Yes, there are alternatives. No, they =
won=E2=80=99t teach you how=20
to shotgun a beer.
IF I HAD BEEN TOLD 10 years ago, before embarking on my university =
career as=20
an English major, that I=E2=80=99d end up working 11-hour days =
struggling to make ends=20
meet as a freelance writer=E2=80=A6well, actually, I would have =
stubbornly applied=20
anyway.
I value my educational background. I became more open to new things, =
and was=20
given my first real taste of travel through a study=20
abroad program at my school.
I also learned how to shotgun beer, experiment with hallucinogens, =
and=20
somehow maintain a pretty good GPA despite partying three nights a week =
and=20
rolling into class at 8am each morning.
But never once did I question my decision to immediately enroll in =
university=20
right after high school. My friends and I talked about this recently.=20
Alternative routes were never discussed with us before we left home. =
University=20
was a given.
1. Some things you can learn on your own.
You can=E2=80=99t become a doctor by studying WebMD, but some careers =
require your=20
own exploration. I started out as a writer by stapling pieces of paper =
together=20
and creating squiggly lines that resembled words.
I was a creative kid, not a prodigy.
Lucky for us, we live in a time when any information we desire is at =
our=20
fingertips.
My buddy, Dan =
Nahabedian, is=20
someone who spent several years devoted to learning the tools of his =
trade as a=20
photographer. In addition to a few good books (like The Digital =
Photography=20
Book by Scott Kelby), Dan used online resources and forums to post =
his work=20
and receive feedback. Now he=E2=80=99s a working professional, and one =
of the faculty=20
members behind MatadorU=E2=80=99s =
photography=20
program.
2. You might not be =E2=80=9Cbook smart.=E2=80=9D
Maybe you=E2=80=99ve heard of Howard Gardner=E2=80=99s theory of =E2=80=9Cmultiple=20
Intelligences,=E2=80=9D an idea based on extensive cognitive =
research that proves=20
students learn, remember, perform, and understand in different ways. =
There=E2=80=99s=20
even an =E2=80=9Cinterpersonal intelligence,=E2=80=9D the ability to =
effectively understand and=20
interact with others.
=E2=80=9CBook smart=E2=80=9D nowadays seems to be a term used to =
describe people who excel at=20
their studies but fail to function as a normal person. Sometimes they =
miss=20
social cues and forget to change their underwear. Unfortunately, much of =
college=20
is catered to these people.
When we spend so much time studying and absorbed in text books, we =
may limit=20
ourselves to other possibilities. Hey, maybe I could have been =
a=20
ballerina.
3. You=E2=80=99re not financially prepared.
I=E2=80=99m more than a little pissed off about my debt.
In the USA, student loan debt is expected to exceed=20
$1 trillion soon. In Canada, the information is a little more =
obscure, but=20
is estimated at something like over $14=20
billion.
If there=E2=80=99s one thing lacking in our education system, =
it=E2=80=99s a prep course on=20
how to handle money and a reality check for what happens once you =
graduate.
I spent my student loans without a thought. Hoorah, free money! Now =
the=20
majority of my pay cheques go toward paying off that money I threw =
around.
In the USA, student loan debt is expected to =
exceed $1=20
trillion soon.
I would have worked my way through my undergrad, even if it meant =
taking a=20
few extra years to finish my degree. Instead, I=E2=80=99ve been out of =
school for nearly=20
four years, and I=E2=80=99m still below the =E2=80=9Cpoverty=E2=80=9D =
line. And my university had the=20
cheapest tuition in Canada.
4. You haven=E2=80=99t had the opportunity to travel yet.
While the gap year has been basically a rite of passage for some =
students=20
around the globe, especially in the UK and Australia, it=E2=80=99s only =
recently=20
becoming more=20
accepted here in North America.
Most parents look at it as an excuse to be careless, ditch =
responsibilities,=20
and partake in a round-the-world jaunt just to party, make new friends, =
and to=20
engage in unprotected coitus.
And to that I say hell fucking yeah.
Travel experience provides valuable life skills that employers =
consider=20
extremely attractive on a resume these days. Attributes like confidence, =
awareness of the world, and people skills could be your gateway to =
greater=20
things.
5. Experience can be just as valuable as a degree.
My father was a born woodsman =E2=80=94 a lumberjack who built his =
own house and=20
could survive a week in the wild with just a pocketknife and a shotgun. =
His=20
skills and experience have made him more self-sufficient than most, and =
his=20
ability to turn lumber into gold has made him employable for over 40 =
years.
Nowadays you can=E2=80=99t be taken seriously unless you have a =
Doctorate of=20
Philosophy in Ufology.
What happened to recognizing practical skills and talent when you see =
it? My=20
friend Liz from Toronto works in PR/advertising/marketing, and =
she=E2=80=99s never had=20
any formal education. Back in her early 20s, while working as an intern =
at Heinz=20
Canada, Liz became very close with the marketing department and was =
snatched up=20
due to her talents.
She=E2=80=99s one of the most successful people I know, and she spent =
most of her=20
life struggling through school.
When I was in high school, only the =E2=80=9Cdumb=E2=80=9D kids went =
to trade school. =E2=80=9CSmart=E2=80=9D=20
kids were encouraged to attend university. The dumb kids are now making=20
six-figure incomes.
Hands-on work is in huge=20
demand in the workforce. Trades usually takes much less time to =
complete,=20
and you=E2=80=99ll usually pay much less.
7. Be an entrepreneur.
During my brief time working at a marketing company, I interviewed a =
young=20
local guy named Scott Oldford, an entrepreneur since he was 13 years =
old. Now he=20
owns a business =
specializing in=20
online marketing, web development, and mobile and online applications. =
In less=20
than a decade, he=E2=80=99s expanded his company to five other locations =
in Canada.
Plus he was diagnosed with multiple learning disorders when he was =
seven=20
years old. He=E2=80=99s just a really, really hard worker.
Now I=E2=80=99m working for him, writing web copy. Go =
figure.
