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?

[*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.

[*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? :)