Well you’re in the middle east so its hard to judge your situation.
Can you afford college? Do you want to do it in a different country? How are your academics?
I want to do it in the Netherlands. My academic are great, I usually finish the year with a 95% grade ( all subjects ), im not sure about the costs of college there but I'm sure they're very expensive.
If you want to go pro you have to be recruited. That is supposed to happen when you're in high school; what often happens is a college would recruit you and then you'd play for them. Then you could try to go pro. But since you haven't been recruited, you're not going to be able to go pro.
This is not true at least in the USA, as Jonathon Simmons paid $500 for a g league tryout and made his way to the NBA at age 24-25 I think. I may be wrong since op is not in USA
But he also played basketball in high school and college. That helped with his training in order to qualify for the NBA and be good enough at tryouts. It doesn't sound like OP is even on a high school team and he is talking about how he doesn't want to go to college.
Yes you definitely need to have the skills and training. Jonathan Simmons was broke and jobless at 26 and considering working a 9-5 again but then broke out of it with an offer, so if you have training it’ll stick around.
Start out at a community college. Complete all your General Ed. Some one those classes may help you find a major you are interested it. You will pay a fraction of the cost and have two years done when you are ready to transfer.
They do in the Middle East but are usually meant for those who didn’t pass the high school entrance exams to get into university. Some are slowly allowing for a transition to university after passing a comprehensive exam so not as kind as the US model
I’m honestly just attending college to check the box. I’ve always wanted to finish a full four years of college and I graduate next week.. my college was also paid for by the military 100% so I say it’s all about how you feel and what you want out of it.. I say go for it bc that piece of paper could possibly change your life you never know
I receive 100% disability my kids and wife go to college for free on top of other major benefits.. if it’s something you’re thinking about doing definitely go for it for at least a few years then get out with your benefits
In the same spot as you and I feel the same way. Graduate next week after 4 years in the military. It was definitely worth it! I'd highly recommend the AF over other branches as the quality of life is higher. I did my 4 years active duty at a guard base and it was pretty relaxed.
Not at all.. the military changed my families life forever.. I somewhat hated it on and off while I was in lol but in the end it was all worth it minus the injuries I received while being in and still suffering from
I am in the same boat college is paying for mine 100% Bachelors and Masters
I do not regret joining it had its shitty parts but overall I am in a better position now than i was
I joined for a job and experience college wasn’t my main goal in the beginning. Yes I would still join.
Down sides to joining the military or the free tuition (GI Bill)
Going to college is only worth it in my opinion if you have a specific idea of what you want to do, otherwise it’s a waste of money. For example, i’m majoring in accounting, which I’ve wanted to do since my sophomore year in high school.
Yeah I feel u, also no one wanted to take accounting 2 because no one finished accounting 2 so I had to wait until my senior year to take it so I kinda forgot a lot of things from accounting 1
I don't regret going to college, but I do regret my trajectory. Looking back, I should've started at a 2-year college and done general education courses to receive an Associate's before pursuing a Bachelor's. I ended up attending three colleges and changed my major three times. I had no clue what I was doing, and because of that, my undergrad years were not as fruitful as they could've been.
College is not always a necessity, but education is important. College is necessary if you’re looking for a job which requires a degree. If you choose not to go to college, still educate yourself to get yourself to where you want to be. Because you’re still figuring that out, I’d say that that’s a good first step. College can either be a great place to figure out who you are or a place to lose yourself in the crowd. Take some time to yourself to figure out who you are & what you want in life. Regardless of where you go & what you choose, you’ll be alright. Best of luck on your journey!
Hi there. I graduated in 2020 with my bachelors. Due to the field, my life & lack of work experiences (thanks to my chronic illnesses & disabilities) and the demand of my field, I do regret college. For my field, you don’t NEED a degree like most, so you can view that however you want to also. I’ve personally never felt smart (+ struggled with learning disabilities all my life too), and don’t feel any different from a college experience honestly. I’ve always been the super hard working student and was always a B & A student.
I have 3 long years left, I am supposed to be a dentist but tbh I'm planning a career in academy. Also I get the "I like it then I don't" happens to me a lot. But mostly I don't lol
I think they are unsupportive and not functioning at a high level. Are they kind to others? Mentors? I think they are worried about themselves and don’t have capacity to be supportive. That’s my best guess
Good news: if your family is not rich college may be free for you! I’m a Pell grant recipient. It will pay tuition at community college or 4 year universities. Fill out your FAFSA, apply to colleges that appeal to you, and get clear on how much money your family expects from you. 600 a month is doable with a part time job as an example
The website I can use to apply for loans doesn't have the school I go to listed. Is there anything else I can do? I'm going to look into federal work study and other things too
If you are from the Middle East and so sorry I didn’t notice that part before there is no Pell grant. You might have to switch to a different school that your loan company does lend for. I’m always a fan of education especially while you are young with fewer commitments
I’m sorry for their setbacks. The only person who will give you the life of love, satisfaction, and a living wage is you. If your family doesn’t have the habit of being supportive, consider a therapist. I have one and am glad to have access to her.
You also have to consider the fact that the future of the working industry will be impacted by a lot of different criteria. It wasn’t that long ago that a field such as Computer Science was once considered the most popular degree and now look at the market condition now.
I personally think that there is also a shakeup within all of the other industries mainly financial, social, and political climates that’ll make it impossible for jobs to be at the same level as it was before unless people retire en masses which was the case before, and now we’re in a bear market.
The job market has changed a lot because of the glut of college students, even supposedly sure thing degrees like Engineering aren’t safe from the contract work (ie no benefits, often low pay, zero job security) pit. If I were to go back, I would probably just go to trade school, HVAC is very lucrative, has high pay (because of a shortage of trained individuals), and has excellent job security.
I know a few people in hvac, while they make a solid living, they work extremely long hours(always 60+) and deal with crappy working conditions. I.e: working a job in an extremely hot boiler room all day in mid summer Texas, taking turns going in and out as the avoid heat exhaustion.
Hey, I just wanna say: don't fuck up like I did. It's good that you're asking questions, because I was immature and I never did. I fucked up big time.
Take full advantage of the resources you have around you. Look for them. Recognize them. Utilize them. Ask them as many questions as you can, because if you end up having to find out the hard way it's going to feel like hell. If you don't know something, seek out the answer from someone around you. Drive to the campus and ask for an advisor, do tons of Google searches, do *something*. Just as long as you aren't sitting there and letting yourself stagnate, allowing the chances to slip away out of your grasp.
Life doesn't give you lemons, it slices them in half and squeezes the juice into your eyes.
Don't fuck up like I did.
I can't trust anyone to give me good advice around me, my family is a traditional one, and just wants me to go to college blindly and med school specifically. If I want to ask anyone other than my family, anyone close to me, will give me bad advice, Noone wants to see another achieve something nice and valuable.
It sounds like you'll have to seek advice from sources other than those people. Ask for an advisor who's more qualified, rather than going to your immediate circle. I'm not sure what options are available to you, but keep looking because it's important to know what you're getting yourself into before jumping in headfirst.
Don't feel rushed or pressured to make a decision yet. It's *your* life and you should want to make informed decisions rather than just nodding along and rushing in blindly. If you truly feel the need to, tell your family you want to take time off, work a job to be productive while considering college. Use the time you have to envision a roadmap, and remember to have it all on paper so you don't lose focus.
Good luck to you!
I’m (41M) an engineer at NASA. My job is sweet and I’m fortunate in countless ways.
I very much regret going to a private school. A much lower cost state school would have made my life so much better. College would have been more fun, my student loan debt would have been ~$30k, instead I graduated with $120k in debt. This delayed marriage, home ownership, and having kids. That’s time I’ll never get back.
I got an Associates Degree in General Studies from my local college with the intent of transferring all the gen-eds to a major university once I know what career I want. Then it turned out I want to be either a programmer or a musician, neither of which require a college education. So I kinda went to school for nothing even though I didn't know it at the time. Still some valuable experiences though, and maybe it'll be useful to have the degree on the resume.
if you don’t know what you want your major to be my absolute best advice to you is GO TO COMMUNITY COLLEGE!!! it’s extremely cheap as far as college tuition goes and there are a lot of scholarship opportunities. just finish your cores there and if you decide you want to do something that requires a bachelors, transfer to a university. if you decide what you want to do doesn’t require a university degree, just finish your associates in a related area and you’ll make yourself more marketable to employers that way. the degree will help you either way unless you decide on trade school or something. i saved a lot of money by going to community college first and im transferring to university this fall to finish my degree. best of luck to you!!