8. Start off as a volunteer.
If there=E2=80=99s a cause you truly care about in the world =
=E2=80=93- wildlife=20
conservation, hunger relief, world domination =E2=80=93- you=E2=80=99d =
do well to start=20
out volunteering. With some hard work, you=E2=80=99ll be able to =
prove yourself and=20
move your way up through the ranks. At the very least, you=E2=80=99ll =
get some stellar=20
recommendations.
9. Become an expert in something.
Jay Canter, a professional=20
photographer whose career has taken him all over the world and even on =
music=20
tours, became internationally known for his work in the motor sports =
world.=20
=E2=80=9CWhen I wasn=E2=80=99t driving a car, I was photographing =
them,=E2=80=9D he says. At the age of=20
16, he was offered his first real gig for a magazine.
By finding his niche, Jay became an authority, and then expanded his =
career=20
into other fields of photography.
Just the same, I=E2=80=99m not sure what you can do with a Doctorate =
of Philosophy in=20
Ufology.
=20
Get more stuff like this in your inbox!
Sign up for our newsletter and get emails of great stories like =
this.
Candice Walsh is a Professional Experience Collector and full-time =
writer,=20
blogger, and inventor of job titles that don't make much sense. She's =
based out=20
of St. John's, Newfoundland. Follow=20
her website for more shenanigans.
I=E2=80=99m so glad to see #6 included on this list=E2=80=A6too =
many of my friends don=E2=80=99t=20
even know how to drive a nail, use a table saw, or know what teflon =
tape is=20
for=E2=80=A6
Mike Rowe (of Dirty Jobs fame) launched an initiative a while back =
towards=20
addressing the decline of the trades, hoping to re-ignite trade =
schools as a=20
viable alternative to college. And I have to say, at least up here in =
Alaska,=20
things are starting to look up :)
Candice Walsh =
=20
Honestly, I wish I could go back and do a trade and then take up=20
professional writing as a thing on the side (or as a lifelong =
learning=20
diploma, etc.). So many interesting trades out =
there.
http://sparkpunk.com/ Zak =
It=E2=80=99s never too late =20
=
=20
=20
http://amanofnonation.com/ Kevin Post =
=20
The reason trade schools aren=E2=80=99t talked about in high =
school is due to the=20
fact that high schools across the country want to be able to show =
that X% of=20
their students go on to obtain college degrees and receive more =
funding from=20
state and federal governments. To them, trade school isn=E2=80=99t =
as=20
prestigious.
=20
=20
Turner =
Avoiding debt is probably the best argument out there, but I =
don=E2=80=99t think=20
anyone can make the =E2=80=9Cexperience instead of education=E2=80=9D =
point anymore. As you=20
said, most employers only care about those two or three letters on =
your=20
resume: BS, BA, MA, MBA, MS, PhD. Limiting it to =E2=80=9Chigh school =
diploma=E2=80=9D (or=20
even just a BA) closes so many more doors than I would have thought=20
possible.
Candice Walsh =
=20
In MANY cases, yes. But not all. I get paid to train small =
businesses how=20
to use social media, for example, and I=E2=80=99ve never had any =
formal =E2=80=9Ctraining=E2=80=9D=20
in that area.
=20
http://amanofnonation.com/ Kevin Post =
=20
Exactly! Although this is a very well written and inspiring =
article I=20
find it so easy for university graduates to write essays like this. =
I am 26=20
years old and don=E2=80=99t have a university degree and things have =
been anything=20
but easy. I am struggling to find work that pays well and worst of =
all can=E2=80=99t=20
afford to travel. In my early twenties all I wanted to do was =
rock-climb,=20
summit mountain peaks and learn languages. I worked shitty jobs to =
be able=20
to achieve these goals and even borrowed money that I eventually =
paid back=20
to achieve them. I speak Spanish at a C2 level, speak Turkish at an =
A1 level=20
(a lot of room for improvement) and am good sport climber. I can =
honestly=20
say that no employer gives a shit about these skills that I have. If =
anything from the gaps in my r=C3=A9sum=C3=A9 they assume that I am =
just going to take=20
off as soon as I get the chance (in some cases that=E2=80=99s not =
far from the=20
truth).
Sure, some of the people listed above achieved success without =
degrees=20
but they are a very small minority. If I could turn back time I =
would have=20
used my money to have obtained a degree in foreign languages or at =
least=20
become a rock-climbing instructor. With a degree it would have =
facilitated=20
my chances of obtaining work abroad while I studied languages and=20
rock-climbed.
=20
=20
RudeAudio =
=20
this all rings so true to my heart. I am at my third post secondary =
school=20
in a pile of debt. I never failed out but I dropped out of one, =
failed=20
one course in my next college program which rendered me ineligible for =
the=20
rest and for my internship, and now i am at my third. I am a pretty=20
intelligent individual, everyone tells me I am, I have a passion =
for=20
world issues, and music etc but I feel like university doesn=E2=80=99t =
cater to my=20
strenghths or my skills. I need something to inspire me to get to =
class or=20
else I don=E2=80=99t go. I am broke as hell because I am not allowed =
to make a lot of=20
money under OSAP =E2=80=93which does not provide enough money for=20
rent/groceries/bills/life. I wish I had taken a year off after =
high=20
school and really focused on what i was passionate about. Now i am 24 =
in my=20
first year at uni but really my 5th year of post secondary=E2=80=A6 =
and still am=20
worried of what i will do in the future.
=20
=20
RudeAudio =
=20
I just wish I was done and travelling and exploring the world=20
now!
=E2=80=9CExperience can be just as valuable as a =
degree.=E2=80=9D Only with=20
extraordinary luck, since=E2=80=93on balance=E2=80=93businesses are =
still more likely to=20
require a degree than not. Can you really suggest someone take the=20
gamble?
http://matadornetwork.com/ Carlo Alcos =
=20
Why is not going to college a gamble? Why is going to college =
*not* a=20
gamble? Going to college is as much a gamble as not going. You take =
the=20
gamble that you will be able to find a job to pay back your loans =
(if you=20
needed them), you take the gamble that you will still like what you =
took by=20
the end of your education, you take the gamble that you will enjoy =
your=20
career that you will most likely feel pressured to stay in =
regardless of how=20
you feel after years (or months/weeks) of doing it, but because of =
the time=20
and money invested in the education you will not leave it to pursue=20
something else that you actually enjoy =
doing.
