Should people go to college? 5 ideas for, 5 ideas against
This assumes that you can go to college without accumulating significant debt. There are lots of ways that this can be achieved (maybe good for another list!). Disclosure: I have a bachelor's degree and most people in my extended family have advanced degrees with some college professors thrown in there. As a computer developer I have the same job title as, and work alongside, people with a GED and people with a PHD. The guy with the Phd had a longer runway to get started but he is more ambitious and is now at the executive level after a few years of active development.
1. For: Use the time to transition to independence
Many young people raised in traditional homes with helicopter parents had everything done for them. College is a transition time where you need to figure more out for yourself while your basic survival is still taken care of
2. For: Get to know people outside of your usual circles
Go to university in another part of the world. College dorms are a melting pot where you spend a LOT of time with people that are similar to you (you all applied to the same college and got in) and also different (jocks, artists, people from other coutries)
3. For: Party like crazy
Get it out of your system with like minded people. This does not have to be with sex, drugs and alcohol but it usually is.
4. For: Learn a lot in disciplines that you might not have chosen: you will be prepared for entrepreneurship
Most people are familiar with the story that Steve Jobs took a calligraphy course that impacted his life and the design of Apple computer. For me it was a symbolic logic class, and an education class.
5. For: You may have senior/capstone projects that shape your careers
in 1991 I wrote an economic paper on what (at the time) High Definition Television and made a music project where I created a database with a user interface of early electronic music. I have had careers in television production and databases/coding. I only saw the impact in the "rear view mirror" as I did not consciously follow up on ideas from those papers they were just themes that interested me.
6. Against: You will get few marketable skills from a 4 year liberal arts degree: there is weak job placement
Many people take their 4 year degree and then work as a Barista.
7. Against: Go to a trade school instead
Learn and get a certificate for welding, cooking, farming, nursing, learn IT skills, heavy equipment operation. These jobs can pay good wages and the skills are in demand.
8. Against: You can learn everything on line for free
This is kind of true
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