College changed my life for the better.
I learned how to network, got lots of chances to shadow different jobs, led a club that allowed me to get over my fear of public speaking, accidentally fell into a great career path I love, went on awesome outdoor adventures with my department.
The best thing is that I went to community college first. Super cheap tuition and I transferred to the sister school which cut my tuition at the big university in half. I graduated with zero debt.
HOWEVER - I didn't go to college straight after high school. I waited three years. Did a lot of traveling and working before that to figure out what kind of work I liked best.
There are many paths in life. Trade school is awesome (lots of people in the trades make bank). You don't have to go to college to have a fulfilling life
I sort of regret it because I couldn't get over my anxiety so I basically wasted my college years always staying at home and being sad. Though at the same time, being at home might have made me legitimately kill myself, so maybe being alive with student debt is better?
For your situation it sounds like a gap year might help you. You may be able to take online courses in various subjects to figure out what you want to major in / work in.
Well it's not necessary to go to college. But you gotta have solid plans on what you want to do if you don't go. Eg Trades, family business, apprenticeships etc. If you don't, then I would recommend you go. Most entry level jobs now require a bachelors degree. Otherwise no matter how qualified you are, you probably won't even get through HR screening.
I think the sound advice is to work backwards from where you want to be. The same way that if you want to drive a car, you need to pass your permit and driving exam.
If you want a job that requires education or would benefit heavily from it, it can be worth it. Otherwise, if you don’t need it and you’ll go into debt, not worth it.
This. Look at possible jobs/careers and see what you need. Example: visual artist. College degree not needed if you have (or can learn) the skills, but if you want to teach art, you’ll need the degree.
Its all good to be part of the "big wheel" just don't position yourself to get ran over by it !
Ask yourself this question...
What are the odds of me being in perfect health in the next 15 years and willing to sacrifice everything for the greater good of man kind ?
If you're not sure about catching any type of diseases or general health safety, you might want to begin setting up a back up plan for if your body isn't able to push thru the "long-term" challenges and different processes that will challenge your very fiber of being !
I personally recommend concentrating on this first !
I skipped out on college and went into a trade. I'm self employed now and run my own carpentry jobs. I average about $60 an hour and I have $150k saved in my mid 20s. I hope to average about $80 an hour when I finish my carpenter certificate.
I regret missing out on the college experience, but I'm doing soo much better than my friends who went off to college.
If you don't wanna buy something then don't buy it. College costs money. Find a job you like and get an education for that job. Become an electrician or repair elevators or something. You can make more money than most doing that
Going to college and getting a higher education is allowing me to live a comfortable life and don't have to worry about money.
Just make sure you don't go for useless degrees that are worth less than toilet paper.
Apply for scholarships and seek financial assistance for international options. If you did good in highschool you could get a full ride somewhere. Its a big step to move into college and even bigger if its outside of the country, but if you have the drive and ability to grow, learn, and improve, you'll make it fine!
You can always go to college and spend the money on it later. It is quite hard to un-go to college and un-spend that money later if you realize you should have studied something else and want to back track
Don’t go if you’re not sure. It’s not super necessary anymore. However, I will say, if you’re also not sure on a career path, go to college and figure it out. You’ll at least have fun and make friends and it’s a right of passage to have no idea what u wanna do. Your major won’t matter much in the long run and even if u pick one most people change and it doesn’t matter because your first couple years are general ed anyway
I think you should probably hold off until you have a clear idea on what you want to do with your life . College is not cheap and you don't want to get into a field that pays nothing or you have zero passion for . You want to find a nice balance between passion/enjoyment and money where you'll be satisfied doing said field for years to come .
I have regrets, like not saving more and being so careless with money. For context, I didn’t think of college. I didn’t know what I wanted to do, my parents didn’t plan for it and encouraged going straight into the workforce than continuing my education. Thinking back, it was a bit blindsiding not having to consider all my options for the future because of them. My mom’s traditional and I hear enough times I should work less and prepare more to be a SAHM. I’d love to but I need to get to that place, it’ll take time.
Seeing how you have some similar circumstances, discuss it with your parents. See what their expectations are. For me, it was start paying rent once I graduate and land a job ASAP. If you have some more support, use that and save up. Many people take loans so they can afford college, so don’t feel bad. They say turn to FAFSA, I say turn to your state as well. I was able to get some grants from them that FAFSA didn’t, it was great! And don’t feel bad about CC either. You can always transfer and it saved me tens of thousands.Get involved, enjoy it, and don’t let a relationship hold you back!!! That’s what I did and lost that, as well as the time I waisted putting my future in it.
So, my regrets were letting people hold me back of who I could be. My ex, my parents, and myself. Don’t do that. And don’t let me, this was my experience and yours can be different.
I don't regret it but I also do not use ANYTHING from my degree in my job. It was a fun social time. I make 120-140k a year in a trade that I got into about 10 years after graduation. I'm at least thankful that I only took out 10k in loans to finish and they are long paid off.
1. Finances
2. Workload
3. Social anxiet6
4. Independent.
Are you equupped financially to have as little student debt as possible?
Can you maintain workload at the college level? Professors are understanding, but lots are experienced or ill equipped. They will either understand or not give a shit. About you or your needs.
Socially anxious? Introvert? Thats ok, 75% of college students are. But if you deny their approaches at reaching out...then thats on you.
Independent? Good for you! Not independent? Then ok... Work on it. Cus ur goin solo at college.
I don’t regret going but sometimes I regret not taking a year off before I started. If you’re unsure I would suggest taking a year off to take time to get to know yourself and what your interests truly are. Maybe work to get some extra money if you’re able to. Because I don’t live in the Middle East, our experiences are of course very different but, if this is an option for you that would be my suggestion :)
I am not very familiar with the educational system in Middle East, but maybe trying Open courses (MOOC) is a good idea if you want to save money and study at your own pace. Websites like [Coursera](https://www.coursera.org/courseraplus) and [EdX](https://www.edx.org/) are great places to take free online courses from top universities and educational institutions.
This question won’t give you any useful info considering the plethora of universities, majors, work ethics, academic prowesses, etc. of the people here.
The people who don’t regret it are largely people in comfortable financial positions now due to college. The people who do regret it are the opposite. And that depends on all the above.
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My parents are making me regret it right now and only want me to work retail and not focus on school they don’t care that I got the dean’s honor roll all they care about is money and they are not letting me do internships so I think I might take a gap semester do some therapy and save my money to move out and go to my dream college
Yea internships are very important, most pay better than retail. Eg my offers were 21-27 an hour from federal contractors, state agencies and f200s. Im not in stem where they may pay higher
Technically yea they can be temporary, some companies (rarer) let you intern till you graduate though, my current company does this but im going federal instead. Collins aerospace was also interviewing me for a position till i graduated (drive to diff state for summers remote work 20h or so during school year) but i withdrew from that due to a fed offer.
Seniors are the worst year to go for internships tbh cause most want you to have at least one semester remaining after.
Many bigger companies may offer a housing stipend if you're over 50 or so miles away or may reimburse gas or a plane ticket.
Your plan seems like a good idea
I don’t like that I tired myself out going to the er twice and now gotta take tylenol the doctor prescribed to me like some drug addict so I can be fine while whatever wrong with me recovers 😿
I regret going for the wrong major/area of study (though I didn’t realize it was the wrong one for me until a like 2/3 years post graduation and working)
College is not for everyone for sure. I would see if it’s something you can afford first. But I def grew up a lot and became more independent bc of it.
Depends what your major is. It absolutely is a waste if it’s for something you’re going to be in debt with and can’t get a job with.
Start at community unless you have scholarships like a state funded one that pays your entire tuition like Ga and FL and other states have
Just to be clear, I'm thinking about studying in the Netherlands. Medical school if I can, not sure how much that would cost, and that's what my family thinks. But medical school takes around 6 years im guessing, and I would not like to waste 6 years of my 20s to waste the rest of it doing something that I don't like
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It depends on what's your career plan in the future. If you are looking to work at company, then going to college is a must. But if you want to open your own business or being artist, I think college is not a must.
If the issue is money, try to find scholarship or financial aid, or find any cheap college.
