Whether or not college education is important for you can be a difficult choice to make. If you’re unsure what you want to do with the rest of your life or if you need an associate or master’s degree to get there, you may be thinking that college isn’t the right path. But there are a number of things it can bring to you.
1. Help you earn more in your lifetime
One of the biggest reasons is because it will set you up to earn more in your lifetime than you would with just a high school education.
While the career path that you take will ultimately determine how much you make, people with master’s degrees tend to get jobs that pay more and can fall into a leadership position more easily.
2. Lower the risk of unemployment
While college does not guarantee you a job, people who went to college have a lower overall level of unemployment than those who entered the workforce right out of high school.
Getting a degree that qualifies you for more job opportunities, so you have a better chance of finding a job than someone who did not have a degree.
3. Opportunities to meet new people
College isn’t just about an education. Many people who attended had a lot of fun. You’re exposed to new people who can turn into lifelong best friends or you may even meet your future spouse.
It can be just as much as a social aspect of life as it is an educational one.
4. Help you develop a new skill or talent
Clubs, groups, and organizations are a huge part of college life and many of these organizations are free and open to anyone interested in joining. Depending on the school you attend and what your interests are, there is probably a club that can fit your needs.
Even if it is something that you’ve never done before, joining a club could help you learn a new hobby or skill.
5. Good for personal and business networking
Regardless if you go or not, your future success will depend on what connections you can make. And college is a great way to grow your network and help secure a good job after graduation.
Through alumni contacts, job fairs, and campus events, you can meet people who work in a variety of different industries doing really interesting jobs.
6. You can give yourself an edge
A degree can set you apart from someone who did not have when applying for jobs. If you choose not to attend college and still apply to a job in your industry, there is a good chance you will not be qualified enough to get hired.
A 4-year-degree can set you apart and help you land the job.
7. Enhance your health and sports skills
If you’re an athlete, playing your sport in college is probably the last time you’ll be able to do so competitively. If you’re not ready to depart with the sport you love just yet, consider going to a school where you can continue to train and compete.
8. Great place to prove yourself
There are hundreds and hundreds of people out there who are not really qualified to do much of anything. And you can receive a degree that proves you are skilled and competent to work in the industry of your choosing.
Higher education is important in today’s life and whether you go or not is an important decision you have to make. Regardless of your situation, college can be the right choice for you.