College Is Not For Everybody by Mark

College Is Not For Everybody by Mark - April 2016 Scholarship Essay

Do you have a career goal? Are you pursuing something you always wanted? As a non-traditional college student, I have had to figure out the answers to these questions the hard way. Just like most high school seniors that graduate, I entered into college without a clear career goal or knowing exactly what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. I took Post Secondary Enrollment Option in high school and attended Lake Superior College full time. Instead of staying at that college and finish an associate degree, I attended the University of Minnesota because it what a “big and important” school. I dropped out right away and had massive school debt. My first advice for high school seniors: you don’t always have to go to the biggest or most popular school for your degree. I know from experience: most employers don’t care what school you go to. It is all about what you know and how you can apply your knowledge to the posted job description.

My second piece of advice: you don’t have to go to college right out of high school. Most people that age do not know what to do with their career. It is ok to take a year off to explore your options, and try out different jobs to see what you like. College is marketed as a place to go right out of high school, but that is not the case in the working world. You must have a career goal first, then see what kind of knowledge and education required to get there. Going to college “just because” is the quickest way to rake up tens of thousands of dollars of debt only to drop out, or worse yet, get a degree that you don’t like or can’t use to get the job you want.

Getting accepted at Harvard, Yale, or another expensive ivy league school may seem like the “cat’s meow,” but if you cannot afford it, then in the long term you will be worse off. A business degree is a business degree, no matter where you get it. You receive the same information. The only difference is how much money you are going to pay for that information. A local university that offers low cost tuition will still get you that job that you want, but without massive debt attached to it. I know from experience: the only time where you get your degree matters is at a VERY competitive position, where every candidate has the same education and experience. So for the average entry level worker, any accredited college will get you in the door.

College is a great place to learn, but its usefulness is limited by what you define as your career goals. Without a specific objective or knowing what you want out of college, you might find yourself lost or worse, dropping out.