9 answers
SHARI
Student
Tampa, Florida
2
Questions
Asked
947 views
Should i go to college after highschool or start working?
should i start working or go to college? Does college actually help?
9 answers
Liana Ho
Graphic Designer
38
Answers
Los Angeles, California
Updated
Liana’s Answer
Hi Shari,
It's nice to hear from you! It really depends on what you want to do after High School! After High School, maybe you can take a gap year. You can travel the world, and explore new cities if you like. You can attempt applying to many retail stores and restaurants if you wish. Retail stores and restaurants do not require a degree. I encourage you to attend a community college or a University. If you enjoyed learning, I encourage you to acquire a degree. You will need a degree to survive. Once you have a degree, you can apply for many jobs.
It's nice to hear from you! It really depends on what you want to do after High School! After High School, maybe you can take a gap year. You can travel the world, and explore new cities if you like. You can attempt applying to many retail stores and restaurants if you wish. Retail stores and restaurants do not require a degree. I encourage you to attend a community college or a University. If you enjoyed learning, I encourage you to acquire a degree. You will need a degree to survive. Once you have a degree, you can apply for many jobs.
Celeste Rivera
Account Coordinator
5
Answers
Oxnard, California
Updated
Celeste’s Answer
This is a complex answer, because it is different for everyone, so here are some things to think about.
What do you *want* after high school? Not just job vs school, but what is it that you want for your life? What are your plans and why? For example, if you want kids/ a specific living situation in the future, you'll need to be making much more than minimum wage so put yourself in a position where you'll be making enough money to achieve this goal. Sometimes making money *can* come through a degree, but it can also come from trades or work experience just the same!
When you know what you want - what do you need to get there? If you want to work in education or automotive, for example, you will have to study for that. A career in art, however, can be very successful without a degree!
I'd recommend against choosing a degree if you're not sure about what to study/ do with the degree afterward! College can leave people in lots of debt, so unless there is a plan for making enough to pay it off later, it might make sense to just work for a bit until you find something that you're willing to dedicate years of your life studying!
What do you *want* after high school? Not just job vs school, but what is it that you want for your life? What are your plans and why? For example, if you want kids/ a specific living situation in the future, you'll need to be making much more than minimum wage so put yourself in a position where you'll be making enough money to achieve this goal. Sometimes making money *can* come through a degree, but it can also come from trades or work experience just the same!
When you know what you want - what do you need to get there? If you want to work in education or automotive, for example, you will have to study for that. A career in art, however, can be very successful without a degree!
I'd recommend against choosing a degree if you're not sure about what to study/ do with the degree afterward! College can leave people in lots of debt, so unless there is a plan for making enough to pay it off later, it might make sense to just work for a bit until you find something that you're willing to dedicate years of your life studying!
Stephanie Adams
Product Developement Technical Specialist
2
Answers
Easton, Pennsylvania
Updated
Stephanie’s Answer
If you're feeling uncertain about diving straight into a four-year college, consider beginning your journey at a community college. Not only is it a cost-effective choice, but it also provides a great opportunity to explore if college life suits you. Plus, it helps maintain your study momentum, keeping you in the rhythm of attending classes and finishing tasks. Personally, I don't believe I could have taken a break before starting college and then jumped back into the classroom routine.
T.J. Worthy
Mentor
202
Answers
Ypsilanti, Michigan
Updated
T.J.’s Answer
Hello Shari!
The decision depends on your goals. Both paths can provide good options for you. However, the next steps will need to come from what you want to do personally.
If you are unsure about what you want to do after high school, you can brainstorm with these tips:
(𝟏) ⤍ Instead of thinking about your 'Dream Career' - think about your 'Dream Life'.
Sometimes, we as people place too much emphasis on work and make work the number one area to focus on.
However, there is more to life than your job. You can imagine and plan for how you want to live in other areas of your life.
For example:
What do you want these areas of your life to look like?