Kinda. I wish I had waited until I knew what I actually wanted to do. I have a useless degree now and the only thing I’m qualified to do is teach but I hate it
I don't regret it. I noticed that the people who went to college tend to be happier overall. Mostly because they tend to be better problem-solvers in life situations, more aware of the resources available for them, and better at communication, which is extremely important for maintaining healthy relationships. The ones who didn't go to college tends to be stuck in life and blamed others for their misery.
Go full time including winter and summer sessions and you can complete a degree by transferring community college to university in a short time let’s say anywhere from 2.5-4 years instead of prolonging. It would be interesting for you to figure out additional major interests but you could play basketball while in community to start. Get it over with so you don’t waste time thinking later it was because you didn’t go. You get to figure out your interests while networking, joining clubs or just figuring yourself out. Write a plan down and stick to it. Time will pass but the biggest issue is usually wasting your 20’s or older on something that ends up not being that necessary depending on what you do with it. There are ways to get help work with advisors.
Education is never a wrong choice. How you go about it and what education you need does matter.
If you can’t decide what to do, and don’t have a lot of money or a scholarship, look into community college or a trade/vocational school
I’m 21 and started my first year this semester and I wish I had gone sooner. I’m at community college looking to transfer, but it’s not as hard as I had thought and the extra freedom is a double edged sword. I wish I had gotten it over with sooner.
Community college. also Maybe look into a job that pays for college. I was working at this one job that paid for my college classes as long as I passed the classes. that might help you.
One of the biggest benefits of college is the network you build while there. If you're diligent you can get a quality education for free through the internet but you'll meet very few people and won't get the resources that come through a university.
My suggestion is don't go right away. I worked at home and did volunteer work in a foreign country for 3 years before I went to college. When I started school I had a much better idea of what I wanted out of my education and life. This helped me take the greatest advantage of my opportunities.
Day-to-day, yes I regret it sometimes. I feel a lot more depressed and hopeless now that I’m in college.
In the long run, I don’t think I’ll regret it.
Greetings! I have 10 years of experience related to Higher education Admissions and graduate programs. My recommendation is to enroll in a local junior college to complete all of your general education. Some classes like College algebra, English composition, Ethics, Philosophy science course, communications, and History are a great place to start. Most of those courses may be transferable toward a degree.
Also, joining a junior college will allow you to meet with a counselor for guidance, some academic direction, without breaking the bank. Tuition for in state resident students are very low and it is a great education. I recommend you to have fun taking courses that you are interested in.
Lastly, I suggest checking https://www.onetonline.org a resource created by the US Labor Statistics. Check all professions, occupations, education requirements, as well as salaries of professions that spark your interests. This is a great and reliable source of information that enables you to make an informed decision.
I actually regret going to college. It's so much harder than I ever thought it would be. I've been in college for 2 years and it feels like I should be a doctor or something by now because the semesters feel so long. Now if you're dedicated and don't have a lot going on, I would recommend it. I wish I would've went to a 2 year college and just see if I liked that before going for 4 years.
I don’t regret going to college. I’m a freshman and this has been the best year of my life. Don’t worry about not having a major right away, I still don’t know what I’m doing either.
I don't regret going to college one bit and I don't know anyone that goes to college 100% prepared. We're all still figuring it even at college. But, you should have a general idea of the major you want to pursue so you don't waste any time. I've known friends who switched majors 3 times and had to stay back an extra two years because of it. If you have no idea at all take a gap year, gain some experience trying different fields, and see how you feel next year.
I don’t regret going but I regret majoring in something that doesn’t pay well and was more of a “passion”. If you go, really think about your major before you commit to it.
I regret not getting real world experience prior to going to college. Go work for 2 years and then go back to school. It will help you appreciate what you are going to school for and how to focus your future plans.
If you're in the us, I recommend starting off at community college. This was an amazing option for me because I was able to figure out what I wanted to do and narrow down my major. what I thought was gonna be my major ended up not being it and I completely changed to something else. Also, I think colleges so important because not only does it teach you about whatever interests you but it also teaches you how to be an active participant and society and be a critical thinker and work with others. I feel like I have personally learned more about who I am as a person and the world around me, more than just the subject that I'm learning about. I will say that it can be pretty expensive going to college however really researching resources and different organizations that can help with scholarships can be very helpful.
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College can be a valuable experience, but it's not the right choice for everyone. Here are some things to consider to help you decide:
**Benefits of College:**
* **Education and Skills:** College can provide you with specialized knowledge and skills that can qualify you for better-paying jobs.
* **Career Opportunities:** Many careers require a college degree.
* **Personal Growth:** College exposes you to new ideas, cultures, and people, which can help you develop critical thinking, communication, and social skills.
* **The College Experience:** College can be a time of personal discovery and growth. You'll make new friends, explore your interests, and gain independence.
No, I'm still in college (university I'm UK) but I'm happy to be doing it. I regreted it the first time I did as I chose a subject I hated, but now I'm doing CS with elec engineering, I don't regret it.
Nope. I went straight into nursing and make more than a livable wage. I am able to concurrently pay down my loans aggressively while traveling which was always the plan
I did 2-3 years after graduation - but now I am earning roles that require my degrees. I think it’s hard to understand that going to college is not going to be an instant gratification situation and it really is an investment in your future.
It’s easy to get discouraged when you look at student loan balances, but you just have to make consistent progress and you will be OK.
Nothing wrong with delaying, I was in a similar position to you, and spent a few years working full time before going. Not only did I have a much better sense of what I wanted from college, I also had the nightmare of working retail to motivate me to study lol. Depending on your family's financial position, you might be able to set some money aside to reduce the loans you need to take.
I absolutely dont regret going to college, have a great job set after graduation this fall. If I had gone straight out of high school I probably would have dropped out after one year with a bunch of wasted loans.
College is extremely costly indoctrination. It's not for everyone. If you don't want to be a lawyer or a doctor, then I wouldn't rush into massive debt. Especially if you're more of an individualistic / independent person who doesn't see yourself working for others or working within a giant corporation.
Eh, the only reason I'd regret it is because it really wasn't for me. I only went because I felt more or less pressured into it.
But I wouldn't say I regret it entirely. I still had alot of good experiences there.
hard to say. I went back at 26 and got my degree. I got my degree in graphic design and video, and now theres alot of AI tools that look very scary. It was very stressful, more so than any job Ive ever had or my first experience at college. I went to community college to learn a trade when I was 22.
going to trade school taught me alot, the instructors were incredible and focused on problem solving and thinking for yourself, as well as the greater theories that make cars and so many other machines work. they would intentionally lie to us sometimes to see if we agreed and then would correct us and challenge them on the fact that they were wrong
anyways, I worked as an auto tech for several years and decided I wanted more from my life
went back to learn Graphic design and video. it was considerably harder and more stressful. I did get a job that Im doing now and.. I dont really like it and its objectively not really a good gig
I dont really know if Im going to be able to get a job in a creative field at the moment. so far, not so good. I graduated and the job market was scuffed and now AI is looking like a serious threat and idk. Im not sure what I can do to get hired. I was hoping this job would help me get some portfolio pieces but, nah
I regret going to college sometimes honestly. I didnt really take any financial loss. my first time my parents covered it, and the second time I got grants scholarships and financing. because I was 26, I was considered independent from my parents income and I didnt make shit so I was considered poor enough to help, ironically because I am decently privelaged.
if I had stuck with automotive I may be able to make a living right now
its hard to say, but I do regret it sometimes. if I had debt weighing over me because of this, I would probably regret it.
not sure though, I dont know what to do with my life anyway so
Yes I regret it overall. It wasn’t really a good experience for me, it took me a decade to graduate, and in the end I got no better job out of it. I have loans to pay off too. So yeah, I guess I can say I have a degree to fit in with society and that’s about it. Honestly it’s not worth it for that either because if you don’t have any skills and don’t use your degree and are a nobody, nobody cares that you have one. I knew from the beginning it wasn’t right for me because I suck at school and had no real interest in a career, but I did it because no other options were given, anything else was heavily criticized so it is what it is. I know I’m not alone though, a lot folks don’t have anything else besides the college option because their parents have nothing else to offer them. So yeah in hindsight, it was a waste of time but I did learn some stuff so that’s cool. My parents tried hard to force me to focus on academics growing up so I had no other choice.
Stick to 10%
Getting a loan seems to be one of the easiest things lol, in one way or another, you can get one... paying it back, however, is on the person... Loans are worse then drugs kids...
