What are the biggest drawbacks to college?

Most of the learning that I did in college was actually outside of the classroom...it was a period of transition where I learned to live on my own, pay bills, hold a job, and study topics related to my interests. Yes, college is expensive, but the best investment that you will ever make is in yourself. If you skip college, you will be bypassing this valuable learning experience in life, and will likely be shutting yourself off to many professional opportunities that will not present themselves without a degree.

If you go, make the most of it. Make sure that you put the proper time in with your coursework, but also try to get involved in activities on campus that will expose you to different things and different people. Trust me, these experiences and networks will come in valuable after college. Also, consider a job on or near campus which will help manage your cost and will also prepare you work after college. I found that the more that I did (I had a full course load, a job, ran on the cross-country team, and also was involved in my fraternity. Doing all of these things actually helped me focus and prepared me well for life after college.

Finally, going off to college is a little scary at first, but everyone new to college is in the same boat. Within a week you will make new and really interesting friends....some of whom will be friends for life. Go for it and have fun! You won't regret it.

College is expensive and a lot of times if you want to succeed you really can't spend all your times out with friends etc. however, the pros are that you come out of it with choices and a better future.

Choices are everything. The more educated you are the more you will have choices for how you want to develop your future and the good times you will have getting and being educated are monumental and cannot even be explained.

In addition, who says you have to 'go off' to college? Maybe try something local in your comfort zone first? General education is the first part of any degree and you can do that in a place closer to home then transfer to a college that offers something more specific to your goals later when you have a better grasp on how it will be for you

College is expensive and needs to be approached with financial and thought provoking care. A lot of times young folks dive into college at 18 years old and feel a lot of pressure to finish in 4 years while accumulating a lot of debt.

Consider talking to folks in a couple industries or fields of work you think you might enjoy and ask how they got into what they are doing. It is a great way to test the water and validate your path for success. Remember also that you can start out in a trade, earn some money and experience, and also potentially get that trade to support your financial efforts towards college.

College can be a lot of fun, but to be truly marketable you need to balance your fun and get tuned into an industry of interest. Take your time and enjoy the ride - do not feel pressure either way, but rather see the opportunity to explore college as a means to enhancing your life.

Arianna, education is an investment in yourself. Some argue that the best investment one can make is in education. Some studies show that unemployment is lower among college graduates. Invest in yourself, in your passion and do it well. “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life,” Confucius once said.
See what the government stats say here: http://www.bls.gov/emp/ep_chart_001.htm

I really think the Pros and Cons of college is really depends on how you are guided through when you are ready to decide to extend your education. Most people are not properly inform or guided through their college years hence facing various challenges, especially financial concerns.

College provide a solid foundation on basic requirements in different industries. You will be introduce to different information based on your industry/career path. Some career do require college education as the minimal requirements.

If you have the opportunity, reach out to folks in the industry and talk to them. Check with your education counselor in school to see if they are willing to have a field trip to visit various companies in your areas to explore the career opportunities out there.

Good luck :)