⤍ Physical health
⤍ Mental health
⤍ Relationships
⤍ Freetime/Hobbies
⤍ Religion or spirituality (or none)
⤍ Personal finance (This correlates to job, but not always! Specifically, topics such as savings, investment, or financial independence don't necessarily fall into one job. Rather, these are things that you carry with you in your life).
A good resource to look into related to forming a dream life is this video:
My Life Plan: Project Life Mastery | https://youtu.be/Rw2qaMltFcY
(𝟐) ⤍ Learn more about yourself.
Sometimes, we can't figure out which direction to go; either because we don't know ourselves well enough, or we're not honest about who we are + what we want.
Taking online quizzes and tests can help you learn more about your strengths and personality. Then, you can find jobs that you know you will be good at + will like doing.
Here's some tests to check out:
Ikigai | https://ikigaitest.com
(𝟑) ⤍ Passion matters, yet so do other P-words.
There's a debate between whether people should follow their passion or follow money when it comes to making decisions.
In my opinion:
Passion is a helpful tool for figuring out the next steps you want to take in your life.
However, it is not the 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 tool you should use to determine your life's direction.
It is better to have multiple reasons for making a decision vs making a decision solely from one feeling.
Here's a good video about things to consider along with passion:
The Three P’s | https://youtu.be/E4Pp4VMRZKI
Ultimately: You will need to choose based on your own thoughts, feelings, needs, and desires.
College can be a positive or negative investment for your life. So, it's a good idea to always seek clarity and think about what you really want.
It feels intimidating right now. 😅 However, I believe that by 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 thinking holistically about the life you want, you'll figure out what to do (or what you want to do right now).
Sending you good luck on your journey after high school :)
The decision depends on your goals. Both paths can provide good options for you. However, the next steps will need to come from what you want to do personally.
If you are unsure about what you want to do after high school, you can brainstorm with these tips:
(𝟏) ⤍ Instead of thinking about your 'Dream Career' - think about your 'Dream Life'.
Sometimes, we as people place too much emphasis on work and make work the number one area to focus on.
However, there is more to life than your job. You can imagine and plan for how you want to live in other areas of your life.
For example:
What do you want these areas of your life to look like?
⤍ Physical health
⤍ Mental health
⤍ Relationships
⤍ Freetime/Hobbies
⤍ Religion or spirituality (or none)
⤍ Personal finance (This correlates to job, but not always! Specifically, topics such as savings, investment, or financial independence don't necessarily fall into one job. Rather, these are things that you carry with you in your life).
A good resource to look into related to forming a dream life is this video:
My Life Plan: Project Life Mastery | https://youtu.be/Rw2qaMltFcY
(𝟐) ⤍ Learn more about yourself.
Sometimes, we can't figure out which direction to go; either because we don't know ourselves well enough, or we're not honest about who we are + what we want.
Taking online quizzes and tests can help you learn more about your strengths and personality. Then, you can find jobs that you know you will be good at + will like doing.
Here's some tests to check out:
Ikigai | https://ikigaitest.com
(𝟑) ⤍ Passion matters, yet so do other P-words.
There's a debate between whether people should follow their passion or follow money when it comes to making decisions.
In my opinion:
Passion is a helpful tool for figuring out the next steps you want to take in your life.
However, it is not the 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 tool you should use to determine your life's direction.
It is better to have multiple reasons for making a decision vs making a decision solely from one feeling.
Here's a good video about things to consider along with passion:
The Three P’s | https://youtu.be/E4Pp4VMRZKI
Ultimately: You will need to choose based on your own thoughts, feelings, needs, and desires.
College can be a positive or negative investment for your life. So, it's a good idea to always seek clarity and think about what you really want.
It feels intimidating right now. 😅 However, I believe that by 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 thinking holistically about the life you want, you'll figure out what to do (or what you want to do right now).