It is indeed a gamble; you can waste years on something to =
discover you=20
don=E2=80=99t want to do it for the rest of your life. Of course, =
that doesn=E2=80=99t have=20
to be wasted time, if you find yourself in the process.
I spent two years as a Comp Sci major before realizing =E2=80=93 =
hey, I want to=20
travel, not sit behind a desk all of my life. So I switched to my =
true=20
passion of writing, and I freelance to earn money now. It =
wasn=E2=80=99t wasted=20
time, but something I wish I had known before I threw two years into =
studying Java.
=20
=20
http://twitter.com/DanAnnweiler Blogger=20
Dan
A college education, which I have, is extremely overrated. =
Unless a=20
high school senior has a good, solid career plan, financial backing =
and a=20
strong drive, I would say stay away from college and find another =
way. =20
And if you don=E2=80=99t have the money to pay for it, don=E2=80=99t =
go to college taking out=20
loan after loan. If you do, you=E2=80=99ll be enslaved to Sallie =
Mae for life!=20
=20
Markwiz =
I finally got my BS at the age of 48. 25 years earlier. I =
started as=20
technician at a computer company. They later re-trained me as a =
programmer.=20
This was fine until the dot-com bust. Everybody was getting laid off. =
The only=20
reason I survived was I had some really valuable skills. I knew if I =
did get=20
laid off, I would be competing with people with masters, let alone =
BS=E2=80=99s. I got=20
my BS and then got an MBA. If I had gotten my BS earlier, I would =
probably be=20
making 20k more a year.
=
=20
EzequielBruni =
=20
To all of those here saying that the lack of a degree makes for =
missed=20
opportunities, ask yourselves: which opportunities? Today=E2=80=99s =
culture is=20
constantly pushing for people to get desk jobs, and regards other =
forms of=20
employment as lower class.
I say this is bull. Additionally, the best kinds of desk jobs are =
the ones=20
where your employer is more impressed by what you can demonstrably do, =
and not=20
those little letters on your resume.
Two friends of mine are English teachers, getting paid quite well, =
and=20
neither have degrees. One is a Japanese 20 year old in Mexico, and the =
other=20
is an Italian, working in a state-run school in Italy. From what I =
hear,=20
Italian state-run schools have the highest standards in the =
country.
I myself am a self-employed web designer. I got a couple of jobs =
working=20
for local companies based solely on my portfolio. Now, I freelance, =
and make=20
even more money doing it. No, I=E2=80=99m not making six figures, yet. =
I am paying my=20
bills, I=E2=80=99m not in debt, and I can afford the occasional fancy =
toy. And=20
my business is getting better.
The question here is, =E2=80=9CDoes everyone *need* a =
degree?=E2=80=9D I say that the=20
answer depends on what you want to do, and where you want to do it. If =
you=20
don=E2=80=99t want to get stuck at a desk all day, learn a craft of =
some kind that=20
allows you to do what you love. Craftsmen who work with their hands =
are in=20
high demand these days, in more developed countries (here in =
Mexico=E2=80=A6 they=20
don=E2=80=99t get paid very well).
And if you love your desk, then ask yourself whether or not a =
company that=20
values certification over actual practical experience is really worth =
your=20
time.
Of course, there will always be jobs that simply require =
specialized=20
training. If that=E2=80=99s what you need, then by all means, find a =
way to get it.=20
When I need rocket surgery done in my spleen, I don=E2=80=99t want no =
self-taught=20
amateur doing it.
=20
http://twitter.com/Snowfoxx Rho Drummond =
=20
When 68% of the jobs out there require college degrees for =
positions that=20
did not require them ten years ago, things are looking pretty bleak, =
at least=20
in the U.S.
=20
The Truth =
=20
English majors who are out of touch with the real world =E2=80=93 =
=E2=80=9CHooray, free=20
money=E2=80=9D??!!! =E2=80=93 should not be allowed to right such =
articles. =20
And they say the Truth Hurts =
=20
Well, the word is =E2=80=9Cwrite=E2=80=9D but I agree with =
you. This person clearly=20
doesn=E2=80=99t get it =E2=80=93 yes if you become a =
=E2=80=9Cfreelance writer=E2=80=9D you will struggle=20
with money and be in debt. That said, I got my undergrad =
degree in=20
Economics and Mechanical engineering, then got a masters in finance, =
and=20
through applying in the corporate world myself now make a great =
living as a=20
consultant (4 years out of school, started @ 55k now up to =
$100k). Get=20
a BS English degree, get a BS job. Granted its probably much =
more fun=20
to spend 12 hours a day writing these puff piece articles than =
actually=20
making business decisions=E2=80=A6
Candice Walsh =
=20
It=E2=80=99d be a sad world if we took away the arts, =
especially if we let=20
engineers =E2=80=9Cright=E2=80=9D all our articles.
Congrats all on your success, you sound like a person =
I=E2=80=99d love to hang=20
out with!
=E2=80=9CThe Truth=E2=80=9D is that you wouldn=E2=80=99t be =
quite as happy if you didn=E2=80=99t have a=20
little journalism, art, and debate to cheer you up after a long =
day at the=20
grind that you=E2=80=99ve chosen to commit your life to. =
Your profession is=20
admirable. Someone has to do it. But all of the artsy people out =
there are=20
around for a reason. You consult stuffy people in three piece =
suits all=20
day, and we create culture, we write self reflective articles that =
you=20
choose to spend your limited free time commenting on anonymously. =
I=20
wouldn=E2=80=99t be so quick to dismiss someone else=E2=80=99s =
contributions to this=20
world, especially when it=E2=80=99s interesting enough to warrant =
your=20
attention.
