Q: Danielle wrote: Why should I go to college? I work at Geico and make mad money and college is so expensive…..nobody in my family went to college and they are doing just fine.
A: thanks for that question, Danielle. it certainly is a common one for students in your situation, as well as a tough one for people in my line of work to answer. on one hand, going to college directly after high school isn’t for everybody. some students aren’t ready, either maturity-wise or financially, to take that next big step. other students are just burned out from being in school for twelve years and need a break. still others don’t feel the need to go unless they have to for work reasons. students i have worked with who are in your position (i.e., already gainfully employed) don’t want to spend the money for college unless they see that it will help them advance in their present careers… or when they get tired of their present careers and want to make a change. it makes sense to not want to go into college debt when you don’t have to. being in debt sucks. trust me.
on the other hand, getting a college education is important for a number of reasons. first off, people with associates and bachelors degrees make, on average, far more money than those with a high school diploma. with a degree, you also have the ability to demand more money since you are, technically, more qualified than those who without one. also, with the current job market being as it is, a degree from anywhere in anything will qualify you for the types of entry-level positions that, years ago, one would have been able to with a diploma. along with this is the fact that, in many fields, a BA isn’t enough anymore. the workforce now is so over-educated that some entry level positions (in fields such as teaching, for example) require a masters-level education to even get in the door.
the decision to go or not to go is a personal one, but talking with your family members about why they didn’t go on to any post-secondary education may help you with your decision. were they in your work situation and just not feel the need for more schooling, or did they just not have the opportunity to go? also, recognize that there are more post-secondary education options than just a 4-year college. trade schools and certificate programs are all ways to get a great education without going to a traditional college. such programs will provide you with more education that will help you in advancing in your current job, and give you the skills necessary to change jobs later on. understanding what you like about working at Geico will also aid you in your decision about your future.
in short, don’t completely write college out of your future plans. even if it isn’t necessary now, you may find that later on it will be helpful to have some sort of after-high school education. traditional college definitely isn’t for everyone, but an education will always be helpful.
