Does it make sense to go to college or university after graduation?

[jessica_16]

I often read opinions that higher education is not necessary. Actually, I would not like to study, but I really want to try student life

[Anonymous]

I'd recommend not going. I graduated high school with good grades, put time into my resume, and applied for a job that fitted me and my skill set. Don't try and get the job you want, get any job at the business or career you want. I started off in dispatch, working alone for a whole year and I'm not gonna lie, it fkn sucked but I put everything into it. I never took leave, never came late, always had a smile, always worked overtime to make sure the days workload was done before I left, and eventually, it paid off. I was working 60 hours a week even though I was only being paid for 32 hours and after 6 months I got a substantial pay rise. I worked another 6 months in dispatch then got offered to train up to become a technician. I took it up and absolutely loved my new role. I gave it everything and a year later I was promoted to technician team leader. Half a year later I took on part-time field tech work (damage diagnostics and repairs to customers' products). This enabled me to learn the communication and human interaction skills needed to become a sales rep/product consultant which I've now been for just over a year. I'm working my dream job, getting paid more than double what I ever expected I'd be on at this stage in life and meanwhile, all of my high school classmates who went to uni are only just starting their working career. Most of them have taken on minimum-wage jobs that don't reflect their qualifications, and while they were in uni driving themselves into massive debt, I was able to save over 200k.

Don't go to college or uni. Just come into the world knowing that it owes you nothing and that it's going to suck before you get where you want, and you'll end up much better off.

[Anonymous]

It depends on what you want to do w your life. A lot of successful people have never gone to college. Growing up we were raised to believe that you need to finish high school then go to college so you can find a good job, work your way up the ladder then retire w a good pension. Some people still do that. But if you don’t want to work the rest of your life from 8-5 or whatever time then I suggest you find an alternative. No one really wants to work till they’re near death. Don’t get me wrong you may need some college if you’re trying to build your own business or something. But most times colleges produce employees to run this country. Which yes we do need these types of people, but if that’s not you then you need to figure something else out. I don’t think you want to be skydiving when you’re 70 once you finally retire to enjoy your “golden” years as they say. If I had to give one piece of advice, read a lot about finance. Make your money work for your rather than you working for it.

[EmyyWolf]

Nah, I think everyone deserves at least a year away from school / work or studies. Specially after graduating highschool.

all of life i isn’t about work, work, work, work, school, school, school, school.

Yes you should seek something stable and productive a good career no one can take away from you. Something that will help you advance in life. Sure. But there should be time for fun & friends as well.

Or you’ll be stressed and unhealthy. As a workaholic, trust me 😬

I hope you have good parents that’ll allow you to rest easy after high school , for at least a whole year.
After that year, work/school !

[Dinklex3]

Depends on what you want to do. If you have a specific goal, sure. If you don’t, please go to community college first and get your general ed classes complete. You might find out what you want to do with that year or two. I actually recommend community college even if you know what you want to do so you can get your prerequisites out the way.

Please don’t bother wasting your money on a bachelors in liberal arts though. If you don’t want to jump straight into community college it’s okay to take a break and just work or something.

[BCRanger10]

It depends on what you want to do with your life. Personally, in most cases, I say don't do it. It's expensive, it's stressful, and there's a distinct possibility that it may not do for you what you want or think. In fact, I think that in some ways, my degree actually held me back.

I'll at least say this. Do not...DO... NOT go to "try student life". I don't want my tax dollars subsidizing a four-year sex, beer, and drug party that the government will also eventually try to force me to pay off interest on.

[rachel776]

it depends on what you want it for. some employers require "a degree," any degree, and some careers are not possible to do without a degree, such as law or medicine or engineering.

some degrees depend on where you get them. a culinary degree at the CIA will open every door for you, but one from San Pedro Community College would be a waste. a fashion degree from FIDM is very valuable, but one from Kentucky would be useless.

but to get $200,000 into debt getting a gender studies degree is foolish

[RebelinSteel]

A lot depends (personally) on what subjects you want to take, what your final exam marks are likely to be. Not everyone is cut out for University. Here in the UK the option tends to be non degree courses college (local technical college and live at home), for degree courses you need to have passed your higher exams in certain subjects to be accepted by a university.
Some are happy yo go to college and get an HNC or a similar vocational qualification, others do apprenticeships.

For example, getting an apprenticeship in Cybersecurity with a company, will get you working, gaining experience, getting an HNC, 3 years ahead of someone doing a degree in the same subject, you can then do the degree later. an HNC is pretty much year 1 and sometimes 2 of the degree course.

a lot will depend on the country you are from.

