$38,000 is a lot of money! That’s how much the average student loan debt is. That number is even more challenging when you don’t know what you’re buying for all that money. Here are three things I wish I knew before going to college and taking on student loan debt.
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You can get a job without a 4-year degree.
You don’t need a for your degree to get a job. However, every degree and credential you have improves your chances of getting a good job and will likely increase your pay in the long run.
Many companies hire people with complex skills that college helps develop. You can develop those skills outside of college, but you have to be in a suitable environment. So if you desired to grow personally, you could do things like Toastmasters, Rotary, or the Carnegie program in your local area.
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Your major isn’t a big deal.
Unless you are trying to have a specific type of professional vocation, then your major isn’t a big deal. Many professionals, including doctors, lawyers, or engineers, require certain amounts of specific knowledge before going to medical school, law school, or other master’s programs.
For most other careers, the type of degree that you earn doesn’t matter that much. So if you are like me and don’t know what you want to do when you leave high school, you can get a degree from a community college or a general studies major from a 4-year institution.
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Finishing your degree is more important than starting.
There is so much pressure to go to college. But what people don’t tell you is how much it can mess you up if you don’t graduate.
You can collect a lot of debt, suffer from self-esteem issues, and hinder your future when you are more confident in pursuing education. So it’s best to wait sometimes until you have a chance to think things through. They call this a gap year or semester.
That may mean getting certified at a technical school instead of a 4-year degree. There is nothing wrong with that. Our society tries to shame people for not going to college.
Always keep in mind there’s a difference between going to college and getting an education. Formal education is significant, but you can always research and study what you love and become a lifelong learner. You can check out this article on why getting a formal education is essential.
Sometimes we need help making those decisions. We recommend that you read our book to help guide your decision-making hopefully. The most important thing is you take action! Take your step with LadderingYourSuccess!
