4 Questions To Ask When Deciding Whether To Go to College

Young people in America face a lot of pressure to succeed in life. Some are cajoled to go to college from an early age. Parents can be so insistent on higher education that some kids do not even realize that not going to college is an available option.

While a college education can be extremely valuable, it is not the right path for everyone. You may be unsure whether higher education is consistent with your goals. Carefully considering your options can only benefit you. Here are some questions to ask yourself to help you decide whether going to college is worth your while.

1. Would You Benefit From Taking Some Time Away From School?

It used to be traditional that a recent high school graduate took a year off to travel before returning to continue their studies. Unfortunately, because of college admission policies and financial aid requirements, the gap year, as it is called, is no longer as common and is considered more of a luxury than the next step in a logical progression.

The question "why take a gap year?" has a lot of reasonable answers. Traveling during a gap year allows you to gain real-life experience that you cannot learn in a classroom. You can learn valuable life skills related to adapting to challenges and communicating effectively with others. These skills can help you in college, if you ultimately decide to go, and in your professional life beyond.

2. Does the Earning Potential Counteract the Debt Incurred?

There is no denying that college is expensive and that student loan debt is a burden that weighs heavily on people nationwide. It is not only the tuition that you have to take into consideration but books and educational materials, housing, and living expenses. All that can incur a price tag of thousands of dollars per year for a bachelor's degree. Bear in mind that, although they are also referred to as "four-year degrees," many students ultimately need at least five years to complete the required credits and graduate.

Nevertheless, more and more jobs require a bachelor's degree as a minimum requirement. a college education can increase your yearly earning potential by $15,000 per year and decrease your risk for unemployment. You should carefully consider the risk of incurring student loan debt versus the reward of a higher salary and better employability before deciding whether or not to go to college.

3. How Well Do You Function in a Classroom Environment?

Different people have different learning styles and, unfortunately, most traditional classrooms only cater to a few of these. While college is different from high school in many ways, classes do tend to consist of lectures, which may not suit your individual style. Your ability to function in a high school classroom setting can be predictive of your chances of success in college. If you didn't do so well in a high school classroom, or you didn't enjoy the instruction, college may not be the right choice for you.

If that's the case, you may benefit from taking an alternative path. Maybe you would do better in trade school, which would teach you the skills you need for high-demand jobs in a more hands-on environment. Not only might this better suit your individual learning style, but it typically also costs a lot less money.

4. What Are Your Long-Term Goals?

People have probably been asking you all your life what you want to be when you grow up. If you don't know the answer yet, that's okay. Many college students spend several years taking classes before declaring a major. The indecision can sometimes be a good thing because it allows you to explore multiple fields of study and find something that really clicks for you.

However, if you already have long-term goals in mind, you should consider how college can help you achieve them or if an alternative path could take you where you want to go. For example, if you want to work in health care, you would require more education to become a doctor than to pursue a career in nursing, physical therapy, administration, etc.

Ultimately, the decision whether to go to college should be yours. You should go because you choose to, not because someone else wants it for you.