Do you think we must go to college to have a successful life?
372406
Your career opportunities are vast compared to those without a college diploma.  Consider yourself fortunate if you have a college diploma, because you will be able to select from different careers regardless of the major you've graduated from.\n\nIn addition, college teaches you the discipline for the problems you will encounter in the real world.
1165427
work and go to college
190360
no...course i didn't go to college, couldn't afford it.  but "basic education" no longer allows you to provide for yourself and your family.  and now, a degree no longer offers you the financial security it used to, unless you have an Masters.....i just wish i could pay my rented house, utilities, used 17 yr old car and still eat.
116932
No. I think that the education system in the US is terrible. The schools here don't get students ready for college. When I made the transition from high school to college it was very difficult. I was not ready and I think that the schools need to do more to get high school grads ready for life outside of school.
389080
You need to weigh what you have to do now against the result in the end.  Can you afford it?  Some people spend much more than that for college.  If that is what you want to do with your life, and you can afford it, go for it.  There is nothing like going to work and enjoying what you do, regardless of the pay.
248283
i f college is what you want then go for it.. your never to old..
880794
UM NO... Thats what helps people go to college and become who they are. without those people would be swarmed in debt. escpecially the people who want to be doctors and would have over 300k in college bills in the end!
56865
It's definitely worth the effort, but it's not totally necessary. Obtaining a Bachelor's or Master's will instantly make you a better candidate for higher-paying jobs, but it's not the only way into a good career and lifestyle. If you are not motivated enough, disciplined enough and academically inclined enough, then college will be hell for you. For those millionares who either dropped out or never attended college, they had great ideas, motivation, access to money and resources, and great contacts. If you have these things, college is not really a necessity, but will just help you look better.\nNote: I'm a sophomore journalism major
143785
yes it could help you get into a good college.  schlorships are some of the benefits.
1183112
So life does pass us all by,  and most people you age are still living in the projects or trailer parks or rental houses working mowing grass, working at Walmart and just living life.\n\nThe majority of people your age does not even go to college.\n\nAt this point and time, you have to stop comparing yourself to others and just decide what you are going to do with "YOUR" life, and then of course most likely change your mind a few times along the path.\n\nSo go to college part time, start with an accredited school online while you work\n\nOr go to tech school for a trade instead,  or find a good job and never go to college.\n\nWe ( none of us) live life by some schedule or by  amaster plan, we each live life doing the best we can.
113755
It depends.  If you have financial contraints to go to college, you might have to work before going to college.  If you can afford it and want to go to college, it's better to go straight to college from high school so you're not distracted by anything else.  Procrastination can prevent you from finishing college.
643218
This is just coming from a country white girl, but oddly enough, I can relate.  I grew up in a little bitty ol country town no one has ever heard of, in a family where no one else had gone to college ever.  Luckily my parents encouraged me and helped me believe I could do anything, but I had friends whose parents discouraged them from ever trying to make anything of themselves or try to get a better education, better job, or better life.  Part of it was money, they didn't have the $$$ to send their kids to college, they didn't know anything about what college meant or even how they'd go about the whole process, and part of it I think was fear.  Fear of failure, fear of success, fear of the unknown, and simply not knowing any other kind of life.  The reason I tell you this isn't to get a pity party for me or my friends, pity isn't what we need.  My point is, we all face so many hardships, and it's hard for people to see, and that I really can relate. I wanted to be a doctor since age 5 but didn't know anyone who'd ever done that, so I didn't know much about the process, and I didn't have any "connections" who could hook me up or even steer me in the right direction.  Even in middle and high school I did research on the internet and asked my pediatrician about med school and what I needed to do to be a doctor.\n\nSo, back to your question.  How to succeed when it feels like the cards are stacked against us??\nYou have to do your homework.  And by that I don't mean schoolwork.  I mean, you set a goal for yourself and stick to it.  Figure out what it takes.  Don't just say "I want to be a business woman" and expect it to happen.  Find someone who you admire in that field and spend some time working with them or getting to know them, and know how they went about becoming successful.  How did they get to where they are today, what sort of schooling did it take, how many years of education or professional training/ecperience did it take, what was the hardest part, what is the best part about it? Do an internet search, go to the library, see what the basic requirements are.  This is the way I found out to be a doctor I needed 4 years of college then 4 years of med school, then at least 3 of residency training.  If I hadn't done this basic research I wouldn't have known.  Another thing you should do (not sure how old you are) is look for programs geared towards you.  In high school I did a summer program at a medical school that was geared towards "rural" students interested in becoming doctors.  And I only found out about it by accident from another student (our guidance counselor told me he didn't think I was smart enough and that I wouldn't fit into a program like that so he never gave me the application)  Anyway the point is, look on the internet or specifically ASK your guidance counselor, college advisor, etcetera if any programs like this exist for you, something geared towards women in business or minorities in business.  That summer program in high school literally taught me everything I needed to know to succeed in geting accepted to college and med school, and to believe in myself. They set us up with mentors, they gave us sample college classes and preparation for them, they put us in touch with the admissions offices of the colleges and med schools. It didn't make it EASY but any means, but it just layed out the groundworks for people like me who otherwise had no idea where to begin, or what I needed to do or when to do it.\n\nSo, to sum it all up:\n1)believe in yourself\n2)find a role model who you can go to for advice and learn from\n3)be proactive and figure out what it takes, how much education, what kind of training, how long etc\n4)There's programs out there to help you.  Look for them\n5)Unfortunately it IS sometimes about WHO you know.  So if you don't know the right people, try and meet the right people\n5)bel
264859
No, you don't need a college degree to be successful, you just need to enjoy what you are doing. Some of the wealthiest people in the world don't have a college degree.\n1. Bill Gates, Harvard, dropout.\n2. Li Ka Shing, High school drop out.\n3. Sheldon Adelson, College drop out.\n4. Larry Ellison, University of Illinois drop out.\n5. Michael Dell, University of Texas Austin, drop out.\nIt sounds like you are already successful.  Good luck.