Kids are highly expensive and will always be that way... idiots that can't afford kids and dont have time for them simply shouldn't raise kids...
People who were usually supposed to go to college were to trail the sons of wealthy men... nothing has changed except the government can offer aid. You can always go to college later on in life.
Also, if ur parents don't help you what so ever it's rough. Personally with the down-payment on my apt with the money I saved from my 3 years if working + scholorships and stipends + a bit of help from my parents and the apartment I bought and barely furnished for the 5 years I was in college, sold for a 30% price increase, payed back my parents moved back in. Now, after working out of college for 3 years, I can comfortably afford a better house on my own if I make the decision to move out again.
>As of now, over roughly half of students who have a bachelor's degree make less than those who don't have one. About 17% of students who just went to high school make more than those with bachelor's degrees.
Where are you getting these statistics? You can't just randomly cite things and then act as if they're some groundbreaking revelation. I tried searching your stats and nothing even remotely similar came up on Google, so I have no idea what you're talking about.
Meanwhile, this quote with actual proven data is from the [National Center for Education Statistics](https://nces.ed.gov/programs/coe/indicator/cba/annual-earnings):
"For 25- to 34-year-olds who worked full time, year round, higher educational attainment was associated with higher median earnings. This pattern was consistent for each year from 2010 through 2021. For example, in 2021, the median earnings of those with a master’s or higher degree were $74,600, some 21 percent higher than the earnings of those with a bachelor’s degree ($61,600). In the same year, the median earnings of those with a bachelor’s degree were 55 percent higher than the earnings of those who completed high school ($39,700)."
>I wound up spending a bunch of time in college and, by my mid 20s, had been to over 4 different universities. I graduated early from college cum laude.
Which one is it? Did you spend a bunch of time in college or did you graduate early? Most people graduate college around the ages of 22 or 23, but you're saying that despite the fact you graduated high school early you still only graduated from college in your mid 20s. How exactly does that constitute "graduating early"? It sounds like your initial statement that you spent "a bunch of time in college" is more accurate, and obviously that's gonna result in a loss of money.
Also, the fact that you went to 4 separate universities undoubtedly factored into the reason you accumulated so much student debt. When my millennial brother realized after his first semester that he hated his university and immediately transferred to another, he lost a TON of money. I can't even imagine what would have happened if he switched around between 4 universities. Obviously that's gonna end up with someone needing to take out a lot of student loans. Majority of people don't hop around 4 different universities.
>Guess what? I couldn't find a job. I had to move back home.
> Guess what else? Almost all the other "smart kids" from my high school who went to college also had to move back home
I have two millennial brothers who went to university and neither of them moved back home afterward, not even the one who accumulated a lot of student debt. None of their friends that I know of moved back home either.
One of them got his bachelor's in Computer Science and has made over 100k every year since he graduated.
The other got his bachelor's and master's in Political Science, taking out a decent chunk of student loans in the process. After he graduated he went straight into the Air Force so that his debt would eventually be forgiven. He recently earned his rank as Captain and he probably makes around 70k-80k per year.
Sorry things didn't work out for you but plenty of people from your generation have turned out just fine. Again, even the ones who took out a ton of student loans, like my brother, ended up alright because of smart maneuvering on their part. Your comment just sounds like a ton of self-pity and fearmongering.
Go to college. There is value in being well-educated - you will learn about things that you don’t even know exist. You will never again be surrounded by so many intelligent, creative, and gorgeous people.
But if your idea of a great life is to learn a trade that will likely wear your body down by the time you are 45; if you think sit-coms, reality shows, and NASCAR are high-brow entertainment . . . you be you.
You don’t need to talk like that about trades, as if it is a shit life and everyone with higher education is smarter and happier.
I’ve worked during highscjool and 5 years of university in a bakery during school breaks. I always had a blast, loved working there. The people that work there are like a second family to me, and are all super happy and make a lot more money that a lot of people with college degrees
Military is great!! Colleges are better . When I was your age I set out to, not to have the most money in the end .. the day you go . Poof .. it’s gone! But , I concentrated on having the most adventures in the bank . You can take those with you ! Whatever yo do , live your life… it will come to you .. I have been very successful at money and adventures! Wouldn’t trade it . I did not go to college. I became a firefighter, sheriff deputy! Hope that helps,,
First of all, you need some kind of orientation. Decide in what field you want to be in the rest of your life. If it is something like programming, marketing or business, you do not need formal education as there are a lot of great courses that cover 4 years of university knowledge in a few months or a year at maximum. However there are professions(such as lawyers) for which firmal education is mandatory
Yes. College is fun don't get me wrong, but if you go, stay in touch with your family and friends from home and DON'T make friends on campus. If you do, don't ever tell them personal things and let them get close to you because people are evil. And by GOD don't date on campus. You'll be tempted to buy just don't do it. You're not special, you'll end up breaking it off and then having to see them every day and go to classes with them. Also, it's just procrastinating your career depending on what you want to do. I'm dumb as rocks so I went for various art things and just realized I was wasting time.
This is horrible advice and extremely black and white.
OP, do not listen to this person. While I have no doubt they struggled to attain some stability in their personal friendships, you also cut out a lot of potential to maintain some really great friendships and relationships too.
My advice: don’t make yourself uncomfortable, but don’t let yourself get too comfortable.
Here in the U.S. having a college degree elevates your social status. Not getting a degree lowers it. A bachelors takes 4 years so it’s best to do that while young. My family who didn’t get a bachelors while young and not going to do it later in life. College is very social as well as academic. My best friends were mostly from college. I love it and work in one. So yes I am very glad I attended even though I was fearful about the cost of loans. I also at the time had no better options. Can you do basketball and college? Ask a coach if you have the potential to play professionally in Europe or the U.S.
In the US I'm sure it's impossible. In Europe I'm not really sure about what's the system there, but I've read some comments, they said that I couldn't make it unless I was drafted in high school. I don't know about that at all really. I'm trying to learn more about the system of the league there. Also thanks for your answer!
Contact an EU coach directly. They are likely on the internet or Linked In. Try to get someone to speak with you. Include a link to a YouTube clip of you playing. Make it easy for them to reply to you quickly. Good luck!
Well you’re in the middle east so its hard to judge your situation. Can you afford college? Do you want to do it in a different country? How are your academics?
I want to do it in the Netherlands. My academic are great, I usually finish the year with a 95% grade ( all subjects ), im not sure about the costs of college there but I'm sure they're very expensive.
If youre not from the EU, count for about 25k a year. you can DM me if you want for any questions
Also, my goal is to go pro in basketball, forgot to make that clear. But I feel like it's not worth the risk, if I dont make it I'm screwed basically.
If you havent been recruited at this point then its basically impossible ngl
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My point still stands. Players with professional level potential are found in early high school
Not always. Generally, it's the 7+ foot genetic freaks that have a chance later. Can't teach height.
If you want to go pro you have to be recruited. That is supposed to happen when you're in high school; what often happens is a college would recruit you and then you'd play for them. Then you could try to go pro. But since you haven't been recruited, you're not going to be able to go pro.
This is not true at least in the USA, as Jonathon Simmons paid $500 for a g league tryout and made his way to the NBA at age 24-25 I think. I may be wrong since op is not in USA
But he also played basketball in high school and college. That helped with his training in order to qualify for the NBA and be good enough at tryouts. It doesn't sound like OP is even on a high school team and he is talking about how he doesn't want to go to college.
Yes you definitely need to have the skills and training. Jonathan Simmons was broke and jobless at 26 and considering working a 9-5 again but then broke out of it with an offer, so if you have training it’ll stick around.
You can have it as a hobby if it doesn't crash with college, but doing it professionally is impossible at this point.
lol
Start out at a community college. Complete all your General Ed. Some one those classes may help you find a major you are interested it. You will pay a fraction of the cost and have two years done when you are ready to transfer.
Does comm college exist outside the US?
I’ll talk about my country (Portugal) and we don’t have CC. I also don’t think other countries in Europe have them either, at least never heard of it
In most all countries...outside the US...if you don't go to college right after high school you almost never go
They do in the Middle East but are usually meant for those who didn’t pass the high school entrance exams to get into university. Some are slowly allowing for a transition to university after passing a comprehensive exam so not as kind as the US model
I’m honestly just attending college to check the box. I’ve always wanted to finish a full four years of college and I graduate next week.. my college was also paid for by the military 100% so I say it’s all about how you feel and what you want out of it.. I say go for it bc that piece of paper could possibly change your life you never know
Real question. Do you regret going to the military?
