Do I need to go to college to have a successful career?

Hi there,

Interesting question. The short answer here is no. There are several career paths that you can take that do not necessarily require that you have a college degree; however, statistics show that college graduates consistently out earn individuals without degrees. Additionally, many top level companies look for applicants with degrees as they possess certain skills one generally would obtain during higher level education (e.g. critical thinking and problem solving skills).

This really depends on your goals and what career path you would like pursue. If you're wanting to work on old cars an atypical college degree program may not be beneficial. However, if you dream of being a top level business executive or opening your own business certain degrees would be very helpful.

The take away here would be to think about what your goals are and then decide what you want to do based on those goals. Best of luck!

Hi there,

I applaud you for thinking ahead as cost for higher education has soared in recent years! I agree with the others that responded to your question, and I think you are on the right track trying to balance the cost to benefits. I worked in the student loan industry and know first hand how important it is to have a career plan in place or at least a passion identified prior to borrowing too much money. Depending upon your goals, think about related careers and whether or not higher education is for you. Some ways to cut costs are trying community college in your first and second years if you are not sure, and you can always transfer to a more expensive school after one or two years that has a strong program in the field chosen if you wish. Work/study programs are doable too to mitigate expenses. There are lots of options, but the first important step is to decide your passion, and then take it one step at a time.

Best wishes!

Very thoughtful question. I went to college and my other siblings did not. I would say we are all equally successful. One sibling learned a trade and the other used natural skills to gain employment. The important thing to remember is that college is not just for young adults, you can go at any age. My spouse went to college at age 30. The critical part is that you are ready to go to college and have an idea of what you would like to study. Sometimes it takes a while to discover passions and sometimes those passions change over time so even if you go to college right out of high school you may go back to college later to study something completely different. You can always start by taking one class at a local community college and see how you feel about college at this point in your life. Community college can also be a great place to discover what you would like to study. Good Luck!

HI,

It is always nice to aim high and work harder for it in life. However if you are going through times when being able to afford college education is a question, then you can always choose to work part time and study or work for money (save enough for college) and then go back to college.

During their high school career, students may begin to question the importance of a college education. They might find themselves asking, “Why is it important to go to college?” The answer is that, more than ever, attending college provides opportunities for graduates which are not as widespread to those who have not received a higher education.

For many high school students, being able to immediately generate an income after graduation is an appealing thought. They may also be repelled by the rising cost of tuition, and while it is true that a higher education may be one of the largest expenses you will ever face, the importance of a college education has become quite evident in terms of earning potential within today’s economy.

Decide what best works for your and do your best at it.

All the best!