<p>I am so tired of studying for AP exams, SAT, ACT, SAT2, and other tests.
I am so tired of this whole 'going to college' system.
I gave up on those exams and my parents gave up on me.
My cousin got a full ride to Harvard and all my family members are now looking at me to go to some good college like Stanford.</p>
<p>but honestly, I don't even want to go to ANY college.</p>
<p>I always ask people around me about college. What did college do to them, how did it improve their life and how did it benefit them in any way. They just tell me that I just must go to college. And i ask why. They then tell me that I will learn things and it will help me with my future career. But I already know what i'm passionate about and i already make money with it. </p>
<p>I feel like college isn't that important. I probably will find good people there and know better of this society but I just don't think it's necessary. I'm not special nor smart enough to get accepted to any colleges probably except community college. I know i'm going to disappoint my family members and I know i'm going to not regret anything. This is probably really bad..</p>
<p>I don't study that much. I compose instead because that's what i love and that's what i need to get my mind all good. I make money from it..
Idk what i'm going to do in college, what major i'm going to be in, what friends i'm going to make.. ugh this sounds so depressing lol.</p>
<p>But yeah. I want to hear the real college life. Not just a simple answer like ' it's for your future' because my future will be bright even without any college education.</p>
<p>If you don’t think college is necessary and you’re making money now at whatever you’re doing, then don’t go. If you don’t think you’ll regret it, don’t go. Easy.</p>
<p>Going to college is a choice and a privilege, not something you “must” do. Many adults advise students to attend college because having a degree opens many doors. In today’s society, a lot of jobs require a degree or if it doesn’t, having one makes you more competitive and helps you climb up the corporate latter quicker.</p>
<p>Having a degree is also a good back-up for somebody. For example, I know someone who has their own start-up and is making money, but is going to school just in case this falls through or he wants to do something else. </p>
<p>Having a degree and being a student has opened many doors to me. I can apply to many internships in big companies with high-profile clientele because I’m a student and they’re willing to teach me so I know the ropes when I graduate. I also have the opportunity to apply to awesome places like Google or Southwest Airlines, because they only take interns on that are students. And why is this important? Well, I’m getting ‘paid’ to work in the career field I want even before getting a degree, and when I do get the degree, I’ll be extremely qualified to work where I want.</p>
<p>So yes, it’s for your future. If you don’t like that answer, then you don’t need to go to college. Simple as that. Some people are fine without a degree, and some people aren’t and regret not going to college. You’ll just have to figure out where you’ll be in 20-30 years.</p>
<p>I’d also like to add that college will always be there if you decide to go. There’s no reason this has to be an all or nothing choice. You can decide not to go to college, and go back to school if you ever find that you need or want the degree. Odds are, you’ll be a lot more dedicated and driven at that point, as well, since you have a specific goal you’re working towards, not just doing what you think you’re “supposed to do.”</p>
<p>Also, keep in mind that if you’re parents are pushing for you to go to college, they might require that you go to school for them to keep supporting you. If you decide not to go to college, keep in mind that loafing around at home may not be an option, so you’ll need to come up with a plan to support yourself.</p>
<p>Yes and no. If you don’t do anything, you are probably going to be screwed. Most likely, you are not going to find a good career that makes a lot of money without a college degree, but you don’t need to try as hard as some people are. You at least need decent grades and a decent score, but you don’t need to be perfect. My brother wasn’t into the whole college thing either, but he is one of the smartest people I know. He applied to one state school and got in. It’s not the best school, but its decent. I will probably still go to a better school, but I swear he will still make more money than I do because he is a genius.
I know some people who aren’t in college, and as of now, they aren’t going anywhere in life. They are going to be stuck in the same dead end jobs for the rest of their lives if they don’t get any kind of training. But training doesn’t necessarily mean college. Electricians go to trade school and can make 50-60 grand a year or more depending on their experience. Going to college doesn’t guarantee a job either. You could work in a trade, be a nurse, a cop, a soldier, or a firefighter, and still make good money and work your way up. You just need some kind of plan. College tends to just be a safe one.</p>
<p>You don’t have to go… but just know that it can be a lot harder to go later in life. If your parents are willing to foot the bill now, they may not be willing in several years if you realize you do need a degree to get a decent paying job. Also, “stuff happens” as you get into your 20s – it is SO MUCH easier to get a degree between the ages of 18-22 than when you are 28 and have a family to support. Getting a college degree isn’t just about you, it is about providing for your family in the long run. I ended up as a single parent to two kids, and am beyond glad I stuck out my degree and had/have a good job to pay all the bills and give us a pretty comfortable life. The statistics are pretty clear that those with college degrees make more money than those without. Sure, there are exceptions, but you can’t be sure you will be one of those.</p>
<p>Like others said, if you don’t wanna go, then you don’t have to. If you can make a living doing what you’re doing now, and you really believe you don’t need college, then I guess that’s okay.</p>
<p>Romani and Niqui are right. No one has to go to college if they don’t want to.</p>
<p>But. There are some definite advantages to going away to a four year school. Your parents aren’t around to hassle you, for one. If you have weird or nerdy interests it’s easier to find other people interested in them, time to pursue them in, and you might even get academic credit for them.</p>
<p>Also, if you’re sick of all the cramming and high stakes testing of high school and the college entrance process, just be aware that college isn’t like that. Outside of intro science classes anyways.</p>
<p>You are right… No one HAS to go to college. So, what is your plan? You do need a plan to become a self supporting adult. Are you looking at vocational training? The military? Working retail or waiting tables? It’s great that you want to compose…how do you become successful in that venture? How do you break into the field?</p>
<p>A lot of people talk in generalizations, that dilutes the message. So I’ll talk from my 1st hand experience.</p>
<p>I didn’t go to college after HS. Where did I want to be next year? who cares. I didn’t have any long-term goals or plans back then. Eventually I got into cars and started working on high performance vehicles. To be honest I completely hated the life style. I’d be working at 2am just to make ends meat. And the environment was crap. There weren’t any girls to talk to, no vacations or company trips. And life outside IRL wasn’t much better. The people I knew in HS were moving on with their lives. They were graduating college, getting legit 9-5 jobs. Being able to afford girlfriends, etc. And here I was basically stuck in the past. </p>
<p>Now even when I transfer, I’ll 4 years older then I should be. I can start noticing the age gap. If I was any older I’d miss out on the entire college experience. Even so I’ve already missed out on a good portion of my life. 18-30 are some of the best years of your life. I wasted 18-22 and I won’t graduate till I’m 26. So half of my prime is gone. Life would have been better if I just tried in HS, went to a good uni at 18 and graduated at 22. I could enjoy my 20s instead of building them up from scratch.</p>
<p>Anyways this is kind of a ramble. The moral of the story is as a teenager your brain is just as smart as any adult. But you lack the experience. You don’t really understand what will happen with life in a few short years. So it’s a good idea to follow other peoples advice. Especially when they are all saying the something.</p>
<p>P.S. some people do luck out and are well off without college. I’m not one of those people and I’ve met a lot of other people in my same situation.</p>
<p>The choice is ultimately up to you. I didn’t necessarily want to go to college. It felt more like an obligation than anything. Like something I had to do. The cost of the endeavor is what turned me off more than anything. Thousands of dollars for a piece of paper? No thank you. Today, however, I am very thankful that I made the choice to attend. My view of the world is wider in both scope and depth and I have gained a considerable amount of allies from my interactions. It’s certainly not a pleasure cruise, but if you approach college in the correct manner, it will open many doors both within yourself and in your outside surroundings.</p>