=20
=20
=20
http://solofriendly.com Gray =
I wouldn=E2=80=99t go so far as to say people shouldn=E2=80=99t or =
don=E2=80=99t need to go to=20
college. Statistics will bear out that those with an undergraduate =
degree earn=20
about $1 million more over their lifetime than those without one. Of =
course,=20
if you don=E2=80=99t care how much money you make, feel free to do =
what you want. I=20
can honestly say, from the position of someone who has been on the =
hiring end=20
of things, I wouldn=E2=80=99t even look at a resume of someone who =
doesn=E2=80=99t have a=20
college degree for a white collar job. Sorry, but that=E2=80=99s =
reality. The=20
education system definitely has problems, the biggest one being cost, =
but it=E2=80=99s=20
still very important to get that education. I do think most people =
would=20
benefit from taking a couple of years off between high school and =
college,=20
though. Most 18 year olds don=E2=80=99t know what they want to do with =
their lives.=20
Forcing them to choose a career path at that age is crazy and results =
in a lot=20
of them winding up unhappy in their career paths. Let them get some =
real life=20
experience=E2=80=93working, traveling, volunteering=E2=80=93before =
they go to college, and=20
they=E2=80=99ll have a better idea of what they want to do with their =
lives. People=20
who know what they want get more out of the college experience than =
those who=20
are only there because mom and dad are paying for it. Now, having said =
all=20
that=E2=80=A6I don=E2=80=99t think there=E2=80=99s anything wrong with =
going to trade school if that=E2=80=99s=20
where your passion lies. God knows plumbers and electricians make more =
money=20
than a lot of us.
Candice Walsh =
=20
But I=E2=80=99m not saying DON=E2=80=99T go to college, not at =
all. Just question it. Do=20
you want it? If you don=E2=80=99t want it, why are you doing=20
it?
http://solofriendly.com Gray =
Okay, well, the title of your article threw me, Candice. =
It does=20
imply that you=E2=80=99re suggesting college is not necessary. I =
will agree with=20
you that people need to ask themselves some serious questions =
before just=20
jumping into college blindly=E2=80=93Do you want it, are you cut =
out for it, are=20
you ready for it, should you take some time off before going to =
college to=20
figure out what you want to do with your life? Knowing that =
you=E2=80=99ll=20
graduate with debt, do you need to go to the most expensive school =
or=20
would a less expensive state college suffice? Would you be better =
off=20
going to trade school? All good =
questions.
=20
=20
=20
Engineers Rule =
=20
Your being under the poverty line 10 years after graduation is not =
because=20
of tuition cost.. it=E2=80=99s because of your major! =
=20
=20
http://matadornetwork.com/ Carlo Alcos =
=20
From comments I=E2=80=99ve read here and on Digg, this seems to be =
a polarizing=20
issue=E2=80=A6the article is set up on one side of the debate, but I =
think more=20
importantly what it does is provide a different perspective than what =
is=20
popular thought in our society. I don=E2=80=99t think Candice is =
trying to tell anyone=20
to not go to college, she=E2=80=99s just saying: think about it, and =
here are some=20
reasons to think about.
Going or not going to college is a personal choice that is unique =
to every=20
individual. The most important thing is that there is healthy =
questioning=20
before the decision is made. There is a feeling that going to college =
after=20
highschool is a given=E2=80=A6there=E2=80=99s pressure from =
parents/family, from society, that=20
to be =E2=80=9Csuccessful=E2=80=9D this is what one does=E2=80=A6I =
don=E2=80=99t know how many young people=20
I=E2=80=99ve met during my travels that have degrees/masters, who are =
in a shit-load=20
of debt, and who don=E2=80=99t even like what they took in school and, =
in many cases,=20
can=E2=80=99t get a job. There will always be examples of people who =
have =E2=80=9Ceducation=E2=80=9D=20
and have high-paying jobs, but there will always be examples of =
=E2=80=9Ceducated=E2=80=9D=20
people who can=E2=80=99t get a job, and people with little or no =
=E2=80=9Ceducation=E2=80=9D who have=20
high-paying jobs=E2=80=A6what about your =E2=80=9Caverage=E2=80=9D =
person who, =E2=80=9Ceducated=E2=80=9D or not,=20
makes enough to support a lifestyle he/she wants to live, and is =
content?
The paradigm of graduating highschool, getting a degree, and having =
a=20
lifelong career in that field is dying. For one, job security, as it =
used to=20
be, doesn=E2=80=99t exist anymore (this is thanks in large part to the =
death of labour=20
unions=E2=80=A6but that=E2=80=99s another topic altogether). But more =
than anything, I think=20
these days people are becoming more aware of passion and are =
questioning=20
happiness in their lives. The notion of the nuclear family, while =
still=20
strong, isn=E2=80=99t the given anymore that it used to be. A shift is =
occurring, yet=20
we hold tight to the way things used to be, and have a hard time =
imagining it=20
being any other way.
This isn=E2=80=99t a black and white issue. Nothing is. Think =
critically about=20
everything you do.
Candice Walsh =
=20
Precisely. I don=E2=80=99t regret my education, but I wish I had =
gone about=20
things differently, or had even been encouraged to question how to =
go about=20
things differently.
=
=20
=20
Missbiancab =
=20
College was a very valuable part of my growing up. I understand =
that the=20
costs of school are daunting and you study something that you may not =
even=20
care about 4 years after you get that piece of paper, but the safety =
in=20
becoming an adult in a structured environment taught me so much. =
It=20
was/is a rite of passage for so many and its worth it just for that =
reason=20
alone.