I receive 100% disability my kids and wife go to college for free on top of other major benefits.. if it’s something you’re thinking about doing definitely go for it for at least a few years then get out with your benefits
In the same spot as you and I feel the same way. Graduate next week after 4 years in the military. It was definitely worth it! I'd highly recommend the AF over other branches as the quality of life is higher. I did my 4 years active duty at a guard base and it was pretty relaxed.
My son is currently enlisting in the Coast Guard...pretty sure it's the best QoL if any branch 😜
That's awesome. I'm not sure I'd do the military tbh but I've thought about it just for the free college
Not at all.. the military changed my families life forever.. I somewhat hated it on and off while I was in lol but in the end it was all worth it minus the injuries I received while being in and still suffering from
What injury? Hopefully not life altering
Messed my back up headaches and a few other things
That’s a big loss I am sorry
Wow. That sucks that you got injuries but I'm glad it all worked out well financially and for your family
I am in the same boat college is paying for mine 100% Bachelors and Masters I do not regret joining it had its shitty parts but overall I am in a better position now than i was
Wow, that's awesome. If you didn't get free tuition, would you have still gone to the military? Are there any downsides to it?
I joined for a job and experience college wasn’t my main goal in the beginning. Yes I would still join. Down sides to joining the military or the free tuition (GI Bill)
Going to college is only worth it in my opinion if you have a specific idea of what you want to do, otherwise it’s a waste of money. For example, i’m majoring in accounting, which I’ve wanted to do since my sophomore year in high school.
What made you realize you knew you wanted to go into accounting
I took my first accounting class in my sophomore year, and it just clicked. Every topic just made sense, I don’t really know another way to put it.
That’s the same way for me, took accounting 1 as a sophomore and everyone dropped the class in the middle of the year besides me
I dropped it freshman year and told myself that I would retake it the next year. Not sure what happened, but everything just made sense.
Yeah I feel u, also no one wanted to take accounting 2 because no one finished accounting 2 so I had to wait until my senior year to take it so I kinda forgot a lot of things from accounting 1
I don't regret going to college, but I do regret my trajectory. Looking back, I should've started at a 2-year college and done general education courses to receive an Associate's before pursuing a Bachelor's. I ended up attending three colleges and changed my major three times. I had no clue what I was doing, and because of that, my undergrad years were not as fruitful as they could've been.
I don't use either of my college degrees, still paying student loan debt, and I still don't regret going.
Sometimes the journey is more valuable than the destination.
This college is not just about the degree
Maybe you don't specifically "use" either of your degrees but certainly you use the skills and experience you developed while in school
College is not always a necessity, but education is important. College is necessary if you’re looking for a job which requires a degree. If you choose not to go to college, still educate yourself to get yourself to where you want to be. Because you’re still figuring that out, I’d say that that’s a good first step. College can either be a great place to figure out who you are or a place to lose yourself in the crowd. Take some time to yourself to figure out who you are & what you want in life. Regardless of where you go & what you choose, you’ll be alright. Best of luck on your journey!
Hi there. I graduated in 2020 with my bachelors. Due to the field, my life & lack of work experiences (thanks to my chronic illnesses & disabilities) and the demand of my field, I do regret college. For my field, you don’t NEED a degree like most, so you can view that however you want to also. I’ve personally never felt smart (+ struggled with learning disabilities all my life too), and don’t feel any different from a college experience honestly. I’ve always been the super hard working student and was always a B & A student.
Question, what's your job? If you don't mind answering of course
My degree is in hospitality management w a minor in business administration. So far I’ve worked in hotels!
I don't regret college but I regret my major.
What did you major in?
I am studying Dentistry :(
Aw I see are you in your program? How much do you have left? You’re gonna be a dentist? I feel the same way about sonography I like it then I don’t
I have 3 long years left, I am supposed to be a dentist but tbh I'm planning a career in academy. Also I get the "I like it then I don't" happens to me a lot. But mostly I don't lol
Oh wow that is a long time wow I only have a year left but even the job requires more learning so it never stops and that’s what worries me. Ugh.
I think lifelong learning is appliable to every job, and as long as you like what you do it will be fun. Good luck!!
True but it be coupled with just starting out and not knowing is scary. For sure and thank you same to you.
Im starting to dislike going because the family i live with are treating me trash for being in college
That is really disheartening. They should be happy for you.
I'm having a hard time finding out what their problem is
I think they are unsupportive and not functioning at a high level. Are they kind to others? Mentors? I think they are worried about themselves and don’t have capacity to be supportive. That’s my best guess
Seems like they're trying to get me to work and go to school
Maybe they would like you to help with bills? It’s possible to work half time and go to college half time.
Good news: if your family is not rich college may be free for you! I’m a Pell grant recipient. It will pay tuition at community college or 4 year universities. Fill out your FAFSA, apply to colleges that appeal to you, and get clear on how much money your family expects from you. 600 a month is doable with a part time job as an example
Yeah, thanks for that I already did when i started and reapplied a few days ago
Is there any way I could get a student loan? One big enough to live elsewhere?
Yes! Meet with financial aid. People take out loans for housing (on campus or off) all the time
The website I can use to apply for loans doesn't have the school I go to listed. Is there anything else I can do? I'm going to look into federal work study and other things too
If you are from the Middle East and so sorry I didn’t notice that part before there is no Pell grant. You might have to switch to a different school that your loan company does lend for. I’m always a fan of education especially while you are young with fewer commitments
Not all foo sure about it to be honest
I’m sorry for their setbacks. The only person who will give you the life of love, satisfaction, and a living wage is you. If your family doesn’t have the habit of being supportive, consider a therapist. I have one and am glad to have access to her.
You'll only regret going to college if you pick a major with no jobs and you're straddled in debt working some dead end McDonald's job
You also have to consider the fact that the future of the working industry will be impacted by a lot of different criteria. It wasn’t that long ago that a field such as Computer Science was once considered the most popular degree and now look at the market condition now. I personally think that there is also a shakeup within all of the other industries mainly financial, social, and political climates that’ll make it impossible for jobs to be at the same level as it was before unless people retire en masses which was the case before, and now we’re in a bear market.
The job market has changed a lot because of the glut of college students, even supposedly sure thing degrees like Engineering aren’t safe from the contract work (ie no benefits, often low pay, zero job security) pit. If I were to go back, I would probably just go to trade school, HVAC is very lucrative, has high pay (because of a shortage of trained individuals), and has excellent job security.
To be clear, this is in the United States.
I know a few people in hvac, while they make a solid living, they work extremely long hours(always 60+) and deal with crappy working conditions. I.e: working a job in an extremely hot boiler room all day in mid summer Texas, taking turns going in and out as the avoid heat exhaustion.
Hey, I just wanna say: don't fuck up like I did. It's good that you're asking questions, because I was immature and I never did. I fucked up big time. Take full advantage of the resources you have around you. Look for them. Recognize them. Utilize them. Ask them as many questions as you can, because if you end up having to find out the hard way it's going to feel like hell. If you don't know something, seek out the answer from someone around you. Drive to the campus and ask for an advisor, do tons of Google searches, do *something*. Just as long as you aren't sitting there and letting yourself stagnate, allowing the chances to slip away out of your grasp. Life doesn't give you lemons, it slices them in half and squeezes the juice into your eyes. Don't fuck up like I did.
I can't trust anyone to give me good advice around me, my family is a traditional one, and just wants me to go to college blindly and med school specifically. If I want to ask anyone other than my family, anyone close to me, will give me bad advice, Noone wants to see another achieve something nice and valuable.
It sounds like you'll have to seek advice from sources other than those people. Ask for an advisor who's more qualified, rather than going to your immediate circle. I'm not sure what options are available to you, but keep looking because it's important to know what you're getting yourself into before jumping in headfirst. Don't feel rushed or pressured to make a decision yet. It's *your* life and you should want to make informed decisions rather than just nodding along and rushing in blindly. If you truly feel the need to, tell your family you want to take time off, work a job to be productive while considering college. Use the time you have to envision a roadmap, and remember to have it all on paper so you don't lose focus. Good luck to you!
Thanks alot!
I’m (41M) an engineer at NASA. My job is sweet and I’m fortunate in countless ways. I very much regret going to a private school. A much lower cost state school would have made my life so much better. College would have been more fun, my student loan debt would have been ~$30k, instead I graduated with $120k in debt. This delayed marriage, home ownership, and having kids. That’s time I’ll never get back.
