13 Reasons Why College Is Not Necessary
What are the alternatives if you decide against attending college? Read below for the thirteen reasons why many people think college is not necessary.
In the US, 94% of politicians, business executives, and filthy rich people are college graduates. Then again, there are also exceptional people who lack degrees. Examples: Mark Zuckerberg, Michael Dell, Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, and so on. Because of this, you might be unsure if attending college is actually necessary for success.
Have you heard that college is a waste of time? and college isn’t for everyone? But why college is not necessary? Due to technology, the custom of attending college and pursuing higher education is no longer practiced and ineffective. You will come to regret it later in life if you choose to pursue a college education.
I am going to tell you some of the reasons why college is not necessary, and if you are a fresher, then this article is going to help you.
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Reasons Why College Is Not Necessary
Success can be achieved in general without attending college. Since not all jobs require a degree and not all college grads find employment, this is true. However, in some cases, advantages like more career opportunities and higher lifetime earnings may be hindered by a lack of a college degree.
By the time you get to the end of this section, you will learn some of the reasons why attending college isn’t necessary to be successful.
College Doesn’t Teach You How To Think
A lecturer who probably has no industry experience teaching hundreds of students who are all reading from the same book and receiving the same instruction. That is a typical situation in a college. A classroom full of students who are instructed to repeat back information to the professor
Despite the fact that there are some colleges that stand out from the norm, generally speaking, our educational system does not encourage critical thinking. Students are taught how to succeed in specialized, regulated environments in the classroom.
You will encounter people in college who have varying viewpoints and lifestyles, which will push your thinking in novel directions. However, being in such a setting is not necessarily a requirement for college attendance. In your neighborhood, you’re likely to meet people who can introduce you to fresh perspectives.
Waste Of Time
For a bachelor’s degree, you must devote at least three to four years of your life to learning the subjects. If you are an impatient person, then college is not for you because it needs a lot of focus, dedication, and, most importantly, “Time”. Time is money, and it costs money to waste time.
Life is too short to waste away. Right now, where the world is changing in a matter of seconds, pursuing a three- to four-year college degree may not be the best course of action. You don’t waste time in the realm of fantasy, then. If you use those years wisely, you’ll be one step closer to success.
Due to this, attending college is a waste of time.
Waste Of Money
The average annual cost of tuition for a bachelor’s degree or undergraduate program in the United States was estimated to be $32,410 for private universities and $9,410 for in-state students and out-of-state students, respectively. Can you imagine spending that much money without a guaranteed job? Will it be the best choice?
In contrast, a wise person should always have money in their possession and should never spend money before earning it. Create it yourself by coming up with an original idea. Spend the tuition money on your startup. You can launch an online business today from your home thanks to technology.
The Real World Situation Is Different
Sometimes it is too late to comprehend what the outside world is like, and that is not good for anyone. You might have to put in more effort than you could have imagined or thought possible in the real world. Once you enter the comfort zone of college, there might be a delay before you know the real ground.
There is so much reality out there that you won’t know until you step outside of your comfort zone. The real exam occurs outside of the college campus; colleges only take exams and receive results.
When you finally enter the real world, what happens? You come to understand that no matter how hard you work or try, life does not permit making perfect records. You can’t be perfect, and you’ll probably lose more games than you win.
You graduate from college and enter the working world after earning a bachelor’s degree. You and your parents anticipate that, with the right incentives and benefits, you’ll land a job with a stellar reputation and a high salary.
Because recruiters want practical knowledge, skills, and work experience, it might just be your made-up world. The situation is the same if you want to launch your own company because you cannot invest money without having first-hand experience, subject knowledge, and expertise.
Going To College Does Not Guarantee A Job
Many high school seniors believe that by spending four to six years in college to complete an undergraduate degree, they will have both a college degree and a job upon graduation. According to recent data, 5.4% of recent college graduates were unemployed.
A job in a field related to one’s degree is another thing that graduating from college cannot ensure. In fact, according to an online survey, 25.5% of college graduates say they had trouble finding employment in their field.
On the other hand, 38.6% of respondents claimed that they were not using their college degrees in their present employment. After college graduation, the average degree holder needs three to six months to find employment; for those who are less determined to find work or whose majors are not in high demand, this period may be longer.
Not All Careers Require A College Degree
For up to 36% of all open positions, only a high school diploma will do. To put it another way, a little over a third of the open positions can be filled by people without college degrees.
Although 41% of recent college graduates are underemployed, meaning they work in jobs that don’t require the titles they earned by spending years in college after high school, it doesn’t necessarily follow that degree holders won’t try to land those open positions.
Some Employers Prefer Skills To Degrees
Did you know that, on average, employers only give resumes a cursory glance for six to seven seconds?
Employers may spend more or less time reviewing resumes depending on the company, the position, and other factors.
Whatever the situation, the important thing is that the person reviewing your resume should be impressed right away. Additionally, all necessary skills should be included. College degrees and skill sets are equally important to the majority of employers. But even without a degree, having exceptional skills might help you get the job.
Furthermore, many employers concur that having a degree does not guarantee that a candidate will perform any better on the job than someone who did not attend college.
Student Loans & Opportunity Cost Outweigh Benefits
Every year, millions of young people around the world ask themselves, “For me to start a successful career, which college and degree are best?” Often the choice is guided by where the student will have the best campus life experience.
The issue isn’t whether most people find college to be a positive experience. If the opportunity cost outweighs the experience, then yes or no?