=20
Simpletips =
=20
The unfortunate fact is that school (high school and college) is =
really not=20
designed for certain people who are very talented, and often =
it=E2=80=99s not cost=20
effective to go to college. Part of this is simple math. =
If you=20
have two people who get out of high school, where one goes to college =
and the=20
other doesn=E2=80=99t, what you find is that if the one that =
doesn=E2=80=99t (this is a big=20
=E2=80=98if=E2=80=99) starts working and saving money right away, even =
if they make=20
substantially less than the person going to college makes, due to =
compounding=20
interest they could have more money saved than the person that goes to =
school.=20
This isn=E2=80=99t always the case, but take this (very =
simplistic) example.=20
Let=E2=80=99s say that I get out of high school at age 18 and go =
straight to=20
work. I keep my expenses in check and save $300/month (so =
$3600/yr)=20
which grows at 5% per year for 33 years (when I want to retire). =
At the=20
end I=E2=80=99ll have about $302k. If I go to college and make a =
25% higher=20
salary I can save $400/month ($4800/yr). Now, I=E2=80=99ll point =
out that if=20
I=E2=80=99ve got student loans I won=E2=80=99t be able to save as much =
money to begin with,=20
probably not even what my counterpart is saving, but for the sake of =
this=20
example let=E2=80=99s say my parents paid for it. I keep my =
expenses in check=20
and save $400/month at 5% per year for 29 years. I=E2=80=99m =
going to have=20
$314k. It=E2=80=99s a little more, and there is a lot that =
(again) isn=E2=80=99t taken=20
into consideration. If you have to pay for college yourself, at =
all, it=20
wouldn=E2=80=99t be. There are companies that (I=E2=80=99ve =
found) initially won=E2=80=99t=20
consider you if you don=E2=80=99t have a degree, but at least in my =
field (software=20
development), they=E2=80=99ve been few and far between. My =
experience almost=20
always puts me on their radar. College was not that interesting =
to me,=20
mostly because I wanted to work more than anything else (which gave me =
the=20
ability to save money really early), but because most of the people I =
went to=20
college (for the year I went) with weren=E2=80=99t all that bright. =
They did the=20
footwork, listened and took notes, but at the end of the day they =
couldn=E2=80=99t=20
really think critically and were not prepared for the real world. =
Most=20
of the folks I went to school with a struggling in this economy (other =
than=20
the ones who went on to become Doctors, they=E2=80=99ve done very =
well) and have=20
crushing student debts. I could have saved more money than most =
of them=20
if I had only saved half of what I did in the past 15 years. I =
think=20
finishing college makes a lot of sense if your end game is to become a =
Doctor=20
or get your Ph.D. and teach, or if you want to be a teacher in =
general.=20
Also, if you want to go into certain trades (like be an attorney =
or CPA)=20
it=E2=80=99s pretty necessary. What I think mostly determines =
success is=20
interpersonal skills, the ability to think creatively and common =
sense.=20
I would also suggest that the ability to live within your means=20
(something they don=E2=80=99t teach at college) will predict who will =
save money and=20
who won=E2=80=99t. An actual salary is only a small part of the=20
equation.
=20
Whalley =
Thanks for putting this message out, I couldn=E2=80=99t agree =
more. My story=20
is very similar=E2=80=A6 I was a creative =
hard-working kid and=20
when it came time to graduate from high school I really wanted to go =
to ITT=20
tech for drafting. My parents didn=E2=80=99t want their kid =
being =E2=80=9Cblue collar=E2=80=9D=20
so they said go to 4 year college or else you=E2=80=99re on your own. =
I wasn=E2=80=99t ready=20
for that so I went to a private liberal arts university, struggling =
for 4=20
years and racking up $25,000 in debt before dropping =
out. =20
After leaving, I went on a walkabout for a couple years and finally =
settled=20
down in the biotech industry. My first job was entry =
level and=20
it was managing inventory in a manufacturing plant. Growing up I =
had=20
maintained the inventory at my family=E2=80=99s small bookstore so I =
was able to use=20
that experience to convince the hiring manager. That was 14 =
years ago=20
and since then I=E2=80=99ve developed my skills and grown into a =
management position=20
in computer compliance. For the last 8 years I=E2=80=99ve =
made over=20
$100,000 a year and I just finally paid off my student loan =
debt. =20
Overall, I=E2=80=99m very grateful to have had the college =
experience but I=20
haven=E2=80=99t found the absence of a degree to be a major =
problem. The=20
biggest issue for me has been self-esteem. There=E2=80=99s =
a lot of=20
messaging in our society that drop-outs are bad. Additionally, I =
didn=E2=80=99t=20
have a strong sense of self in the first place or else I =
would=E2=80=99ve made a=20
different choice after high school. I think the key is to =
find=20
yourself and believe in yourself, and to find supportive friends =
and=20
family to help you do whatever it is you want to do. If you are=20
adaptable and hardworking, you can make something from=20
nothing.
=20
GRCgirl =
I paid cash for two years and then supported my son=E2=80=99s =
decision to be=20
an entrepreneur. You are so right about life in debt. =
We=20
spent nearly 100K cash and not one penny was noted in a tax break. The =
system=20
is broken.
=20
http://iblog4dollars.com/l Dennis of iBlog4dollars.com =
=20
Great points.. I=E2=80=99m all for #7.. The thing that confuses =
people is they=20
think that college is the answer. No college is a path you take. The =
answer is=20
hard work and determination.
It just so happens in these days, college is not looking like the =
best path=20
and that same path is riddled with corporations selling text books for =
profit=20
and money hungry executives.
I would never tell anyone not to go to college but I would never =
tell=20
anyone to go either. I=E2=80=99m actually glad I didn=E2=80=99t go to =
college. The years I=20
spent in the world grinding taught me a lot about how huge =
corporations don=E2=80=99t=20
give 2 pennies about you. Degree or no degree..
As long as you=E2=80=99re working for someone, you are just helping =
them fulfill=20
their american dream; and I=E2=80=99m all for fulfilling dreams but at =
some point you=20
have to fulfill your own.
Plus mines only cost me a few years of my life. Many people I know =
went to=20
college and we all lost the same amount of years but they paid 40k for =
those=20
years=E2=80=A6
Want to know more about the college scam, go to youtube and watch a =
video=20
called =E2=80=9CThe College Scam=E2=80=9D.. It=E2=80=99s real good and =
explains in great detail the=20
text book hustle that colleges are running.
