<p>I absolutely hate school. I graduated high school a year early just so I could be done faster. I always planned on going to college and always saw it as part of the plan. I just got a job working at a fancy hotel and have met a lot of people in their 20's who didn't go to college and are living the SAME lives as people I know who did go to college. I have always been taught that if you don't go to college, you will struggle to pay rent which obviously isn't true. The thing that scares me is that I actually really like my job at the hotel and I make really good money. I also want to be an actor which is another reason why college just won't work. I know I probably sound like an idiot who thinks being an actor is easy and blah blah blah but I've actually been doing acting my whole entire life and do in fact have an agent who I planned to use next year while I was in college at Northridge(LA).I feel like going to college would waste valuable time I could use pursuing acting. I just know that if I go to college I WILL drop out. I'm going for Communications which I have NO interest in at all. Iv'e saved up 5,000 dollars this year which I planned to use for college but I don't even want to go! I'd rather use that money to rent an apartment here in Las Vegas and work all next year continuing to save up money until I reach 10,000 dollars to move to Los Angeles. The only problem is that I'm still only 17 because I graduated high school early. I know my parents would be very disappointed because they think I have too much potential not to go to college since I graduated early and was a decent student(3.5 uw, 3.9w). I just wish they would understand that not going to college doesn't means I'm going to become some low life homeless hooker. </p>
<p>Soooo sorry this is so long, but If you don't read all that here are the main objective
questions
1.Does my plan seem feasible?
2.Does anyone else feel like college isn't that important?
3.Do you think I'm am making the wrong decision?
4.I'm so lost, any advice would be helpful on what I should do.</p>
<p>If you do not want to be in college right now, it is perfectly OK to not be in college right now. You can go to college later. Or never if it turns out that you don’t need to. For some professions, college is not absolutely necessary.</p>
<p>My only concern about your plan for moving into your own place, is that few landlords will rent to people your age. Your parents would probably have to sign the lease for you. If you can continue to live at home, do that and keep on working. Take advantage of the opportunities that you have at the hotel so that you do have job skills to fall back on between acting gigs.</p>
<p>Agree. If you don’t want to go to college now, you should wait. It could turn out that you will change your mind later, but you won’t know until you try some things in life. </p>
<p>You should like someone with some determination, so take a chance now and see where it leads you.</p>
<p>It’s fine to take time off. Many people do. You might return and you might not. Good job with the savings! You obviously have a good head on your shoulders.</p>
<p>Thank you soooo much everyone! You honestly have no idea how useful your words have been. I was starting to think I was going crazy and acting delusional. I have so much more confidence now to take some time off and see what happens because just like most of you suggested, college will always be there in case I decide to go back. Sincerely thank you!</p>
<p>I agree with the others that you shouldn’t go to college if the time isn’t right for whatever reason. I just want to caution you, though, about living beneath your means. If you’re making good money and spending every bit of it, you won’t be able to afford college (or emergency surgery or other expensive things) if you do want it. Keep lots of savings aside for emergencies, changes of plans, and dry spells. Good luck!</p>
<p>Only about 1/3 of the US adults over age 25 have a bachelors degree so you won’t be the only one if you choose not to go. It is not an irrevocable decision, either.
As you’ve seen, a college degree is not the only way to earn a decent income nor is it a guarantee of a decent income. However I would caution against using people in their 20’s as your yardstick. You’ll be in the workforce for decades past that. An imperfect guide to the future, but one worth considering, is what people in their 40’s and 50’s w/o a college degree are doing. I don’t know much about the hospitality industry, but since you are working in the field take a moment to look around and see if the people in that age bracket are satisfied with their jobs and earnings.</p>
<p>@mikemac That probably wasn’t a good age rage to use, but non the less I live in Vegas where a LARGE portion of the adults I know work in the hospitality industry(hotels) making enough money to live comfortable with their children. I all else fails college will always be there.</p>
<p>In case you’ve missed something recently, parents can keep their kids on their health insurance now until age 26 without the kid having to be in college.</p>
<p>I didn’t go back to college until I was 29. It’s working out alright for me: I am about the same place with some of the folks who finished college at age 22. But, you mentioned good money a couple of times. One of the families I know makes pretty good money - or so they said. When I mentioned that their engineering student could come to work for our company and probably he could make 60-70 grands a year as an entry level engineer in his field, their jaws just dropped. They must have thought, wow, THAT is good money. Point is, keep your eyes and ears open. And, personally, I think you’ll end up doing fine. You have a plan. That’s better than many, many of your peers.</p>
<p>It’s really not too hard to find employment that requires a HS degree, though as the years go by, the demand for college degrees from employers are increasing. Keep that in mind.</p>