598917
Yes unless you are naturally gifted, but even then, college is extremely important. even if you are some type of genius, college still helps you to network. It's really good to get to know a variety of people in a variety of fields. Also, college is good time to help you challenge your innate ideas. People change in college, it's a great time.
1101359
Why Get a College Degree?\n\nKnowledge, Skills, and More Opportunities\nIf you go to college, you'll gain information and skills that you'll use for the rest of your life, no matter what career you chose. College will enable you to:\n\n    * Expand your knowledge and skills\n    * Express your thoughts clearly in speech and in writing\n    * Grasp abstract concepts and theories\n    * Increase your understanding of the world and your community\n\nWhat This Means for You\nThe benefits above may sound great on their own, but college also has some very practical benefits:\nMore Job Opportunities\n\nThe world is changing rapidly. More and more jobs require education beyond high school. College graduates have more jobs to choose from than those who don't pursue education beyond high school.\n\nEarn More Money\nA person who goes to college usually earns more than a person who doesn't. According to the US Census Bureau, on average, someone with a Bachelor's Degree earns $51,206—almost double the $27,915 earned annually by someone with only a high school diploma.\n\nWhy Not Go to College?\nMany students are unsure about going to college, for many reasons. Below are five we've heard before, and why they don't hold water.\n\n1. "I Can't Afford It."\nMost students get financial aid to help pay for college, and most aid is based on need. This means that the less money you have, the more aid you might get.\n\n2. "Nobody in My Family Has Ever Gone."\nBeing first can be hard. For instance, you may have to explain to the family why college is important to you. On the other hand, being first is likely to be a source of pride, for you and for your family.\n\n3. " I Don't Know What I Want to Do with My Life."\nJoin the crowd. Thousands of college freshmen haven't decided on a major or on a career. College gives you the opportunity to learn more about what's out there. You'll be exposed to a variety of academic subjects, people, and new perspectives.\n\n4. "College Is Too Hard for Me."\nMost students think college will be too hard for them. Keep in mind, all colleges offer tutoring and student support. As confident as some students seem, no one goes to college knowing everything—if they did, why would they go?\n\n5. "I Just Won't Fit In."\nMost colleges have students from many backgrounds. To get an idea of what to expect, explore colleges with College Search, or better yet, visit in person. Be sure to ask about the make-up of the student body, and if they have clubs and activities that you're interested in joining.\n\nIt Doesn't Have to Be a Four-Year College\nIf you're not sure about college, or which college, consider attending a community college. Community colleges are public, two-year schools that provide an excellent education, whether you're considering an associate degree, a certificate program, technical training, or plan to continue your studies at a four-year college.
606407
I would start off by thinking about the specific reasons a person might want to go back to college. This depends in large part on where the person is in their life and what they seek to accomplish. \n\nFor example, Madeleine Albright raised her entire family before she decided to go back to school and finish her PhD (I believe Political Science). In her example, we can say that she put off her career goal in order to raise a family. I think many of us will put off something like college or graduate school because we wish to have a family. Or, we might simply never have had an opportunity to go to college because of financial reasons. Many older Americans who are just now becoming affluent are finding that completing a college degree- even if they really don't need it- is still something rewarding. A college degree confers a unique and honored status to most people.\n\nAnd of course, some people just want to have a new direction in life. They discover- perhaps through a separate career- that they would like to go into a new field. Perhaps a nurse who seeks doctors every day decides that a medical career might take her in a new direction that she never before contemplated but now believes would be rewarding to her.\n\nOr, a person is not satisfied that their current job is not very lucrative, and a college degree offers upward economic and social potential.\n\nTo sum up:\n-People might postpone college because of family responsibilities or financial reasons.\n-A college degree confers a certain uique status; sometimes it is as much symbolic as it is practical.\n-Many people find out that they want a new career, and a college degree (often a second degree) will allow them to do this.\n-A college degree allows people to move up, economically and possibly also socially.\n\nI hope this helps.
123561
Hardly anyone is ABSOLUTELY sure what they want to do with thier entire life when they enter college. Someone who has always wanted to be a buisnessman might take a psychology class and decide that their true life calling is to be a psychologist. High school limits the amount of information you receive about the world, especially small schools that teach only basic subjects. College give you so many more course options that it is a time to discover what your life passions are. So, YES!