Sending you good luck on your journey after high school :)
Casey Lems
Security Engineer
3
Answers
Littleton, Colorado
Updated
Casey’s Answer
Ultimately there is no right answer to this question! But good on you for being insightful enough to weigh the pros and cons! Hopefully the following will help you in making a decision:
Experiences (life or work) help to understand and put context to your eventual career and the people you work with. Regardless of your choice, the most important thing to keep in mind is ensuring whatever you choose to do, learn from the experience, gain a better understanding of the world around you, and find ways to incorporate those learnings into your career role!
Be open minded about your future - although you may have an idea of the career path you want to take, be open minded with the experiences that may come your way along the journey. You may not think a specific experience could change or impact your path but be open to new ideas or potential changes that could come as a result of different experiences. These may help solidify the path you've chosen or may help you adjust if you find an additional area of interest. On the other hand, if you are not sure of the career path you want to take, think more broadly about what your interests are and what motivates you and makes you feel most confident. When you start to identify these things, seek out activities and opportunities to learn more and get experience doing these types of activities. This will help you confirm if you want to pursue any one of those areas further or potentially shift your focus elsewhere. Don't feel like you are wasting time, many of us don't have the opportunity to explore our interests but there is a lot of value in doing so as it will help you find a career that aligns with your personal interests, values, and beliefs.
Think about what are your life goals are. Does it require a degree vs. certificate vs no degree? By having a life goal, you can take steps towards that goal. Consider if having a college degree is necessary or complimentary, since life experiences can be equally as important. Will your degree yield a job that pays enough to support a balanced life while paying off your student loans. Keep in mind on this journey, your goals may change. You will find that you may not enjoy something like you thought but fall in love with something else. Be open minded that there is no right answer that you can change your mind.
Experiences (life or work) help to understand and put context to your eventual career and the people you work with. Regardless of your choice, the most important thing to keep in mind is ensuring whatever you choose to do, learn from the experience, gain a better understanding of the world around you, and find ways to incorporate those learnings into your career role!
Be open minded about your future - although you may have an idea of the career path you want to take, be open minded with the experiences that may come your way along the journey. You may not think a specific experience could change or impact your path but be open to new ideas or potential changes that could come as a result of different experiences. These may help solidify the path you've chosen or may help you adjust if you find an additional area of interest. On the other hand, if you are not sure of the career path you want to take, think more broadly about what your interests are and what motivates you and makes you feel most confident. When you start to identify these things, seek out activities and opportunities to learn more and get experience doing these types of activities. This will help you confirm if you want to pursue any one of those areas further or potentially shift your focus elsewhere. Don't feel like you are wasting time, many of us don't have the opportunity to explore our interests but there is a lot of value in doing so as it will help you find a career that aligns with your personal interests, values, and beliefs.
Think about what are your life goals are. Does it require a degree vs. certificate vs no degree? By having a life goal, you can take steps towards that goal. Consider if having a college degree is necessary or complimentary, since life experiences can be equally as important. Will your degree yield a job that pays enough to support a balanced life while paying off your student loans. Keep in mind on this journey, your goals may change. You will find that you may not enjoy something like you thought but fall in love with something else. Be open minded that there is no right answer that you can change your mind.
Rebecca Tang
Banking
1816
Answers
Hong Kong
Updated
Rebecca’s Answer
Thank you for your question. I am not sure your concern on entering is because of the duration, financial, etc.
In the college, you can learn the specialized knowledge on the major and minors subjects you have chosen. It also trains up your analytical and critical thinking skills. Other than the major and minors subjects classes, you will can also sit up the subjects that you have interest. It is a good learning opportunities.
Apart from learning, you can connect with the students in different faculties to establish your people network. It will be become a valuable asset in the future. You can also join different extra curricular activities and participate event organization. This is a very valuable experience.
Below are my suggestions :
1. Join the information hosts by the college
2. Explore the campus of the the college you have interest
3. Seek guidance from your mentor, parents, etc.
4. Explore the scholarship and financial aids offering
5. If you find 4 years degree course is too long, you can consider to start with associate degree first
My college days is one of the most precious moment in my life. Don't miss it!