I wish everyone the overall best and your =
life=E2=80=A6 Dennis =20
Owner of iBlog4dollars.com
=
=20
Dr. Phil =
Most people lack the interpersonal skills, writing ability, and=20
organizational ability to succeed without attending college. The =
degree=20
might not give them success, but the discipline of attending classes =
daily=20
will enhance the skills they need to later succeed.
Some people will succeed without attending college. Most will =
not.=20
Some people are suckered into piles of debt for an experience they =
could=20
have received much less expensively in a junior college with a part =
time job.=20
They need a little perspective. A wholesale rejection of =
the=20
usefulness of the college experience is an excessive reaction to that=20
situation.
=20
Rvmazzola =
=20
I think you are giving people terrible advice. Let people expand =
their=20
intellectual horizons, its woth the high price even if it =
doesn=E2=80=99t immedietely=20
pay off.
I guess it=E2=80=99s all in your perspective, and I have a =
sneaking suspicion=20
that you=E2=80=99re still in college, yet to be slapped in the face =
by the real=20
world. I have friends who went to private 4-year colleges and went =
on to pay=20
tuition at another private school for their master=E2=80=99s degree =
for the SOLE=20
purpose of avoiding their undergrad debt. Are two liberal arts =
degrees=20
really worth upwards of $200,000?
=20
=20
Bogdan_can =
=20
this is such an unnecessary article=E2=80=A6for the 90% of the jobs =
in the market=20
you will need a college degree=E2=80=A6people blame college because it =
doesn=E2=80=99t teach=20
them anything and this is because they want to be spoon =
fed=E2=80=A6.college is what=20
you make of it; you have to work hard and be conscientious just like =
in any=20
other aspect of life=E2=80=A6. otherwise obviously it will feel =
useless. You get a=20
great education out of college, not to mention a great network of =
industrial=20
contacts as well as academic ones. Just because some people that =
dropped out=20
became rich doesn=E2=80=99t mean anything=E2=80=A6I think being a =
=E2=80=98free spirit=E2=80=99 and doing what=20
you love is overrated because often people don=E2=80=99t have the =
slightest clue about=20
how things work in the real world so they drop out and pursue =
something and=20
they quickly realize they=E2=80=99re overwhelmed.
You think that travelling, or becoming an expert in something or =
being an=20
entrepreneur won=E2=80=99t leave you in debt? Where will you get the =
money to travel?=20
This is such a useless suggestion=E2=80=A6you can only travel if you =
have money.=20
Pretty much anything you do will leave you in debt at the beginning, =
unless=20
you live with your parents and they pay for all your bills. If =
you=E2=80=99re gonna be=20
in debt, you might as well get something pragmatic out of =
it.
What a horribly narrow-minded reponse to an open and limitless =
discussion=20
about alternative lifestyle choices. Certainly everything you do in =
life=20
will cause you to acrue some sort of =E2=80=9Cdebt,=E2=80=9D whether =
it be financial or=20
otherwise. Isn=E2=80=99t anything we do out of love or kindness =
because we believe=20
it will make us a better person, giving us brownie points or karma =
points or=20
any other sort of spiritual retribution you personally believe in? =
Perhaps=20
we can consider such things =E2=80=9Cpaying a debt,=E2=80=9D but =
most prefer to consider=20
doing nice things for others (in turn for personal satisfaction and =
growth)=20
not a chore but a delightful part of everyday life.
Why consider doing what you love (whether it be taking a =
pragmatic=20
approach to life or being a =E2=80=9Cfree spirit=E2=80=9D) =
overrated? Does anyone really=20
know how the =E2=80=9Creal world=E2=80=9D works? Define real world =
in terms of pragmatism=20
and you, sir, may have won this round. But I dare say words might =
escape you=20
when you try to narrowly box up something as funny and superfluous =
as life=20
in a nice, tighly contained little box. Life then loses its magic =
and=20
mystery: Chasing happiness becomes a laborious chore of what =
we=E2=80=99re told to=20
do rather than a true persuit of our own perceived path to =
happiness.
You can always make more money. I have heaps of money sitting in =
the=20
bank, saved from when I was an infant, waiting there. For what? For =
Mr.=20
Right to sweep into my life, to change my mind about how to spend my =
small=20
fortune? Just in case I might want to buy a house? Sure, =
it=E2=80=99s good to have=20
money saved, but at the same time, I can always make more. If you =
believe in=20
living a life true to yourself, at the same time believing that in =
life, you=20
will find yourself where you need to be when you need to be there, =
it=E2=80=99s such=20
a silly arrangement to throw away fun experiences like travel for =
cumbersome=20
worries like =E2=80=9Cdebt.=E2=80=9D I prefer not to live as a slave =
to something as fickle=20
as money.
Perhaps you should reevaluate how you let =E2=80=9Cdebt=E2=80=9D =
inhibit your life.=20
Choose your life. Don=E2=80=99t let it choose you.
I don=E2=80=99t entirely disagree with you. Yes, you should spend =
money on=20
pragmatic things. It=E2=80=99s a necessity and a part of life. Part =
of being a=20
well-rounded adult essentially comes down to whether or not =
you=E2=80=99re able to=20
take care of yourself. To me, having your own house with a mortgage =
and a=20
nice new car doesn=E2=80=99t equate success. I know I=E2=80=99m =
successful that I can wake=20
everyday, find a way to feed myself, take care of my bills, interact =
and be=20
amongst those I love, and share a nice meal with friends. Hardly is =
there a=20
night, after a great day with good company and after doing some =
amazing=20
adventurous things, when I=E2=80=99m drifting off to sleep, that =
I=E2=80=99m missing my=20
desk=E2=80=99s carress. The money will come. It always does. Trust =
in thyself and=20
let the good things happen once in a while.
=20
=20
Tiffany Hawk =
=20
I agree that not everyone needs to go to college, but writers =
definitely=20
should. To write about the world, you should have a broad background =
on how we=20
got here, how things work, how to research, how to think=20
critically.