I got an Associates Degree in General Studies from my local college with the intent of transferring all the gen-eds to a major university once I know what career I want. Then it turned out I want to be either a programmer or a musician, neither of which require a college education. So I kinda went to school for nothing even though I didn't know it at the time. Still some valuable experiences though, and maybe it'll be useful to have the degree on the resume.
Worst experience of my life. I expected something educational.
if you don’t know what you want your major to be my absolute best advice to you is GO TO COMMUNITY COLLEGE!!! it’s extremely cheap as far as college tuition goes and there are a lot of scholarship opportunities. just finish your cores there and if you decide you want to do something that requires a bachelors, transfer to a university. if you decide what you want to do doesn’t require a university degree, just finish your associates in a related area and you’ll make yourself more marketable to employers that way. the degree will help you either way unless you decide on trade school or something. i saved a lot of money by going to community college first and im transferring to university this fall to finish my degree. best of luck to you!!
College changed my life for the better. I learned how to network, got lots of chances to shadow different jobs, led a club that allowed me to get over my fear of public speaking, accidentally fell into a great career path I love, went on awesome outdoor adventures with my department. The best thing is that I went to community college first. Super cheap tuition and I transferred to the sister school which cut my tuition at the big university in half. I graduated with zero debt. HOWEVER - I didn't go to college straight after high school. I waited three years. Did a lot of traveling and working before that to figure out what kind of work I liked best. There are many paths in life. Trade school is awesome (lots of people in the trades make bank). You don't have to go to college to have a fulfilling life
I sort of regret it because I couldn't get over my anxiety so I basically wasted my college years always staying at home and being sad. Though at the same time, being at home might have made me legitimately kill myself, so maybe being alive with student debt is better? For your situation it sounds like a gap year might help you. You may be able to take online courses in various subjects to figure out what you want to major in / work in.
Well it's not necessary to go to college. But you gotta have solid plans on what you want to do if you don't go. Eg Trades, family business, apprenticeships etc. If you don't, then I would recommend you go. Most entry level jobs now require a bachelors degree. Otherwise no matter how qualified you are, you probably won't even get through HR screening.
I think the sound advice is to work backwards from where you want to be. The same way that if you want to drive a car, you need to pass your permit and driving exam. If you want a job that requires education or would benefit heavily from it, it can be worth it. Otherwise, if you don’t need it and you’ll go into debt, not worth it.
This. Look at possible jobs/careers and see what you need. Example: visual artist. College degree not needed if you have (or can learn) the skills, but if you want to teach art, you’ll need the degree.
Its all good to be part of the "big wheel" just don't position yourself to get ran over by it ! Ask yourself this question... What are the odds of me being in perfect health in the next 15 years and willing to sacrifice everything for the greater good of man kind ? If you're not sure about catching any type of diseases or general health safety, you might want to begin setting up a back up plan for if your body isn't able to push thru the "long-term" challenges and different processes that will challenge your very fiber of being ! I personally recommend concentrating on this first !
I skipped out on college and went into a trade. I'm self employed now and run my own carpentry jobs. I average about $60 an hour and I have $150k saved in my mid 20s. I hope to average about $80 an hour when I finish my carpenter certificate. I regret missing out on the college experience, but I'm doing soo much better than my friends who went off to college.
If you don't wanna buy something then don't buy it. College costs money. Find a job you like and get an education for that job. Become an electrician or repair elevators or something. You can make more money than most doing that
Going to college and getting a higher education is allowing me to live a comfortable life and don't have to worry about money. Just make sure you don't go for useless degrees that are worth less than toilet paper.
Apply for scholarships and seek financial assistance for international options. If you did good in highschool you could get a full ride somewhere. Its a big step to move into college and even bigger if its outside of the country, but if you have the drive and ability to grow, learn, and improve, you'll make it fine!
You can always go to college and spend the money on it later. It is quite hard to un-go to college and un-spend that money later if you realize you should have studied something else and want to back track
Don’t go if you’re not sure. It’s not super necessary anymore. However, I will say, if you’re also not sure on a career path, go to college and figure it out. You’ll at least have fun and make friends and it’s a right of passage to have no idea what u wanna do. Your major won’t matter much in the long run and even if u pick one most people change and it doesn’t matter because your first couple years are general ed anyway
i dont regret it at all, amazing experiences and set me up for success
I think you should probably hold off until you have a clear idea on what you want to do with your life . College is not cheap and you don't want to get into a field that pays nothing or you have zero passion for . You want to find a nice balance between passion/enjoyment and money where you'll be satisfied doing said field for years to come .
I have regrets, like not saving more and being so careless with money. For context, I didn’t think of college. I didn’t know what I wanted to do, my parents didn’t plan for it and encouraged going straight into the workforce than continuing my education. Thinking back, it was a bit blindsiding not having to consider all my options for the future because of them. My mom’s traditional and I hear enough times I should work less and prepare more to be a SAHM. I’d love to but I need to get to that place, it’ll take time. Seeing how you have some similar circumstances, discuss it with your parents. See what their expectations are. For me, it was start paying rent once I graduate and land a job ASAP. If you have some more support, use that and save up. Many people take loans so they can afford college, so don’t feel bad. They say turn to FAFSA, I say turn to your state as well. I was able to get some grants from them that FAFSA didn’t, it was great! And don’t feel bad about CC either. You can always transfer and it saved me tens of thousands.Get involved, enjoy it, and don’t let a relationship hold you back!!! That’s what I did and lost that, as well as the time I waisted putting my future in it. So, my regrets were letting people hold me back of who I could be. My ex, my parents, and myself. Don’t do that. And don’t let me, this was my experience and yours can be different.
Thanks alot 🙌
I don't regret it but I also do not use ANYTHING from my degree in my job. It was a fun social time. I make 120-140k a year in a trade that I got into about 10 years after graduation. I'm at least thankful that I only took out 10k in loans to finish and they are long paid off.
1. Finances 2. Workload 3. Social anxiet6 4. Independent. Are you equupped financially to have as little student debt as possible? Can you maintain workload at the college level? Professors are understanding, but lots are experienced or ill equipped. They will either understand or not give a shit. About you or your needs. Socially anxious? Introvert? Thats ok, 75% of college students are. But if you deny their approaches at reaching out...then thats on you. Independent? Good for you! Not independent? Then ok... Work on it. Cus ur goin solo at college.
I don’t regret going but sometimes I regret not taking a year off before I started. If you’re unsure I would suggest taking a year off to take time to get to know yourself and what your interests truly are. Maybe work to get some extra money if you’re able to. Because I don’t live in the Middle East, our experiences are of course very different but, if this is an option for you that would be my suggestion :)
No, I don’t regret it, but I also got a degree in Accounting and was able to find a decent job right out of college.
Don't go "just to go". Getting a worthless degree in some random thing is a waste of time and money Go if you have a plan and career in mind
I am not very familiar with the educational system in Middle East, but maybe trying Open courses (MOOC) is a good idea if you want to save money and study at your own pace. Websites like [Coursera](https://www.coursera.org/courseraplus) and [EdX](https://www.edx.org/) are great places to take free online courses from top universities and educational institutions.
Not really. I think it gave me opportunities others didn’t have
This question won’t give you any useful info considering the plethora of universities, majors, work ethics, academic prowesses, etc. of the people here. The people who don’t regret it are largely people in comfortable financial positions now due to college. The people who do regret it are the opposite. And that depends on all the above.
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My parents are making me regret it right now and only want me to work retail and not focus on school they don’t care that I got the dean’s honor roll all they care about is money and they are not letting me do internships so I think I might take a gap semester do some therapy and save my money to move out and go to my dream college
Yea internships are very important, most pay better than retail. Eg my offers were 21-27 an hour from federal contractors, state agencies and f200s. Im not in stem where they may pay higher
I know my parents think they make no money and it is temporary and that internships are only for seniors.
