After taking 7 years (almost 8) to finish my undergrad, I feel that I am barely qualified to offer advice regarding higher education. This is why I’ve created a step by step guide (or roadmap) for figuring out if college is worth it for you. Notice that I said “worth it” for you instead of “right for you”. This is because I do believe college is a very different experience for everyone. Some students come in as a shy freshman and leave as an outspoken college graduate. This transformation is invaluable, but it doesn’t happen this way for everyone. A lot of people graduate 20 lbs heavier and 50k in debt.
So is college worth it?
This question seems obvious at first. Do you want to go to college to become educated? Or do you want to attend college to “secure” a job?
Truthfully, both are very justifiable reasons to seek higher education. There is no doubt that thousands of colleges across the country offer quality educational experiences. It is also well known that there is a strong positive correlation between years of education and income level. It must be noted that there is also a positive correlation between years in the workforce and income level. Most people make more their 30’s than they did in their 20’s. Your parent’s income level can also predict your income level. So, statistically more school may mean more money, but who your parents are and how long you’ve been in the game will also determine your salary.
Going to college for the sake of getting an education is also a very valid reason for attending. College creates an atmosphere for learning that simply cannot be replicated. Not yet at least (I’m referring to Khan Academy). The college will also get you in touch with a lot of smart professors that can help foster your educational experience. This also cannot be replicated. However, it should be very obvious that college is not the only way to become educated. At no time in history has information been so readily available. We carry around a device in our pockets that make even the dumbest people much smarter than our ancestors. With a few swipes and clicks, we can access Sir Issac Newtons famous Mathematical Principals of Natural Philosophy. It took Newton 18 months just to write this book, nevermind all of the intense investigations and collaborations that gave him the knowledge to write it. Unfortunately, most people use their phones to send funny snap chats and navigate their vehicles. My point is that education and information are not hard to come by. Before the internet, books and other people were the only way to become educated. That’s no longer the case.
I think I’ve made a compelling argument for not NEEDING college to make money or become educated. This doesn’t mean a degree won’t help you get ahead in life. As a matter of fact, a lot of jobs require it. For some professions, college can serve as a barrier for entry. You cannot practice medicine without going through the necessary steps that society has put in place, and for good reason. There must be a standard for certain professions, and formal education is that standard. For now at least.
Should you go to college because your mom wants you to?
Of course not! You didn’t listen to her when she wanted you to clean your room, so why the hell would you listen to her when she wants you to pay 50 thousand dollars to drink beer and force yourself out of bed for your 8 am class? It’s a trap.
BUT, there might be some validity here.
As “anti-establishment” as I am, I DO believe your opinions and beliefs DO NOT matter when compared to the consensus of the masses. The popular opinion of a society ultimately dictates what is truly “important”. I used to try to convince myself that money is just worthless cotton paper. I also used to convince myself that a college degree is just a useless piece of paper. Honestly, that is still how I feel.
I am not proud of my degree.
I really didn’t learn very much, but my mom is proud of my degree and that’s important. Not because she is my mom, but because her opinion matches the opinion of the majority. Let me explain.
Imagine two countries. Country A and Country B.
Country A uses a barter and trade system to pay for goods and services. To them, something is only valuable if it has physical utility.
Country B uses small round worthless rocks as a form of currency. Example: A pound of beef costs 3 small round rocks. A goat cost 20 rocks. In this country, people kill each other for these stupid rocks.
Country A thinks that Country B is crazy for adding value to such a worthless object until one wise resident of Country A (the country that uses a barter system) discovers a pile of small round rocks in her backyard. She doesn’t find them valuable, but she knows the farmer in Country B will give her a pound of beef for 3 rocks. Her family is hungry and she has a yard full of these “stupid” rocks. Suddenly these rocks are not so worthless to her anymore. HER opinion of the rocks doesn’t matter. Enough people in Country B believe they are valuable, therefore, they are valuable. I became familiar with this concept while reading “Sapiens” By Yuval Noah Harari.
How this relates to college.
When it comes down to it, college is imaginary. You graduate with a few extra neural pathways and slightly more adipose tissue around your vital organs but, enough people believe you have obtained something tangible. College degrees are like the rocks in the previous story, and if you don’t believe in the value of a degree, you are Country A. Country B is the rest of the world. Most people believe college is valuable. So it is. It doesn’t matter how you or I feel about it.
So, should you go to college?
Unless you plan to change the imagination of the masses, a college degree might be a good idea.