[Anonymous]

It’s not necessary if you have a good job lined up. Not necessary if you want to work a low wage job for your life. Not necessary if you come from generational wealth.. I agree.
I think people fail because they go to school for things that won’t make them money hence “student life”. Going to school for some weird major like socio-economic tree hugging might sound fun, but you won’t find a job after all that partying you did in university. I think trade school is a better bet. Too many people go to college for the experience rather than the actual career and wonder why they can’t find work afterwards. It’s totally fine to go for the experience but also should have a real reason to be going as well. You don’t see any law school graduates talking about how they can’t find a job do you? No, you don’t because they actually go to law school to pursue a career in LAW, not to be drunk at someone’s frat party every weekend with a major in Photography.

[bolverk]

It would be better to seriously look at what you want to do as a career, if it doesn't require a degree. If you are thinking of a Trade, engineer (there are more branches of this one trade than you can count), carpenter, electrician, plumber, you should seriously consider a trade school to get the basics, then find yourself a tradesman to get yourself apprenticed too. You can be earning while your learning. with not student loan debt, and here's the kicker, be out-earning those who went the College/University route, and if down the line you need a degree to advance you career you easily get the ones you need through distant learning.

[Simslover92]

Unless you're going into one of the STEM fields, I wouldn't do it. Go into the military instead or go to a trade school and get a trade school job like dental hygienist or registered nurse or human resources specialist. They pay a lot of money.

Don't go to college to party and waste a lot of money and get into a lot of debt unless you're on scholarship but even then go into a STEM field if you are going to go off to college. Otherwise just get a job or military or trade school.

[normalice]

The point of college has become to be a place where middle class kids can spend their parents money (or accumulate loans) while they figure out what they want to do with their lives. And they want your money so they generally ease you into the studying.

[Dela_99]

I want to do college after my bachelors just to get real experience… cause universities are only theoretical but in a college i can get real life experience

[normalice]

A bachelor's degree is a four year college degree, generally. An associates is a two year community College degree. If you are wanting to do grad school (masters or PhD) after you get your bachelor's, that's where you get some modicum of real experience, but you don't normally want to make that sort of decision until you are about a year or two away from completing your bachelors.

[JacobJordan]

About 90% of college degrees are useless and a waste of money. Even the ones that are worthwhile are a waste of money. I say that as someone with a doctorate and a bachelors in a stem field. If you want to go to college pick something that is actually useful or save yourself the headache

[Anonymous]

It's not but if it's all you know, I'd go. Unless you have someone in your life who can show u another way. Go and then once done try to find out what u actually wanna do with ur life and look for mentors. But raise ur floor first so u dont have to do labor jobs. Unless u got someone in your family who can show u another way, go

[Anonymous]

if your good at test taking and can write good essays then go for it but make sure you can afford to go and can pay the tuition. I would not take out a huge loan and it would maybe be a better idea to go to community college first. On the other hand, if your bad at test taking and have trouble writing essays then you may be better off just finding a job or learning a trade.

[Anonymous]

I was pushed into attending university straight out of high school. I think you should figure out what you want to do before you start applying for loans. Some career paths don’t require a degree, but some do especially if you want to move up. I’d recommend looking into internships or job shadowing in the fields that interest you and go from there.

[RingOfFire]

This movement to dumb down Western culture and economy is a product of Chinese and Russian communist propaganda. Of course it makes sense to get as much education as you can. Doing so will give you far more options for your future and at the same time help build the strength of your country.

[bobby_bush_eater]

Look into alternatives. Online state college or community college can be a good way to chip away at some school and test the waters so to speak in a more affordable way. You have to ask yourself what do you want from life. It's not easy to answer, I didn't know what I wanted but I thought I did and I joined the military and attended college online simultaneously. It worked out for me but it's usually not so simple

[Alex-Snow]

Jessica I am a college freshman and I love campus life> The classes are challenging and I'm learning so much about life in general and it is good to be out on my own making my own decisions about life, Besides the girls are hot and the dating is fun but I can't tell u those details here in the general forum!

[thatshydork]

Go to community college first, then switch over to a college or university. It’s essentially the same education, just much cheaper. My tuition at community college was less than half of my brothers and he went to a university.

[dustybiker2]

You'll have trouble getting hired either way. A good well rounded stable personality is often looked on more favorably than a degree. They can pay you less.

[Nikki1989]

It is not essential. All I did was a night course in business management, and I have had high-paying jobs ever since.

[CriticalCatDad123]

You don’t have to go to college/university in order to be successful. Men aren't even attending college/university and those who are are told by DEI offices at these universities that they’re toxic, have behavioral issues and are born mysoginists.

[exitseven]

Spending a pile of money just to go to a few campus parties is ridiculous. If you are going to college to pursue a particular career it will be worth it. If you go and major in Gender Studies you will end up working at Starbucks

[DrPepper12]

Yes. If you are living in France even more so. Fuck studying. Uni is what you learn about YOURSELF not what you learn in the classroom. Those 4 years will pay off immeasurably for the rest of your life.
Humbly submitted,
HS teacher