should i go to college or go straight into the work force?
I am an easy going person, i'm very determined, i catch on fast, sometimes i procastinate, i'm nice, i i think to much, i will eaisly get distracted #money
7 answers
Michael’s Answer
The answer depends on many things, including: your goals, interests, where you live, your financial situation, any various other aspects of your personal life. I recommend doing a personal cost benefit analysis (outlined below). Weight the benefits and the costs of going to college against each other in the context of your personal situation, and see if the decision makes sense.
Obviously, there are many benefits to going to college. You learn a lot about your field of study, you get to network with like minded individuals, you're given access to the resources of the school (which vary depend on school, program, etc), and your degree will open up many doors to jobs that require a degree. I'm sure this isn't new information, as the benefits of college are often talked about. Things to consider when outlining the benefits of college as they pertain to your personal situation include:
-Do the jobs you are interested in require a degree? Do you have the skills/attributes to succeed in college (self-motivated, studious, organized, do well in a classroom setting, focused, etc). Would I enjoy the college life style (living at school or close to campus, around a bunch of young people)?
In terms of the costs- college is very expensive. Generally, you take on debt in the form of student loans, and you are working part time or not at all during school in order to focus on your studies. This delays your entry to the workforce, and also takes away from time that could be spent learning a different skill which will help you obtain a job without a degree. When considering the costs, things to consider include:
-How much do the programs cost that I'm interested in? How much debt would I need to take on to obtain this degree? Do I think this is worth it based on my projected earnings when I'm out of college? Am I better suited for a field that doesn't require college?
Gloria’s Answer
If you have not worked ever, I would say getting started working as soon as you can is a good idea. Working is always different than what you think it is. I experienced that myself and I have seen others struggle at entering the workforce for the first time. It is one thing to think about the job that you are doing - maybe working in a restaurant - and it is another thing to have a lot of new people in your life. Most businesses have a culture that you may not understand right away. For example, you may start a job where your coworkers are not very helpful. You may have a job where they do not give you as much training as you need or expect you to work late a lot. It can be challenging to be under the direction of other people. Since they are paying you, your employer is going to tell you to do things that may be hard for you to understand in the beginning. When I first started working, I got in trouble a lot for the way that I dressed. It was not something that I learned about from my parents even though I watched them wear business clothes every day.
Also, I worked when I was in college which was challenging and yet good. I had to learn quickly about time management. Plus, some of the subjects that I took in school benefited from me having job knowledge. For example, one of my classes was business management. When I had questions, I could actually go to my boss for a real-world answer.
Gloria
Simeon’s Answer
Yasemin’s Answer
I hope this helps!
Best of luck!
Terrell’s Answer
Scroll up to Michael Stempel's reply. He was head-on with his answer. College is not for everyone and you don't need to waste too much money trying to figure out if it is right for you. Too much student loan debt can set you back and stifle your lifestyle. Find out what you love doing. Take on a few summer jobs and get your hands dirty. My son worked during the summers at an aquatic center as a lifeguard. He also worked fast food during the summer months. After seeing what his options were without a college degree, he realized that college would be a better fit for him. He is now excelling in college and finding his niche.
Best of luck to you!
Dan’s Answer
Imagine spending 3-4 years of your life getting a degree for a job that you think will be your lifetime career only to find out that your incredibly miserable in that position. It's not worth it on any level, especially if student loans are involved.
Obviously if you want to be a doctor or a lawyer or any profession that requires advanced education, then you'll need to go to college. But what if you got a job as an intern first while getting your AA? You may love it and you may hate it. Either way you didn't waste any time.
Blake’s Answer
I think it depends on your situation. If you don't have the financial means to start college first, then I would recommend going into the workforce for a while. I would then save money to go to a community college. From there you could begin to not only decide what you want to do, but it wouldn't be near the financial cost of a 4 year institution.
Thanks,
Blake