What are the Best Reasons for Going to College?
Did you know around 17.9 million students in the U.S. were enrolled in degree-granting post-secondary institutions last fall?
You may wonder why people dedicate years — not to mention hundreds of thousands of dollars — to go to college in the first place. That’s a massive investment of time and financial resources.
Is it worth it? You might be interested in finding out why it makes sense to go to college.
Continue reading to learn some reasons why going to college is worthwhile.
Find a Career You Love
Do you want to find a job, turn it into a career, and take advantage of financially fruitful and intellectually stimulating opportunities? Going to college and earning a degree can help you do all of the above.
It’s not that you can’t find fulfillment without a college degree. But the world will be your proverbial oyster if you get a good education versus only having a high school diploma.
If you’ve ever seriously searched for a job, you know that employers are looking for skilled people with the right mix of education and experience. You’ll find it easier to find gainful employment if you go to college and earn a degree.
A college degree might be a prerequisite depending on the line of work you’re interested in. Entering some professions or vocations requires attending a post-secondary school and completing relevant degree programs.
Some employers may accept hands-on experience in place of a degree. But having a degree and hands-on experience is still preferable. You can put yourself at the top of the list by showing you have the proper education.
Can you imagine working for decades at a job you don’t like? That’s unlikely to happen if you go to college.
Earn More Over Your Career
There’s no denying that your earning potential will likely be higher if you earn a college degree rather than just earn a high school diploma.
Typical earnings for people who obtain undergraduate degrees are $36,000 or 84% higher than people who only have high school diplomas. That means concluding your education after high school will cost you big time.
Looked at over a long-term period, college graduates can make an average of $1.2 million more than high school graduates over their lifetimes.
What could you do with that kind of mind? It can make for a higher quality of life and a more comfortable retirement. Your family can benefit, too.
So, if you’d like to maximize your earning potential during your career, consider attending college and earning a degree. It’ll be one of the best investments you can ever make in yourself and your future.
Of course, some degrees are more marketable than others, so choose the right one. If you’re going to invest time and money into earning a degree, research to ensure that your job and career prospects are favorable.
The average cost to earn a four-year degree exceeds six figures, but the potential earnings over your career can make that investment worthwhile.
Explore the World
Do you want to see the world or immerse yourself in different cultures? Maybe you live in a small town and have never traveled beyond your hometown or state. Colleges these days will expose you to people from all walks of life.
You’ll get to rub shoulders with people who you may never have met were it not for post-secondary school.
While going to college, you might have the opportunity to study abroad. Being able to study for a semester or more in a foreign country while earning your degree might be a dream come true and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
You’ll grow in ways you never thought possible and will return a better version of yourself.
Experiencing how other cultures live in an up-close-and-personal way will be life-changing. You’ll meet new people, experience new things, and learn about new perspectives and ways of doing things.
If you’d love nothing more than to study abroad, choose a college offering such degree programs. It can make going to school all the more rewarding and enriching. You’ll go for the education but leave with a whole lot more.
Grow and Find Your Own Identity
Going to college is another way you can grow and figure out your own identity.
Living on campus marks the first time many students exit their families’ homes for an extended period. You won’t have Mom and Dad at your side day in and day out to make all the big and small decisions for you.
Greater independence will allow you to grow into the person you’re meant to be. You’ll make your own decisions, meet new people, experience new situations and challenges, and develop your problem-solving skills.
You won’t only earn a degree by going to college — you’ll also transition from being a starry-eyed child to a sober-eyed young adult. It can be a big part of growing up and learning how to become a contributing member of society.
Also, it’s not uncommon for people who attend college to marry people from their alma matters eventually. That’s not the primary reason to enroll in college, but it’s essential to consider that you might find your significant other.
You’ll reap many college benefits by enrolling in a college and staying in school. Conduct research so that you can make informed decisions about your future.
Take Advantage of Internship Opportunities
Another reason it makes sense to go to college is that you can take advantage of opportunities to pursue internships in the fields that interest you.
If you’re studying journalism, you can sign up for an internship at a newspaper or magazine. Are you studying computer science? You can pursue an internship at a tech firm.
Internships are about gaining hands-on experience that you won’t get sitting in a classroom. During your college career, sign up for as many internships as you can. Some of them pay, which is a bonus.
But the real value of an internship is the ability to experience what it’s like to work at a company operating in the industry of your choice.
You’ll be assigned responsibilities, get to network with people who work at the company, obtain a feel for whether that sort of career is for you, and gain the sort of experience that will look great on your resume.
If you perform well during your internship, who knows? You might become a preferred candidate if a position ever opens up after you graduate from college.
You Can Do It From Home
There was a time when enrolling in college meant traveling to campus multiple days weekly to sit in lecture halls with dozens of other students. But while you can still go for in-class lectures, that’s not the only option.
Do you want to earn a degree but don’t have the time to attend classes on campus? Many colleges these days give the option of remote learning. So, if you’re interested in furthering your education, give e-learning a try.
If you have responsibilities you can’t put on the back burner; distance learning might be the solution. You’ll be able to pursue an education but won’t have to put neglect people and things you can’t afford to neglect.
Distance learning can also be a great idea if you want a better work-life balance. Adding a degree program to your to-do list can be hard if you want a good balance. Check out some tips for work-life balance.
Are you employed but want to further your education? Your employer might be open to covering some, or perhaps all, of your degree program. But you’ll likely have to commit to remaining with the company for the long haul.
You’ll Set a Good Example
Enrolling in a college program and earning a degree can also be a good example. Whether you have siblings, children, nieces, or nephews, you can underscore the value of getting a good education.
It’s the sort of example worth emulating. Do, don’t just tell those you love that a good education is worth pursuing. Show them by doing it yourself.
Going to College Makes Sense
If you’ve ever wondered by people, invest so much time and money into earning degrees, now you know. It’s worth the commitment. But don’t do it just for the sake of doing it. Research, plan, and then go for it!
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