If you think a college degree will bring you success, here’s why you should think twice.
—
Challenging my beliefs piqued my curiosity, and I began gathering information.
|
It is time to stop the insanity! The insanity of blindly believing what we’re told! The insanity of blindly going to college because we think it will make us successful. College is a tool that we can use to succeed, but it does not guarantee success. Are you or someone you love about to take the college plunge? Are you heading into debt, and spending the next four years “finding” yourself? If so, step off the ledge and think twice about college as you consider these six reasons.
♦◊♦
- You don’t have a compelling vision for your life. In 1996, I began my first year of college without a plan, without a purpose, and with no motivation. Popular culture said you graduate high school and go to college, so off I went. Not once can I remember anyone talking to me about having a plan for my life. At the time, I wanted to be a psychologist but I had no idea what was required to be successful as a psychologist after college. The thought of being addressed as “doctor”—making my family happy because I obtained a prestigious degree—and being afraid of being unable to succeed without a degree propelled me to enroll. Why are you going to college?
- You think you need a degree to do the job. I was 37 years old when I started questioning my beliefs about the benefits of a college education. Challenging my beliefs piqued my curiosity, and I began gathering information. I was surprised to learn many college graduates are working in jobs that do not require college degrees. The Center for College Affordability reports that 51.9 percent of college graduates jobs require a four-year degree or higher. The same study reports 37 percent are employed and their positions require no more than a high school diploma. Finally, 11 percent of college graduates employer’s require less than a bachelor’s degree. Fact: there are 13 million more college graduates than jobs that require a degree.
- You believe college will get you a job. The number of people with a college degree has increased six times since 1950. In the 1950’s and 1960’s, college educated employees were an elite group representing five percent of the adult population over age 25. Today, having a degree is almost normal, the status quo, or as we say in the business world, a point of parity. Especially when an employer requires it. Differentiating yourself from peers is vital in today’s labor market.
- You’re only going to college because someone else expects it. When I started college, a significant amount of external motivation propelled me forward. As long as I went to school and maintained decent grades, I could live at home. My dad would pay for school, and he even paid for gas. I showed up one day one excited and ready to become the next Ph.D. in psychology. On day two I was a little less motivated, spent less time paying attention, and less time studying. By the end of the first semester, I was barely hanging on, and by the end of second semester, I was in an academic tailspin. The choices we make in life have to be our own, we have to buy into them emotionally first and then rationally, start with your “Why”. Do you know your “Why”?
- Student loan debt. According to the BLS (as reported by the Center for College Affordability) “office and administrative support”, “sales and related”, and “food preparation and serving related” represent the three largest employment categories. Together, they employ over 35 percent of all workers, and most positions do not require a degree. Categories requiring degrees such as: “legal,” “architecture and engineering,” “management,” and “life, physical, and social science,” employee the smallest number of workers. In the 2012-2013 academic year, 59 percent of students had accumulated $26,000 dollars of student loan debt. If most college graduates are employed and their jobs don’t require a degree, why go into debt? Why saddle yourself with so much debt just starting out in life? I cannot answer that question for you. Your decision has to align with your life plan.
- College won’t make you happy. I have a long time friend that never graduated college. For more than 20 years she has lived her incredible life traveling the country. Soon, she will embark on a six-week journey to Europe. For years she has dreamed of this trip and worked diligently to be able to live her dream. How did she do it without a degree? She had a compelling vision, she worked in various positions that did not require a degree, she avoided student loan debt, and she made happiness a priority.
♦◊♦
I began college in 1996 and I completed my Bachelor’s in 2013. The thirteen years in between, I started and quit a degree program at least three times, and I was almost always on academic probation while trying to dig myself out of the whole. Along the way, I acquired small amounts of college debt, and I had no idea what I wanted to be when I grew up.
Personally, I am glad I finally thought twice about a college education.
|
Trying to break the cycle, I joined the United States Army because it would allow me to provide for my family and it aligned with my vision. In June 2015, I will graduate with my master’s degree in business administration and technology management. The best news is it cost over $119,000 dollars and I am debt free.
Personally, I am glad I finally thought twice about a college education. It afforded me the opportunity to build a compelling vision for my life.
Do you have the courage to think twice about college and create your extraordinary life?
—
Flickr/ COD Newsroom
Unfortunately, a lot of young people look at college as just “13th grade”. Figuring that they can just carry on like they did in high school without purpose. I wish I had taken a break between high school and college and spent that time looking for direction and purpose. College is a real expensive way to be floundering for direction.