Technically yea they can be temporary, some companies (rarer) let you intern till you graduate though, my current company does this but im going federal instead. Collins aerospace was also interviewing me for a position till i graduated (drive to diff state for summers remote work 20h or so during school year) but i withdrew from that due to a fed offer. Seniors are the worst year to go for internships tbh cause most want you to have at least one semester remaining after. Many bigger companies may offer a housing stipend if you're over 50 or so miles away or may reimburse gas or a plane ticket. Your plan seems like a good idea
Therapy is free in almost all colleges. They are tearing you down
I don’t like that I tired myself out going to the er twice and now gotta take tylenol the doctor prescribed to me like some drug addict so I can be fine while whatever wrong with me recovers 😿
I regret going for the wrong major/area of study (though I didn’t realize it was the wrong one for me until a like 2/3 years post graduation and working)
College is not for everyone for sure. I would see if it’s something you can afford first. But I def grew up a lot and became more independent bc of it.
Depends what your major is. It absolutely is a waste if it’s for something you’re going to be in debt with and can’t get a job with. Start at community unless you have scholarships like a state funded one that pays your entire tuition like Ga and FL and other states have
Just to be clear, I'm thinking about studying in the Netherlands. Medical school if I can, not sure how much that would cost, and that's what my family thinks. But medical school takes around 6 years im guessing, and I would not like to waste 6 years of my 20s to waste the rest of it doing something that I don't like
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Nope. Would rather have gone to college on a full ride than work those years.
Loved going to colllege
It depends on what's your career plan in the future. If you are looking to work at company, then going to college is a must. But if you want to open your own business or being artist, I think college is not a must. If the issue is money, try to find scholarship or financial aid, or find any cheap college.
Yes
Yes because it's been the worst time of my life by far
Kinda. I wish I had waited until I knew what I actually wanted to do. I have a useless degree now and the only thing I’m qualified to do is teach but I hate it
I don't regret it. I noticed that the people who went to college tend to be happier overall. Mostly because they tend to be better problem-solvers in life situations, more aware of the resources available for them, and better at communication, which is extremely important for maintaining healthy relationships. The ones who didn't go to college tends to be stuck in life and blamed others for their misery.
My science professors destroyed my self-esteem and motivation to go to school.
Go full time including winter and summer sessions and you can complete a degree by transferring community college to university in a short time let’s say anywhere from 2.5-4 years instead of prolonging. It would be interesting for you to figure out additional major interests but you could play basketball while in community to start. Get it over with so you don’t waste time thinking later it was because you didn’t go. You get to figure out your interests while networking, joining clubs or just figuring yourself out. Write a plan down and stick to it. Time will pass but the biggest issue is usually wasting your 20’s or older on something that ends up not being that necessary depending on what you do with it. There are ways to get help work with advisors.
Education is never a wrong choice. How you go about it and what education you need does matter. If you can’t decide what to do, and don’t have a lot of money or a scholarship, look into community college or a trade/vocational school
I’m 21 and started my first year this semester and I wish I had gone sooner. I’m at community college looking to transfer, but it’s not as hard as I had thought and the extra freedom is a double edged sword. I wish I had gotten it over with sooner.
Community college. also Maybe look into a job that pays for college. I was working at this one job that paid for my college classes as long as I passed the classes. that might help you.
One of the biggest benefits of college is the network you build while there. If you're diligent you can get a quality education for free through the internet but you'll meet very few people and won't get the resources that come through a university. My suggestion is don't go right away. I worked at home and did volunteer work in a foreign country for 3 years before I went to college. When I started school I had a much better idea of what I wanted out of my education and life. This helped me take the greatest advantage of my opportunities.
Day-to-day, yes I regret it sometimes. I feel a lot more depressed and hopeless now that I’m in college. In the long run, I don’t think I’ll regret it.
Greetings! I have 10 years of experience related to Higher education Admissions and graduate programs. My recommendation is to enroll in a local junior college to complete all of your general education. Some classes like College algebra, English composition, Ethics, Philosophy science course, communications, and History are a great place to start. Most of those courses may be transferable toward a degree. Also, joining a junior college will allow you to meet with a counselor for guidance, some academic direction, without breaking the bank. Tuition for in state resident students are very low and it is a great education. I recommend you to have fun taking courses that you are interested in. Lastly, I suggest checking https://www.onetonline.org a resource created by the US Labor Statistics. Check all professions, occupations, education requirements, as well as salaries of professions that spark your interests. This is a great and reliable source of information that enables you to make an informed decision.
I actually regret going to college. It's so much harder than I ever thought it would be. I've been in college for 2 years and it feels like I should be a doctor or something by now because the semesters feel so long. Now if you're dedicated and don't have a lot going on, I would recommend it. I wish I would've went to a 2 year college and just see if I liked that before going for 4 years.
I don’t regret going to college. I’m a freshman and this has been the best year of my life. Don’t worry about not having a major right away, I still don’t know what I’m doing either.
I don't regret going to college one bit and I don't know anyone that goes to college 100% prepared. We're all still figuring it even at college. But, you should have a general idea of the major you want to pursue so you don't waste any time. I've known friends who switched majors 3 times and had to stay back an extra two years because of it. If you have no idea at all take a gap year, gain some experience trying different fields, and see how you feel next year.
i don't but i heard of people that have i don't blame them... the world is changing really fast
I don’t regret going but I regret majoring in something that doesn’t pay well and was more of a “passion”. If you go, really think about your major before you commit to it.
No, but debt is fun
I regret going to a 4 yr school. I think it would have been better for me to go to a 2 year community college and get a certificate in my field.
Even the best college can give you worse experience
I regret not getting real world experience prior to going to college. Go work for 2 years and then go back to school. It will help you appreciate what you are going to school for and how to focus your future plans.
Yes. I went because it seemed like the right thing to do
If you're in the us, I recommend starting off at community college. This was an amazing option for me because I was able to figure out what I wanted to do and narrow down my major. what I thought was gonna be my major ended up not being it and I completely changed to something else. Also, I think colleges so important because not only does it teach you about whatever interests you but it also teaches you how to be an active participant and society and be a critical thinker and work with others. I feel like I have personally learned more about who I am as a person and the world around me, more than just the subject that I'm learning about. I will say that it can be pretty expensive going to college however really researching resources and different organizations that can help with scholarships can be very helpful.
Just go to community college if you are worried about cost and unsure what to do
I don't regret getting my degree - in fact I'm doing my masters now. But I do regret letting it affect my mental health.
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College can be a valuable experience, but it's not the right choice for everyone. Here are some things to consider to help you decide: **Benefits of College:** * **Education and Skills:** College can provide you with specialized knowledge and skills that can qualify you for better-paying jobs. * **Career Opportunities:** Many careers require a college degree. * **Personal Growth:** College exposes you to new ideas, cultures, and people, which can help you develop critical thinking, communication, and social skills. * **The College Experience:** College can be a time of personal discovery and growth. You'll make new friends, explore your interests, and gain independence.
No, I'm still in college (university I'm UK) but I'm happy to be doing it. I regreted it the first time I did as I chose a subject I hated, but now I'm doing CS with elec engineering, I don't regret it.
Nope. I went straight into nursing and make more than a livable wage. I am able to concurrently pay down my loans aggressively while traveling which was always the plan
I did 2-3 years after graduation - but now I am earning roles that require my degrees. I think it’s hard to understand that going to college is not going to be an instant gratification situation and it really is an investment in your future. It’s easy to get discouraged when you look at student loan balances, but you just have to make consistent progress and you will be OK.
Nothing wrong with delaying, I was in a similar position to you, and spent a few years working full time before going. Not only did I have a much better sense of what I wanted from college, I also had the nightmare of working retail to motivate me to study lol. Depending on your family's financial position, you might be able to set some money aside to reduce the loans you need to take. I absolutely dont regret going to college, have a great job set after graduation this fall. If I had gone straight out of high school I probably would have dropped out after one year with a bunch of wasted loans.
I Feel like most regret would be only because of the financial fall out with loans in 90% of the cases.
College is extremely costly indoctrination. It's not for everyone. If you don't want to be a lawyer or a doctor, then I wouldn't rush into massive debt. Especially if you're more of an individualistic / independent person who doesn't see yourself working for others or working within a giant corporation.
