Is college necessary to achieve a successful life or is it more of a status quo? And what is the definition of a successful life? As I prepare to start looking for a college to attend, I’ve started asking myself these two questions. Rarely does a sophomore know how they want to spend the rest of their life, but college seems to be the accepted and preferred “next step” after high school. What once was a luxury to only those of elite status is now available to all through easily obtained school loans and a guarantee that a full time job will be needed to pay the debt.
As college has become the norm on a resume, it no longer stands out unless the specialization of degree is exactly what the hiring employer is looking for. And even then, often there are college graduates of master degrees and/or internships or experience who will be most sought after. As a college graduate you are also competing for jobs with non-graduates who entered the workforce 4 years earlier and have “on the job” experience which is much more preferred to the hiring employer as the amount of time training will be lessened. My mom, who has experience as a hiring manager, said “I have employees who didn’t attend college that I have promoted through the years as they prove their work ethic and gained experience that are already making more in 4 years than I would offer a college graduate with no experience”
So what does college offer then? Well of course there are some careers that absolutely require a college degree as well as specialized training. So if you want to be a lawyer, doctor, engineer, and a variety of other specialized careers, then college is necessary to begin your career. It also advances your level of thinking and maturity to learn at a higher level for 4 years past high school. You will be surrounded by a community of other intelligent, higher level thinkers, which can set you up for relational success.
So then how does a sophomore make the decision on if college is right for them? Typically their decision is going to be very much in line with how strongly their parents feel about them going to college and how engaged they are in the selection process. If they likes to work more with their hands in an area of trade or just not excited about continuing their education, they should definitely talk to their parents about it and possibly attend a community college or trade school versus an expensive university. And most important, it should be a decision that many conversations are had about.