But what if I don't want to go to college? Options

[radhikaeatsraman]

Throughout my life, it has been hammered into my brain that I absolutely must go to college or else I will end up homeless and die and god knows what else. So what did I do? I started worrying about my GPA, my extracurriculars, the awards I "should" get, what I "should" do over the summer, etc. But I have been asking myself this seemingly simple question: Why do I want to go to college?

And I can't answer it. It depresses me, because I've been taking Pre-AP/"higher-level" classes since middle school, (I'm a freshman) thinking all the while that this would help me to obtain something that I thought I wanted.

Sure, you could say that I don't need to worry right now, I'm a freshman, yada yada yada, but high school goes by FAST. I can't be a freshman forever, sadly. (Actually, more like "thank god," but that's not the point. :P)

I have two questions for you, members of createBlog: Why do you want to go to college & what do you think of people who turn down the opportunity to do so?

[moorepocket]

i really hate college too. My parents force me to go. If they let me drop out, i'll be the happiest kid ever.

If i could choose college or homeless, i would choose homeless.

[*WHIMSICAL 0NE*]

I want to go to college so that I have better chances of getting health coverage, amongst other perks. My parents are farmers, which means everything comes out of their pockets. Farming is a job where you work every day, regardless of the weather, you have no boss, no one to cover for you, no one to pay medical or dental. I want to be able to have days off and get coverage. No one in my family has gone to college (besides my brother taking a once a week night class for welding). I can't judge people who turn down the opportunity, seeing as my family situation. I think that if you have what it takes to get into college you should do it because it will better you.

[*suddenly she*]

I want to go to college because I want to go somewhere where I feel like I somewhat match the people around me in intelligence. At my high school I'm always out of place, so going to a music school is a big deal to me because I'm hoping to find other people who are a bit more... eccentric than the ones here. + I just like classes and meeting/working with new people.

And for people who turn down college... I really don't know. I guess some have more important things on their mind, like the ones who quit school for music or maybe sometimes it's just not what they think think their life's supposed to be like.

[alysaphobia]

i want to go to college because i want to accomplish certain things, i want to become a certain type of person, i want to live a certain type of life; all of which, if i don't go to college, i'd not be able to achieve/become. going to college will open up many job oppurtunities and career fields which i'd not be able to consider if i didn't have the qualifications/degree for it. even if you're uncertain about what you want to be, going to college will still provide more choices for you in the end rather than ending your education at a high school level.

plus ... i like school. i like people.
i think the harder question is this: if you had the chance to, why wouldn't you want to college?

[*mipadi*]

I wasn't too enamored with the prospect of college in high school, either, but I'm glad I went.

A college degree opens opportunities. A lot of them. The unfortunate thing about college now is that everyone goes. I don't think it should be like that, either, but it is. And in the end, an undergraduate degree, any undergrad degree, is a necessity for pretty much all but unskilled jobs. In other words, an undergrad degree is virtually worthless, since almost everyone has one, but it's also virtually necessary—again, since everyone has one.

Sure, one can find jobs—decent jobs—without a degree. And one can be successful without a degree, assuming one is smart and highly motivated. But a degree really helps towards getting a good job.

Now, I specifically want an undergrad degree because I hope to obtain a Ph.D. so I can be a professor (and a Ph.D. is virtually necessary to become a professor), but this probably doesn't really help you because it's a relatively uncommon career path.

[Simba]

As I've heard it, going to college has simply become a requirement in order to live comfortably (besides that lottery, celebrity, all time breakthrough mish-mash).

Just, life becomes so much easier if you can get a rather good job and all of that. It beats having to struggle to make a living.

[*Duchess of Dork*]

Sure, one can find jobs—decent jobs—without a degree. And one can be successful without a degree, assuming one is smart and highly motivated. But a degree really helps towards getting a good job.

So true. I don't have a degree, but believe me, I really wish I did. I've been fortunate to have been in the right place, at the right time to get some of the analytical jobs I've had. However, I could be SO much further in my career if I had a degree. It's pretty much glass ceiling right now because any further up and a degree is just expected.