Hope this helps! Good Luck!
In the college, you can learn the specialized knowledge on the major and minors subjects you have chosen. It also trains up your analytical and critical thinking skills. Other than the major and minors subjects classes, you will can also sit up the subjects that you have interest. It is a good learning opportunities.
Apart from learning, you can connect with the students in different faculties to establish your people network. It will be become a valuable asset in the future. You can also join different extra curricular activities and participate event organization. This is a very valuable experience.
Below are my suggestions :
1. Join the information hosts by the college
2. Explore the campus of the the college you have interest
3. Seek guidance from your mentor, parents, etc.
4. Explore the scholarship and financial aids offering
5. If you find 4 years degree course is too long, you can consider to start with associate degree first
My college days is one of the most precious moment in my life. Don't miss it!
Hope this helps! Good Luck!
Olayinka Durojaye
Environmental Engineer
30
Answers
Columbus, Indiana
Updated
Olayinka’s Answer
Hello Shari!
Thank you for your question.
From my own perspective, I would advise you to go to school(university) after your high school because of the following reasons;
1. You would gain more knowledge about what ever field you want to venture into.
2. You have the opportunity of doing internships with top forms in the world.
3. When you graduate from university you would get a higher rank and pay.
4. Also going to school can help you build your network.
Thank you.
Thank you for your question.
From my own perspective, I would advise you to go to school(university) after your high school because of the following reasons;
1. You would gain more knowledge about what ever field you want to venture into.
2. You have the opportunity of doing internships with top forms in the world.
3. When you graduate from university you would get a higher rank and pay.
4. Also going to school can help you build your network.
Thank you.
A. Michelle Hawkins
Make contributions and identify volunteer opportunities for employees
108
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
A. Michelle’s Answer
The answer depends on your career and life goals. Are you interested in pursuing a career that requires a college education? Even if it does, you could consider taking a gap year to explore interests, refine your career plan and/or take a needed break after 12+ years of schooling. If finances are a concern, begin exploring financial aid and scholarships as early as possible.
Daniel Borges Crema
Teacher
2
Answers
Sacramento, MG
Updated
Daniel’s Answer
Many parents and students often rush into the idea of heading to college straight after high school. However, this can sometimes turn out to be a less than ideal decision. From my personal experience, I've seen numerous young people dive into college, only to realize two years later that they're not truly passionate about the course they've chosen.
At 18, you might feel mature, but the reality is that you're still in the early stages of gaining life experience and knowledge necessary to choose your life's path. Working before college can offer you valuable skills that you might not acquire in an academic setting, such as supporting your boss and coworkers, mastering corporate etiquette, and picking up a host of small but important skills that come with the daily grind of a job.
Some might think this sounds far-fetched, but believe me, sometimes the simple act of cleaning a messy room can teach an 18-year-old more than an hour-long college lecture. So, before you firmly decide on your career path, consider gaining some work experience. While you're at it, take the time to learn more about the professions you think you might enjoy, because you may discover they're not what you expected.
To share a personal example, when I was 17, I thought I wanted to be a psychologist. However, after studying the basics on my own, I realized that if I had pursued a psychology course, I probably wouldn't have enjoyed it.
At 18, you might feel mature, but the reality is that you're still in the early stages of gaining life experience and knowledge necessary to choose your life's path. Working before college can offer you valuable skills that you might not acquire in an academic setting, such as supporting your boss and coworkers, mastering corporate etiquette, and picking up a host of small but important skills that come with the daily grind of a job.
Some might think this sounds far-fetched, but believe me, sometimes the simple act of cleaning a messy room can teach an 18-year-old more than an hour-long college lecture. So, before you firmly decide on your career path, consider gaining some work experience. While you're at it, take the time to learn more about the professions you think you might enjoy, because you may discover they're not what you expected.
To share a personal example, when I was 17, I thought I wanted to be a psychologist. However, after studying the basics on my own, I realized that if I had pursued a psychology course, I probably wouldn't have enjoyed it.
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