There is no doubt in the minds of many Americans that financial stress is getting bigger and bigger, while paychecks are generally getting smaller and smaller. For many high school seniors, and other potential college students, the financial strain that they are facing is just one in a list of deterrents that are causing them to question whether or not attending college will actually be worth it in the long run. Other potential students are worried about the time commitment that completing a degree will require, and whether or not they will be able to devote a good portion of their life to completing a college degree.
Although these are all legitimate reasons to question whether or not attending college is worth it, the overall answer to this dilemma is YES. A college degree gives its holder a leg up on the rest of the world in numerous different ways—there are more job opportunities available, more opportunities for travel, more networking opportunities, as well as providing more life experience.
If you ask a good portion of the population why they think you should go to college, the number one answer you will receive is: to get a good job. Even though the economy has taken numerous hits in the past few years, and finding a job has become more difficult than ever before, having a college degree still puts you ahead of the competition. In fact, many employers will not even consider a potential employee if they have not attended college at least, if not completed a degree. Although going to college doesn’t guarantee you a job, your odds of obtaining one are much higher than they would be without a degree.
Attending college and obtaining your degree can open up a whole new world of possibilities—in fact, the world is literally open to you. Many colleges offer internships or the chance to study abroad, allowing students to explore life in other countries while gaining excellent life experiences that will launch them ahead in life. Being able to spend time in another country gives you a window into the rest of humanity—it shows you just how similar humans can be, while also highlighting the differences that each culture contains. Spending time abroad truly is an invaluable resource that college can give to you.
Out of all the opportunities you receive in your life, your time spent at college will be the one that is the most full of chances to meet new people—people that could potentially be a connection to the life or job that you have always dreamed of. Many college professors are more than willing to help students meet other people in their field, and most colleges often hold job fairs in which businesses come to campus and let students mingle with their staff for a day. This is a pool of resources that will probably never be so deep in your life again—in fact, there is a good chance that this could be the only opportunity you will have to meet some of these people.
Although college can be a major commitment in the areas of both time and finances, the benefits greatly outweigh the drawbacks. The experiences you will have during your college years cannot be had anywhere else, and they will help prepare you to be a world-changer—to fulfill the dreams you’ve always had, and perhaps, help you to discover some that you never even knew were there.