Some nations in Europe provide free education. However, what about the taxes that people pay? The money for your education has to come from somewhere. American studying in Europe is still paying the opportunity cost in the time it takes to complete a degree.
Instead, you might want to consider other opportunities like internships, trade, travel, and other things that could help you make money while you figure out what you are truly passionate about. Additionally, let’s talk about the elephant in the room – more than 50% of When American students graduate, owe $30,000 in debt.
Every year, the cost of a college education rises. In order to pay for a certificate, you must essentially mortgage your life. These college degrees frequently have returns on investment that are much lower than the amount of debt incurred.
Information & Education Is Relatively Inexpensive
College is not necessary; education is. Matt Damon’s character, Will Hunting (from the movie Good Will Hunting) was spot on with this quote, “You spent $150,000 on an education you could have obtained for $50 in late fees at the local library.”
The actual information is affordable and widely available. Why not try borrowing one of the books recommended for men?
Your local library is a wealth of knowledge, and online resources provide free access to university courses. Perhaps going to college is the best option for you if that’s the only way you can learn. If not, think about alternatives to education. I frequently use Audible as one of my informational resources.
You can listen to your book wherever you go while driving to work each day, and while doing your chores while listening to well-narrated stories to increase your productivity. On my phone, I have the app and have downloaded more than 200 of their audiobooks.
Don’t Know What To Do
The biggest reality is that, despite having a college degree, most people, even those in their thirties and forties, still find it difficult to comprehend what they truly want to do with their life.
Never attend college after high school if you are unsure of your future career path. Try to keep up with any family businesses you may have rather than wasting your time in college. Gary Vaynerchuk, a Belarusian-American entrepreneur, and author said that “college is fake”. Your professional career has absolutely nothing to do with college.
College Is Not A Priority
Getting into the best colleges is a goal for many students. However, new data from the National Student Clearinghouse shows that attending college is no longer a top priority for students.
According to the National Student Clearinghouse, fewer students are getting into colleges. In the fall of 2019, there will be a 1.3 percent decrease in college admissions. Since college admissions have been declining for eight years, colleges are also in an alarming situation. Knowing these trends in your community may influence your decision whether or not to attend college.
College Education Is Outdated
The majority of universities teach nothing that is pertinent to the situation right now. They don’t supply hands-on instruction or assist in developing the necessary skills. Therefore, having a college degree is completely useless in that situation. Therefore, going to college is a waste of time and money.
In reality, finding qualified, skilled, and talented candidates who are recent college graduates becomes difficult once HR managers begin the hiring process. These entire freshmen lack skills and have knowledge that cannot be utilized in the marketplace.
In that situation, businesses must offer them training, which is expensive and unworkable for most startups.
Industry Requirements Will Change
One of the main deterrents to attending college is the likelihood that your degree will be outdated before you graduate. It indicates that by the time you graduate, the knowledge you acquired will be outdated. I’m saying that these circumstances only seem to exist in the distant future.
Companies can explore new possibilities thanks to automation and artificial intelligence, but graduates from colleges and universities face challenges because they have been slower to acknowledge these developments at their level.
We all reside in a media-rich environment. A lot of content is now accessible online, such as., ready for free to watch, read, and listen to. The difficulties and alternatives to degrees from colleges are specific skills and certifications. For this reason, you shouldn’t enroll in college merely to earn a degree.
Education Comes in Many Forms
In a survey, up to 94% of participating parents stated that they anticipate their kids going to college right after high school.
If you are certain that college is not for you but don’t want to disappoint your parents either, don’t worry. It’s a fact that there are numerous alternatives to spending the next four to six years of your life on a traditional campus if you want to gain the knowledge and skills you’ll need for a successful future.
The following are some of the most wonderful alternatives to college:
- Vocational school. Vocational schools, also known as career schools or trade schools, are establishments where students can learn the skills required for particular careers.
- Technical school. Many people think community colleges and technical schools are interchangeable. A technical school, however, focuses more on courses that are specific to a given industry, like business, engineering, and construction.
- Certifications for professionals online. There are paid and free professional certificates available online. You can qualify for entry-level positions with the majority of them.
- Boot camps. For job seekers who want to become computer programmers quickly in the digital age, coding boot camps are popular; there are also boot camps available for a variety of fields.
- Job training program. For some jobs, candidates must complete a brief training course that can be finished in a matter of weeks or months before they can begin working.
- Work experience or an apprenticeship. Some careers that are open to those with a high school diploma, like electrical work or construction, call for hands-on training.
- Military. To acquire practical skills and travel, joining the military is a great idea. You have the chance to be honorable and serve your country in addition to expanding your skill set and life experience.
- Volunteer. You can develop a variety of skills through volunteering, just like in the military. Additionally, it enables you to identify your passions.
There is something you should know before you enter the community colleges:
- Is Community College Easier Than University?
- Can You Take Classes at a Community College While Enrolled in University?
- What is the Future of Community Colleges?
- Can You Get Rejected from a Community College?
Conclusion: Just before You Try to Pursue Success
There are many factors that come into play when answering the question, “Do you have to go to college to be successful?” Yes, getting a college education can help you succeed. But that doesn’t mean you’ll fail if you don’t go to college; you can be a complete failure without a college degree!
You build opportunities for yourself in life to hone your abilities, discover and explore new fields of study, and cultivate experiences. Which route you take to get those is entirely up to you.