challenges. In the labor market, a college degree is very much an added incentive for companies to be interested in a person, so much so that they make it a requirement. So there is a huge personal side to college and a huge future professional side to college. Going to college also helps you specialize in something that you love doing and certifies that you can do it.
Many decades ago, a college degree was not that important for the job market aspect of things. There were many jobs back than that no longer exist today such as factory work. There are still some unskilled labor type jobs but not as many as there used to be. But wanting to go to college is a very subjective thing that is different for everyone. There is nothing wrong with going into the work force or traveling instead of enrolling in school, but so many people I know who decided to go to college when they were older found it quite stressful to fit in to their already established life. It is expensive. You have to decide what is most important to you, what road you'd like to take for further personal development and hopefully it will be the best choice for your life.
Yes, college is expensive, however, one of the best investments one could make. There are financial aid, grants, scholarships, employment and sometimes family helps out. It is also expensive to travel. If you are finding it hard to decide what to do, I suggest that you obtain employment, take one course at college to see how you like it and after the course ends, make your decision. But keep in mind today's competitive job market. The one thing you want to avoid is getting a job that you are bored with or alienated by. Consider doing a short term training or certification in something, but right after high school, and even before, is the crucial time to think about your future and activate a plan.
I hope this has helped you a bit. College is not for everyone and a person has to find the answer in their own time. Best wishes in making a good decision for yourself.