Do I Need to Go to College to be Successful?

The class of 2020 would now be nearly ready to walk the stage if it were not for this pandemic. With that being said, moms and dads throughout the country and even the globe are making the last preparations for their children’s college plans. However, this starts the topic that most parents do not want to hear: I may or may not want to go to college, or college doesn’t seem right. But do I need to go to college to be successful?

Background Story

I am not an expert on this topic, but I can at least talk about my experience and take on this situation. 

I graduated from high school back in 2010. Yay, ten years out of the joint, haha. But my mom was all about me heading off to college. I was, to put it nicely, screwing this because it meant more homework, writing essays, and boring lectures. 

But, of course, I went to appease her. 

But the age-old question I get a lot is….

DID YOU GRADUATE FROM COLLEGE?

The easy answer to this question is… Heck no! I decided to drop out of college, start my professional SEO writing career, and help others succeed as I did. 

How Much Does a Person With A High School Diploma Earn Versus College Degrees?

Of course, there will be a wage gap for people in the workforce with high school diplomas versus those with college degrees. According to Money.com, the wage gap is $22,000.

While $22,000 is nothing to sneeze at, you can close the gap without needing college. There are a ton of alternatives to college that can boost your earnings.

Why I Agree More Schooling is NOT for Everyone

This leads me to why I wholeheartedly agree college is not for everyone. 

Let’s be honest; some kids are not cut out for college. That does not mean they are not cut out for trade school. That is entirely up to the kid. 

But this means that parents should at least hear their kids out before forcing them to do something they honestly do not want to do.

College is not cheap. College shouldn’t be thrown upon someone who may not be cut out for it or is not ready to take that next step. 

This does not mean your kid will not succeed in life as well. This means they must figure out what they want to do and start paving the way. 

Do I Regret Flunking Out? 

The simple answer is no. I was able to jumpstart my professional SEO writing career and gain experience on the job. 

My peers who went to college were robbed of this time as they went to school and didn’t hold jobs or positions for which they were going to school. 

This doesn’t mean everyone would be as successful as I am, but this gives kids a slight advantage and time to try things they usually would not try. 

Moral of the Story: Do I Need to go to College to be Successful?

The short answer is no. It will always be no. As a parent and someone who went through their mom telling them college is the only way to get ahead in life. Don’t do that to your already stressed-out kid who got dumped into the adult bucket overnight. 

Instead of forcing the college conversation on them and telling them they need to go to college to be successful, lay out every avenue they can choose and let them decide what they want to do to jumpstart their young adult years.