I totally agree with this article, and with Candice. University =
isn=E2=80=99t=20
everything. Even for a writer. Many writers over the centuries =
didn=E2=80=99t step=20
foot in post-secondary and still managed to churn out beautiful=20
articles/books/poetry. High price tags do NOT equal lots of knowledge=20
acquired. Of course, you can make the best of your experience, but =
college is=20
not the high-and-mighty, or even the high-and-necessary thing it once =
was.=20
People don=E2=80=99t have to pay hundreds of thousands to get a =
=E2=80=9Cbroad=20
education=E2=80=9D.
=
http://www.ivorypomegranate.com/=20
Kirstin =
=20
I would love to see a follow-up, =E2=80=9C9 reasons not to go to =
grad=20
school=E2=80=9D
=20
Guest =
This article is so poorly written, it=E2=80=99s pathetic. The =
introduction=20
does nothing to set up the list and many of the items on the list are=20
completely applicable to college. If you=E2=80=99re struggling =
to make ends meet=20
as a free-lance writer, it=E2=80=99s because you=E2=80=99re not every =
good.
http://matadornetwork.com/ Carlo Alcos =
=20
Not sure why I=E2=80=99m feeding the trolls, but here =
goes=E2=80=A6
1. In what way does the intro not set up the list? 2. What =
does =E2=80=9Cmany=20
of the items on the list are completely applicable to =
college=E2=80=9D mean? 3.=20
You don=E2=80=99t know very many freelance writers do you? There are =
a shit ton of=20
outstanding freelance writers who struggle to make ends meet, who =
take on=20
other work to do that. Sometimes it isn=E2=80=99t even about writing =
skill=E2=80=A6there are=20
people who make good money =E2=80=9Cfreelance writing=E2=80=9D but =
who are not very good=20
writers. They just understand the business side of things and are =
social=20
media savvy.
Crap. Just wasted 5 minutes of my day.
Guest =
=20
I wasn=E2=80=99t trying to troll. A friend posted =
this on FB and I=20
was actually interested in what it was about.
1. Her introduction is all about HER EXPERIENCE IN =
COLLEGE. =20
From what she writes in the intro, it basically sounds like her =
place in=20
the world right now is directly related to her use of =
hallucinogens and=20
being hungover every day at 8am. She should=E2=80=99ve =
framed it as why=20
college almost failed her, not why she almost failed =
college. See=20
the difference? 2. My statement means that much of what she is=20
suggesting can be done while going to college and nothing about =
college=20
should inherently prevent someone from doing these things. =20
Examples: -you can learn a ton of stuff, on your own, =
from other=20
people, while you are at college, outside of class. you =
don=E2=80=99t have=20
to skip college to use the Internet=E2=80=A6 -you don=E2=80=99t =
have to be =E2=80=9Cbook smart=E2=80=9D=20
to go to college and succeed. to believe that college is all =
about=20
=E2=80=9Cexcelling in studies=E2=80=9D or whatever that means, is =
just=20
ignorant -financial issues. Here is probably her most =
valid=20
point. Sure, that=E2=80=99s a reason not to go to college, =
but unless you=20
want to get into a debate about cost/benefits of higher education, =
then it=20
doesn=E2=80=99t belong on the list -travel? are you =
kidding me? If=20
you live in NYC, then travel to California and go to college =
there. =20
SHE ADMITS that she traveled abroad for the first time in college! =
but=20
then she is telling us not to go to college so you can travel? and =
I=20
guess, use those funds that you didn=E2=80=99t have to pay for =
tuition
-practical skills and talent can be cultivated while at=20
college=E2=80=A6 -vocational/tech/trade schools, sure, this is =
a good point, if=20
you=E2=80=99re interested in those things then you don=E2=80=99t =
need to go to college per=20
se -you can start your own business before/during/after =
college. =20
Remember that Zuckerberg went to an Ivy League and started =
Facebook=20
there. I=E2=80=99d say he qualifies as an =
entrepreneur. -volunteering,=20
you can do this at college and after college, heck, if =
you=E2=80=99re smart you=E2=80=99ll=20
start during HS -no one really becomes an expert on something =
in=20
college, that=E2=80=99s what grad school is for. you can =
read all the books=20
you want while you=E2=80=99re in college if you wish though, no =
one=E2=80=99s stopping=20
you 3. I don=E2=80=99t understand many free-lance =
writers. The writers I=20
know publish in academic journals, but we don=E2=80=99t get paid =
for publication,=20
we simply have to do it or we lose our jobs, so I guess =
it=E2=80=99s=20
similar. But I will concede that free-lance writing success =
may have=20
nothing to do with writing ability. However, I =
still=20
stand by my earlier statements.
http://matadornetwork.com/ Carlo=20
Alcos
Based on your original comment, I hope you can see why I =
would think=20
you were trolling (using Guest as name doesn=E2=80=99t help =
either). But thanks=20
for expanding on your thoughts, that kind of feedback is much =
more=20
constructive than =E2=80=9CThis article is so poorly written, =
it=E2=80=99s pathetic.=E2=80=9D=20
Cheers.
=20
=20
=20
http://twitter.com/JessicaRawlins Jessica=20
This kind of sounds like it should be titles =E2=80=9C9 reasons to =
wait to go to=20
college=E2=80=9D. Most people get a degree at some point but =
definitely good to try=20
some of these things before.
http://matadornetwork.com/ Carlo Alcos =
=20
I prefer =E2=80=9C9 things to think about while deciding to go to =
college=20
(although it=E2=80=99s perfectly acceptable if you =
don=E2=80=99t)=E2=80=9D
=20
=20
http://www.travelerahoy.com/=20
Alouise =
=20
I really enjoyed this article and I think some valid points are =
brought up.=20
College isn=E2=80=99t for everyone. And it=E2=80=99s a big decision to =
make, and definitely=20
not something a person should just rush into. I didn=E2=80=99t go to =
college right=20
after High School because I had absolutely no idea what I wanted to do =
with my=20
life. If I had been forced to go to college I probably =
would=E2=80=99ve taken a=20
general studies program, or worse something I had no interest in. I =
would have=20
wasted money on something I didn=E2=80=99t want and I would=E2=80=99ve =
regretted my decision.=20
Instead I worked for several years, and while I regret staying at a =
job I=20
didn=E2=80=99t like for five years I don=E2=80=99t regret waiting =
until I was 26 to go to=20
University.
