<p>Average pay for someone who does not go to college: 30k </p>
<p>What would you do if they just seemed to treat college like a joke and decided not to go...</p>
<p>I would assume that they may very well come to their senses later and attend. But if not, it is their life… I would tell them that NOW (with the possibility of one gap year) is the time when I will help them financially attend. And that they can’t live at home, if they aren’t going to school they need to move out and support themselves.</p>
<p>There are lots of stories about kids who dropped out and are doing fine. Here are a couple of examples:</p>
<p><a href=“Kids skip college - not worth the money”>http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/personalfinance/2013/04/21/avoiding-college-avoiding-debt/1987309/</a></p>
<p><a href=“http://themattwalshblog.com/2014/01/19/thank-god-i-wasnt-college-material/”>http://themattwalshblog.com/2014/01/19/thank-god-i-wasnt-college-material/</a></p>
<p>There are plenty of anecdotes. But the statistics show that on average it is a poor financial decision.</p>
<p>Depends on the person. For many people, a job in construction (for example) might lead to greater self esteem, inner peace, and so on, and such a person might value those things more than the things money buys.</p>
<p>And some people really are not meant for college – or will not become ready for another 5 years.</p>
<p>No one has to go to college but the stats speak for themselves. </p>
<p>Not everyone goes to immediately after high school. I wouldn’t kick my child to the curb if she or he decided they wanted to apprentice somewhere to learn a trade or join the military or just work. I’ve also seen nieces and nephews take many different paths in their adult lives. All are leading productive lives but not all have college degrees.</p>
<p>My husband joined the Coast Guard after high school. Spent four years there and then went to a local college. I met him several years later when he was finishing up his doctorate.</p>
<p>Take the finances out of the equation. Do not value your child for the income they can produce as an adult. Statistics are just overall numbers- they do not tell the story of each individual. </p>
<p>Treating college as a joke may be a matter of not being ready for it or of being afraid of not getting into a school, being able to do well or other fears. You can’t fail if you don’t go…</p>
<p>You can push your child into applying to colleges and drop them off at the school but unless they want to be there you can’t expect them to succeed. Some HS students will be ready for college by the time they go and will be glad for the nudge from parents.</p>
<p>Does the student have alternate ideas? Encourage those. If no plans a few years of working at low level jobs below their potential will likely help them focus on getting more education. </p>
<p>Remember also is isn’t just what you are good at, it has to be something you like as well.</p>
<p>Average income of college grad $50,000.</p>
<p>College education equates to more money in the real world, but the real value of college shouldn’t be financial. It’s exposure to new ideas, new people, new situations. If that didn’t work for one of my kids (or for you right now), that’s fine…I’m sure there’s a valuable job out there for you. Don’t spend your (parents?) money if you’re not going to be engaged in the process. </p>
<p>I’m ok with it but I will remind them that not everybody will turn out like Bill Gates and Steve Jobs, drop out billionaires.</p>
<p>I would much rather have a child who works for a few years and matures and chooses a life path than one who is emotionally or developmentally not ready for college and crashes and burns during their first year. A friend’s son did the second and has been struggling with feelings of failure. This idea that every bright 18 year old is going to be ready for college ignores differences in maturity and temperament. And some of these folks who turn around and go to college in their 20s are then highly successful and motivated students. </p>
<p>That said there needs to be a plan for what happens instead of college be it a gap year program, work, vocational program. Sitting home and playing World of Warcraft on the other hand doesn’t cut it. </p>
<p>My 19-year-old would probably go nuts, literally, if he had to sit in a classroom many hours every week. We told him we understand and will not insist that he attend college at this point. BUT we will not support him if he doesn’t go to school. We’ll see what happens, I guess!</p>
<p>well, I’ve had a lots of issues in middle school and high school (couldn’t sit and listen to lectures for so long). and after finishing high school when college came in the way, I decided not to enroll (didn’t get my desired major and the college doesn’t allow transfer till now). it was fine when I took gap year.</p>
<p>I will NEVER EVER do anything like this again. sitting down at home and see my time being wasted was the most valuable lesson I’ve learned till date.</p>
<p>We know three young men in this situation. Student 1 is a very hands-on learner but, was not a high stat student. He is pursuing a trade instead of college. -cabinet making, I think. </p>
<p>Student 2 has learning challenges. He made it out of High School by the skin of his teeth. His dream would be to own a mountain bike shop someday. He’ll probably start doing bike repair. Right now, his parents have said they will work with him in a similar way as their other college bound kids but, he has to “pay to stay” until they transition him out on his own.</p>
<p>Student three partied his way out of High School. His parents told him there was no way they would pay for college. He went into the military after being told to find a job by his parents. Of this family’s three kids, this son is now the most likely to finish college. He has a new perspective on just about everything and can’t wait to start school. </p>
<p>Bottom line, for us anyway, is having each child strive up to their potential. That is what would make us happy with or without a college education. All of these students have my admiration and respect. I would be proud of all three. </p>
<p>There are many wonderful vocations that do not require college degrees…and we need folks to do them. It took me a long time to find a great plumber, electrician, builder, floor refinishers car mechanic, painter, landscape worker, etc. thank goodness folks choose to enter these jobs.</p>
<p>I would be fine if the kid has a plan for their future.</p>
<p>My middle D graduated from high school this year and has no immediate plans to go to college. She doesn’t like school and is currently working. I’m guessing that at some point she may figure out that working low paying jobs isn’t the way to get ahead and decide to go to college. But until then, it’s her life. And I know that if she were to go to college right now, with her current attitude toward school, she wouldn’t do well. Better that she start when she’s motivated to do well than start now because she’s being forced to do so, and then have to dig herself out from under a poor GPA.</p>
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<p>Bill Gates has said he does not like it when he is used as an example of a successful dropout. He was nearly done at Harvard when he left, and he said he felt there was no choice due to the timing of getting his product to market. He was probably right… </p>
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<p>I guess a problem with a lot of those jobs (which I agree are very valuable) is that they can really do a number on one, physically, especially the back and the knees.</p>
<p>I would not kick my child out of the house. In fact, I think this would be a time to maintain strong ties, show support, and help my child figure out what his next step will be. It could be a minimum wage job, it could be some sort of apprenticeship. As others have stated, there are so many different paths, false starts, and detours possible. And there are just as many different definitions of success. </p>