It used to really anger me but I can very much understand and appreciate why many employers do that now. I've talked to prospective managers and believe it or not, it goes way beyond just having certain skill sets one might obtain when getting their degree. It has a lot to do with commitment and following through (although certainly this is not the exclusive reason).

Another thing to consider is that the more time passes, the more challenging it is to go (or go back) to school. Granted, I have a young disabled child (and I'm a single mom) so it feels REALLY difficult to go back but sometimes you get what seems like a great job and it doesn't feel like you need to go. It's a trap I've seen so many people fall in (myself included, to some extent).

I guess, in my typical loquacious way, what I'm trying to say is that if you can go to school, try it? :)

[fragrance]

I was THE WORST high school student ever. I showed up to class for attendance's sake, but I went to sleep anyway. Didn't take it seriously.. just slacked off.. etc. The thought of college was scary to me, especially when my senior year came..when all this talk of what university to go to and majors and minors, etc. I had no idea what I wanted to.

Anyway I ended up going to a community college. It's not as bad as everyone make it out to be. It's cheaper for me, since I'm not financially well-off. I have to pay for my own tuition so I have to take what's available to me. I learned sooo much even if it's just undergrad stuff. I don't even care about all that shit about fitting into society or whatever: I go to college because I want to expand my horizons. I go to college for myself only. Not to compete with everyone else, not to look "cool" and "mature". Not for superficial reasons that a lot of college students have.

I go simply to become a better person for myself, to learn about things I've never gave a chance to in the past. I find myself still immature and ignorant at the age of 20, but I believe through knowledge I'll be able to grow and mature more. All the career hoopla and benefits come last. College keeps me out of trouble, allows me to have some self-restraint and discipline, and I can be among intellectual peers. Still, I went into college not knowing what I wanted, but after taking some undergrad courses I realized I wanted to become a Nurse. So.. I found my calling in the midst of all the chaos.

College isn't for everyone. Some people don't have the time (they have kids or need to make a living); some people simply don't have the resources (money, information). However. if it is available to you, perhaps if your parents are willing to pay for your education, by all means TAKE IT. Don't let opportunities like this pass you by. Even if you never find your calling, having a little education will never hurt.

Living in this society, you also have a higher chance for success if you are a collegiate. Think about it.

[kimmytree]

Well, I'm going to go to college (next year) mostly for a backup plan. I figure I'll be married soon after finishing, so I may never need the degree. But what if me and my future husband have financial problems, and need another income? Or what if my husband is injured and cant work? Or what if I'm divorced/widowed with children to support? That's when having a college education really pays off. It's like a saftey net.

It's ultimately you're decision, and no one elses. It just depends on what you want to do in life. There's definately nothing wrong with not going though. If you dont go to college, what are your plans after graduating? Living with your parents for a few more years? If that's the case, then I'd definately go to college. You seem like a smart girl... I'm sure you'd get enough scholarships to pay for public college. That's what I'd do, unless you plan on getting married straight out of high school.

Or, if you dont think college will be your thing, what about going to a community college for a year or two, for an associates degree? That wouldnt take too long. You'd make a nice living, especially if you go into something health related. I wouldnt stress about it too much though, you still have three more years. I worried too when I was a freshman. Heck, I had everything planned out. From what I originally planned, the "plan" has changed a bajillion times.

[misoshiru]

Well, it's true that the schools I went to put me on the road to college. Personally, I've never understood why people hated the thought of going to college. I'm currently in college, and I love it. Maybe it's also because I love learning new ideas, everything.

I don't think that Michael's particularly right with the "everyone goes to college" idea, but it's true that many people do go. A bachelor's degree is now pretty much the basic requirement to getting a good job.

I know for sure though, that I definitely want to get at least my Masters degree.

[kimmytree]

I don't think that Michael's particularly right with the "everyone goes to college" idea, but it's true that many people do go. A bachelor's degree is now pretty much the basic requirement to getting a good job.

I think what he meant was that WAY more people are going now then they did... say, when our parents were our age. People used to be able to be secretaries and that kind of thing with absolutely no degree. But these days, you have to have a degree for that type of thing. More and more people are going to college... so in return one might be more limited with a job level, compared to getting a job in the past.