Several years ago I wanted to go into music therapy. I love music, =
and I=20
love the fact that music can help a variety of people. It seemed like =
a=20
perfect career. So I went back to piano (I took lessons as a kid), and =
looked=20
to apply at different music schools. And while I waited I took some =
psychology=20
courses that I would need for prerequisites. I remember being at the =
audition=20
for a University music program and all I could think was how I hate to =
play=20
piano in front of people, how I hate performing. And you can=E2=80=99t =
really be a=20
music therapist and hate performing, it=E2=80=99s sort of required. =
Needless to say I=20
didn=E2=80=99t make it into the program, and I think it was for the =
best. As good as=20
this career sounded on paper for me, in reality it wouldn=E2=80=99t =
have worked.
I went into a professional writing program after taking the =
MatadorU travel=20
writing course back in 2009. I realized that I wanted to be a writer. =
Writing=20
was something I always enjoyed, but a writing career didn=E2=80=99t =
seem like a=20
possibility. And as much as I could just try to be a travel writer I =
also=20
wanted to learn about other types of writing and communication. So =
I=E2=80=99m glad=20
I=E2=80=99ve gone to University, because I=E2=80=99ve discovered other =
types of writing I=20
enjoy, like technical writing. I was also careful to pick a school I =
could=20
afford. I estimate that I=E2=80=99ll probably have about ten thousand =
dollars to pay=20
in loans after I=E2=80=99m done school, which is a lot less than what =
many people=20
have. I also picked a program that had an internship (in the last =
year). This=20
will give me work experience, and hopefully I can find a paid =
internship. I=20
won=E2=80=99t graduate until I=E2=80=99m 30, but I=E2=80=99m glad when =
I do graduate it=E2=80=99ll be from a=20
program I=E2=80=99ve enjoyed, and I=E2=80=99ll be able to have the =
skills to get into a career=20
I want to have.
One big issue is that most people would not have the initiative to =
get the=20
experience if they were not thrust into college. We imagine people are =
more=20
smart than they are.
I really like the alternatives that you provide for college. =
I agree=20
that traveling or volunteering can be more rewarding than going to=20
college.
I=E2=80=99m also working on my own list on my blog, 100 Reasons NOT =
to Go to=20
College:
I hope to highlight some of the pitfalls of college life and offer =
some=20
good alternatives to college.
=
=20
Drphilgood George =
=20
well sure, but the major thing that is being overlooked is that =
nowadays,=20
getting a college degree is absolutely mandatory in the professional =
world.=20
The fact is, getting a job is a lot harder for people that do not have =
a=20
college degree.
=20
Roscoe Rudolf =
=20
meh, the =E2=80=9Cprofessional=E2=80=9D world is overrated. it =
won=E2=80=99t make it far into the=20
future before we have to change the way we run our economies anyways =
(it is=20
happening now, but the status quo is stubborn). better off to have =
life skills=20
in the simple but essential things=E2=80=A6growing food, finding =
abundance in=20
simplicity, building mutually nurturing relationships.
Carlo Alcos =
=20
One of the problems is that to live the =E2=80=9CAmerican =
dream=E2=80=9D which is what=20
most people still seem to want (buying a house, building a massive =
pension,=20
having a family, etc) it costs a lot of money=E2=80=A6but if minds =
were opened up to=20
different kinds of lifestyles, more meagre and simple ones, like you =
said=20
growing more of your own food, living more communal, sharing, we =
actually=20
need a lot less income than we think. the way we=E2=80=99re set up =
right now is that=20
we all have to be so independent, that we have to do everything on =
our=20
own=E2=80=A6and we build walls and isolate ourselves from everyone =
else.
We work so bloody hard and long for this notion of future =
security=E2=80=A6but in=20
reality there is no such thing as security. It could all come =
crashing down=20
(and really, would anyone be surprised if it did?)=E2=80=A6what will =
be more=20
important if/when a really big collapse happens is life =
skills=E2=80=A6and having=20
community to help each other through it, being more spiritually open =
and=20
ready and willing to accept change.
=20
=20
Daniel Chikwelu =
=20
nice, keep it up.
=20
Ron Reed =
I agree wholeheartedly Like it says from the book Successful =
Intelligence=20
=E2=80=9CDropping out of school and low grades do not guarantee =
failure the same way=20
good grades and college degrees guarantee =
success=E2=80=9D.
=20
=20
James Westave =
=20
9 excellent reasons not to go college especially in the current =
economic=20
climate. Entrepreneurism should flourish in these times. I have =
started a blog=20
http://www.event-traveller.com/ which one day I =
hope will=20
allow me to travel the world and get paid, heres to dreaming =20
=20
vero4travel.com =
=20
I agree in everything. Sadly, nowadays in Spain we think like this =
=E2=80=9DWhen I=20
was in high school, only the =E2=80=9Cdumb=E2=80=9D kids went to trade =
school. =E2=80=9CSmart=E2=80=9D kids=20
were encouraged to attend university. The dumb kids are now making =
six-figure=20
incomes.=E2=80=9D. It=E2=80=99s sad but it=E2=80=99s true. I =
don=E2=80=99t know in America but in Spain and=20
Europe it=E2=80=99s difficult to find a job, they don=E2=80=99t mind =
that you have spent a lot=20
in your graduate and postgraduate program so=E2=80=A6 you can save=20
it.
=20
Connie Mack =
=20
Interesting tips, This will certainly help many people acquiring=20
information for there needs.Business=20
loans for bad credit.
![](3D"http://cdn.matadornetwork.com.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/im=)
=20
=20