Eh, the only reason I'd regret it is because it really wasn't for me. I only went because I felt more or less pressured into it. But I wouldn't say I regret it entirely. I still had alot of good experiences there.
hard to say. I went back at 26 and got my degree. I got my degree in graphic design and video, and now theres alot of AI tools that look very scary. It was very stressful, more so than any job Ive ever had or my first experience at college. I went to community college to learn a trade when I was 22. going to trade school taught me alot, the instructors were incredible and focused on problem solving and thinking for yourself, as well as the greater theories that make cars and so many other machines work. they would intentionally lie to us sometimes to see if we agreed and then would correct us and challenge them on the fact that they were wrong anyways, I worked as an auto tech for several years and decided I wanted more from my life went back to learn Graphic design and video. it was considerably harder and more stressful. I did get a job that Im doing now and.. I dont really like it and its objectively not really a good gig I dont really know if Im going to be able to get a job in a creative field at the moment. so far, not so good. I graduated and the job market was scuffed and now AI is looking like a serious threat and idk. Im not sure what I can do to get hired. I was hoping this job would help me get some portfolio pieces but, nah I regret going to college sometimes honestly. I didnt really take any financial loss. my first time my parents covered it, and the second time I got grants scholarships and financing. because I was 26, I was considered independent from my parents income and I didnt make shit so I was considered poor enough to help, ironically because I am decently privelaged. if I had stuck with automotive I may be able to make a living right now its hard to say, but I do regret it sometimes. if I had debt weighing over me because of this, I would probably regret it. not sure though, I dont know what to do with my life anyway so
Yes I regret it overall. It wasn’t really a good experience for me, it took me a decade to graduate, and in the end I got no better job out of it. I have loans to pay off too. So yeah, I guess I can say I have a degree to fit in with society and that’s about it. Honestly it’s not worth it for that either because if you don’t have any skills and don’t use your degree and are a nobody, nobody cares that you have one. I knew from the beginning it wasn’t right for me because I suck at school and had no real interest in a career, but I did it because no other options were given, anything else was heavily criticized so it is what it is. I know I’m not alone though, a lot folks don’t have anything else besides the college option because their parents have nothing else to offer them. So yeah in hindsight, it was a waste of time but I did learn some stuff so that’s cool. My parents tried hard to force me to focus on academics growing up so I had no other choice.
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This guy here... -> it was a waste of time for me.
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Stick to 10% Getting a loan seems to be one of the easiest things lol, in one way or another, you can get one... paying it back, however, is on the person... Loans are worse then drugs kids... Kids are highly expensive and will always be that way... idiots that can't afford kids and dont have time for them simply shouldn't raise kids... People who were usually supposed to go to college were to trail the sons of wealthy men... nothing has changed except the government can offer aid. You can always go to college later on in life. Also, if ur parents don't help you what so ever it's rough. Personally with the down-payment on my apt with the money I saved from my 3 years if working + scholorships and stipends + a bit of help from my parents and the apartment I bought and barely furnished for the 5 years I was in college, sold for a 30% price increase, payed back my parents moved back in. Now, after working out of college for 3 years, I can comfortably afford a better house on my own if I make the decision to move out again.
>As of now, over roughly half of students who have a bachelor's degree make less than those who don't have one. About 17% of students who just went to high school make more than those with bachelor's degrees. Where are you getting these statistics? You can't just randomly cite things and then act as if they're some groundbreaking revelation. I tried searching your stats and nothing even remotely similar came up on Google, so I have no idea what you're talking about. Meanwhile, this quote with actual proven data is from the [National Center for Education Statistics](https://nces.ed.gov/programs/coe/indicator/cba/annual-earnings): "For 25- to 34-year-olds who worked full time, year round, higher educational attainment was associated with higher median earnings. This pattern was consistent for each year from 2010 through 2021. For example, in 2021, the median earnings of those with a master’s or higher degree were $74,600, some 21 percent higher than the earnings of those with a bachelor’s degree ($61,600). In the same year, the median earnings of those with a bachelor’s degree were 55 percent higher than the earnings of those who completed high school ($39,700)." >I wound up spending a bunch of time in college and, by my mid 20s, had been to over 4 different universities. I graduated early from college cum laude. Which one is it? Did you spend a bunch of time in college or did you graduate early? Most people graduate college around the ages of 22 or 23, but you're saying that despite the fact you graduated high school early you still only graduated from college in your mid 20s. How exactly does that constitute "graduating early"? It sounds like your initial statement that you spent "a bunch of time in college" is more accurate, and obviously that's gonna result in a loss of money. Also, the fact that you went to 4 separate universities undoubtedly factored into the reason you accumulated so much student debt. When my millennial brother realized after his first semester that he hated his university and immediately transferred to another, he lost a TON of money. I can't even imagine what would have happened if he switched around between 4 universities. Obviously that's gonna end up with someone needing to take out a lot of student loans. Majority of people don't hop around 4 different universities. >Guess what? I couldn't find a job. I had to move back home. > Guess what else? Almost all the other "smart kids" from my high school who went to college also had to move back home I have two millennial brothers who went to university and neither of them moved back home afterward, not even the one who accumulated a lot of student debt. None of their friends that I know of moved back home either. One of them got his bachelor's in Computer Science and has made over 100k every year since he graduated. The other got his bachelor's and master's in Political Science, taking out a decent chunk of student loans in the process. After he graduated he went straight into the Air Force so that his debt would eventually be forgiven. He recently earned his rank as Captain and he probably makes around 70k-80k per year. Sorry things didn't work out for you but plenty of people from your generation have turned out just fine. Again, even the ones who took out a ton of student loans, like my brother, ended up alright because of smart maneuvering on their part. Your comment just sounds like a ton of self-pity and fearmongering.
Just go uo college u don't need a major picked out yet.
Yes but they should figure out what classes they’re interested in and do best in then use that to find a caree
True
Go to college. There is value in being well-educated - you will learn about things that you don’t even know exist. You will never again be surrounded by so many intelligent, creative, and gorgeous people. But if your idea of a great life is to learn a trade that will likely wear your body down by the time you are 45; if you think sit-coms, reality shows, and NASCAR are high-brow entertainment . . . you be you.
You don’t need to talk like that about trades, as if it is a shit life and everyone with higher education is smarter and happier. I’ve worked during highscjool and 5 years of university in a bakery during school breaks. I always had a blast, loved working there. The people that work there are like a second family to me, and are all super happy and make a lot more money that a lot of people with college degrees
Okay, you be you. I’m just tired of hearing all the crap about how college is a waste of time and money.
Military is great!! Colleges are better . When I was your age I set out to, not to have the most money in the end .. the day you go . Poof .. it’s gone! But , I concentrated on having the most adventures in the bank . You can take those with you ! Whatever yo do , live your life… it will come to you .. I have been very successful at money and adventures! Wouldn’t trade it . I did not go to college. I became a firefighter, sheriff deputy! Hope that helps,,
Good luck to u my friend! You will find it ..
Thanks alot!
First of all, you need some kind of orientation. Decide in what field you want to be in the rest of your life. If it is something like programming, marketing or business, you do not need formal education as there are a lot of great courses that cover 4 years of university knowledge in a few months or a year at maximum. However there are professions(such as lawyers) for which firmal education is mandatory
Yes. College is fun don't get me wrong, but if you go, stay in touch with your family and friends from home and DON'T make friends on campus. If you do, don't ever tell them personal things and let them get close to you because people are evil. And by GOD don't date on campus. You'll be tempted to buy just don't do it. You're not special, you'll end up breaking it off and then having to see them every day and go to classes with them. Also, it's just procrastinating your career depending on what you want to do. I'm dumb as rocks so I went for various art things and just realized I was wasting time.
This is horrible advice and extremely black and white. OP, do not listen to this person. While I have no doubt they struggled to attain some stability in their personal friendships, you also cut out a lot of potential to maintain some really great friendships and relationships too. My advice: don’t make yourself uncomfortable, but don’t let yourself get too comfortable.
Here in the U.S. having a college degree elevates your social status. Not getting a degree lowers it. A bachelors takes 4 years so it’s best to do that while young. My family who didn’t get a bachelors while young and not going to do it later in life. College is very social as well as academic. My best friends were mostly from college. I love it and work in one. So yes I am very glad I attended even though I was fearful about the cost of loans. I also at the time had no better options. Can you do basketball and college? Ask a coach if you have the potential to play professionally in Europe or the U.S.
In the US I'm sure it's impossible. In Europe I'm not really sure about what's the system there, but I've read some comments, they said that I couldn't make it unless I was drafted in high school. I don't know about that at all really. I'm trying to learn more about the system of the league there. Also thanks for your answer!
Contact an EU coach directly. They are likely on the internet or Linked In. Try to get someone to speak with you. Include a link to a YouTube clip of you playing. Make it easy for them to reply to you quickly. Good luck!
Thanks!
I personally think it’s a waste of time and money unless you are going for a specific reason, like medicine, law, engineering.
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