Go To College Or Die!

Modern American society says we must go to college. The schools push it. Relatives push it. Business pushes it. "If you don't go to college, you'll be at McDonalds for the rest of your life!" That would actually motivate me-- if I believed it.

I dropped out of college more than once, eventually flunking out. I had far too little motivation and I didn't fit into the mold. The fact that many universities throw as many people into introductory calculus classes as the fire code allows, with professors (or TAs) who don't seem to care and/or have less than ideal communication skills, didn't help.

Between a lot of self study and a couple of top notch profs I still learned enough to carve out good careers in the software industry and later in IT. Technically I attended college-- but I came away with no long term debt, no degree, and far less than 4 full years of my life invested. How did this happen?

1. The industry was right (software);
2. small businesses typically care far more about capability than degrees;
3. I had the chops;
4. divine provision;
5. college was much cheaper;
6. the few loans I had were short term (payable during the term);
7. support of friends and family.

Not necessarily in that order.

I recommend people go to college if and only if they have a real reason to go to college. If you do need to go, is it because you need a degree, or because you simply need specific courses?

If you're self-motivated and have a passion and gifts that don't require college (or a degree), it's optional. If you want to start your own business a course or two here or there may help but you will figure this out as you go. If you're good with your hands and content with a day job in construction, plumbing, landscaping, retail sales, restaurants, or lots of other things, there's no point in spending the time and money for college-- unless you just can't find any other social scene to fill a specific void.

Look at where your passions, gifts/talents and calling/purpose converge. If you can make the money you need/want somewhere near that intersection, go for that-- including college if you need it to get to specific jobs. Otherwise, find a way to support yourself in something that will maintain the lifestyle you want, that won't suck the life out of you, and spend the rest of your time near that intersection. If you need college for whatever the bill paying job is, go to college.

If you need college, a two year or small, four year college may work just fine. Community colleges are also great ways to get basic courses at far less cost, in far better environments (smaller classes, profs who care). Don't assume you need to go to a pricey university. Trust me, if you really need to go to one of those, you'll know.

You can learn a lot from a college or university. You can make lifelong friends. You can invest in your future, and get a great career out of it.

You can also waste several key years of your life and a lot of money (from $10,000 to $250,000) and/or end up in that much debt, with a job paying next to nothing.

Choose wisely.