I would like to discuss my opinion of why college is not the best choice for everyone.
I have thought a lot about the costs and benefits of a 4-year degree.
There are plenty of great things about a college education, but we’ve heard them for most of our lives. Higher income, better employability, etc. Which may not always be true.
College is a valuable social experience for millions. It definitely made me look at the world through the eyes of others and learn the value of gathering information before forming opinions. So I am not saying college is bad or a waste. I do want to look at the costs and cons of a college education though.
This post is composed of my thoughts and mine alone.
My Experience With School
I have always been creative and I did alright in school mostly because of the support of my parents. Grade school was harder for me than most of my classmates though. Assignments and tests consistently took me longer than anyone else. My mind wandered. I never took any kind of medication for focus, such as Adderall.
I don’t remember high school taking that much effort.
By the time I had made it through junior college and into university, I realized that I was definitely not built for the classroom. It appeared that everyone put in less effort to studying and most got better grades than me. I was giving college 110-percent of my effort.
I did great in the classes in my program, producing videos, but I had real challenges with lecture classes like economics and lab classes like physical anthropology and biology.
What I lacked in classroom skills, I filled in with persistence and hard work. After five-years of college, I received my four-year degree.
The Overall Cost Of College
I am proud to this day that I made it through college, yet I think a lot about what it actually cost.
My first two-years of community college included three-semesters of dorm living with cafeteria food and four-semesters of classes. Not only was there a cost for my first two-years of school, I was also not working, saving, or building equity in assets like real estate.
Next, I moved on to Kansas State UniversityKansas State University where I spent three-more years. This part of my education cost over $40,000 and included a very small (relative) amount of money to pay rent with and live on.
I did work 20-30 hours a week during my last 3-years of school, but it was a part-time job that just funded food, entertainment, and vehicle expenses.
In the end, even with scholarships, 2-generations of my family invested over $50,000 into my education. At the same time, my friends who went straight into the work force had been earning and saving for five-years. Many had already bought a house by the time I graduated college.
Adding It All Up (roughly)
I was in school from 2001-2006. Let’s assume one of my friends made $30,000 a year during the five-years I was in school. When I graduated, my friends who were working line-level jobs had already made $150,000 during the time my family had invested over $50,000. So the day I graduated from K-State, my education had cost three-generations $200,000 more than if I would have just graduated and gone to work.
Now, consider my friends who begun work at one of our Wichita aircraft manufacturers’ plants also had five-years of experience, training, and advancement opportunities. They were likely making much more than $30k annually by the time I was ready to enter the workforce.
I graduated at a time when employment wasn’t great. I struggled for a few years to earn a job in my field that paid a good salary. Eventually I was earning around 45k annually with fully-funded health insurance. Not too bad to coast through the worst of the recession with this job.
In Hindsight
When I look back, I am glad that I attended college. I believe it made me a more well-rounded, informed, and thoughtful person. I did develop a career skill that I use. At the same time, I’ve come to the conclusion that college is not the best choice for everyone. I also think that I would be father along in life at this point if I did go straight into the workforce after high school. I believe I will surpass that projection someday, just not any time soon.
Some skilled and technical jobs are learned through apprenticeships and experience. There are vocational and technical programs that provide certificates or diplomas in far less time than a university. Many of these jobs pay pretty well, even at the entry-level.
Some people, like me, are just not built for the classroom. But I am proof that dedication and hard work pay off.
What I hope you take away from this article –
If you are searching for a direction for education or career, spend some real time soul searching. Consider the costs, benefits, and intended outcomes of college vs. the alternatives. If you plan to enroll in college, make sure you are passionate about your direction. Try to shadow a few professionals with your desired career before enrolling. Then, consider what you want most out of your career and your life. College can be really great for a lot of people, but it is not for everybody and there is a great market for jobs right now, regardless of specialty or education.
I truly wish that I took a year to travel after high school. This would have given me the time to at least consider what I wanted out of life and not just what I wanted out of my career.
If you are still seeking a direction after high school, and if you are able to take several months to learn about yourself, seize the opportunity. It will likely change your direction in life.
Here are some numbers and statistics for college costs. Check them out during your research.
Why College Is Not The Best Choice For Everyone
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Post by Mike Gamache – Blogger, Cinematographer