College these days seems more like an expectation and necessity rather than a choice. High school students are encouraged by almost every adult and professional to go college, “unless they want to end up working at McDonalds for the rest of their lives.”

Source: Eric Andre

However, is all this money spent going to school for another 4+ years even worth it? I would say that it is worth it for the students who can afford it, but what about the students who can not? We all know that tuition prices these days are through the roof, leaving many of us with thousands of dollars in debt before we even have a full time job.

Source: memecrunch.com

I often wonder how much money I could be making right now (not to mention saving) if I didn’t go to college. But, unfortunately, we live in a society where higher education is a necessity for a successful future. Unless you win the lottery, are a genius inventor like Steve Jobs, or already have a decent paying job that doesn’t require a higher education, you should probably get some form of a higher degree so that you can live a comfortable life.

Before you fully commit to taking the college path, ask yourself this question:

 “What is it that I am interested in?”

Our high schools often only advertise and encourage four-year universities. I am not saying that four-year universities are bad (considering I currently attend one), but you should know that they are not the only options. Community colleges and trade schools are a few alternatives to earning a higher degree that often lead directly to jobs. So, if you are one of the lucky ones who already knows what you want to do for a career, then a trade school might be the best option for you. This will not only save you time, it will save you money as it is usually a more affordable option. If college would be too much of a burden on you financially, consider going to a community college for two years and then transferring to a four-year university. This will save you half the amount of money you would have spent, while still getting virtually the same general education of the students at the four-year university. There are so many options out there that can make your higher education more affordable.

Source: Giphy

It is so common that we shame people who choose not to go to college or who go to a community college or trade school instead. We label these people as “stupid” or “lazy” because we assume that they weren’t smart enough to attend a “name-brand” university. I’ll admit it. I have been guilty of this before.

I recently read something about a study on Americans who were eighth graders in 1988 that tracked their educational experience through their exam scores and the socioeconomic status of their parents. The results of this study were eye-opening for me.

“Students who scored in the bottom fourth of the exam, but came from families whose status put them in the top fourth [of the socioeconomic status]… were more likely to finish college than students who scored in the top fourth but whose parents were from the bottom fourth.”- Paul Krugman

We are so quick to assume that the people who don’t go to college are the ones who just aren’t smart enough. But, we forget that sometimes they just don’t have the right opportunities or funds they need to be able to attend. Instead of shaming people who go to community colleges and trade schools, we should encourage them so that they can have their opportunity to a higher education just like we do. Even though we all may live in different circumstances, we should all have the same opportunity and choice to receive a higher education.

So, are we wasting our time and money going to college? I think that this is an answer that is subjective to your situation. If you are someone who is planning on being an electrician and going to a four-year university, then yes, I think you are wasting your time. But, if you are someone who is still trying to figure out what you want to do for a career and are fortunate enough to afford the cost of tuition, then I think that a four-year university is a great opportunity.

Whatever path to higher education you may choose, don’t forget that there are many paths out there that work better for some and not for others. Take some time to really think about the best option for you, I promise it will be worth it!

For more help and information on choosing the best path for you, read this article that discusses the pros and cons of universities, community colleges, and trade schools! http://www.valuecolleges.com/university-community-college-trade-school/

Source: quickmeme.com