6 Reasons You Need a College Degree

After high school, you’ve got to make a big life decision. Do you commit four years of your life and probably thousands of dollars to go to college and get a bachelor’s degree? Do you go to community college or the trade school route? Or do you skip all of that and jump straight into the world of work? It is a really personal decision. We all know that everyone is different, and what works for one person doesn’t mean it will work for everyone.

College is a reality for some of you, or it might be. It’s a tough decision, and either way, it can change the course of your life forever. Like it or not, a college degree has become the ticket to access a middle-class life. But is it the only reason why college education is of great importance? Absolutely not. Let’s have a look at 6 reasons why starting college is a good idea. 

Better Earning

Making more money is one of the first motivations of those who decided to get a degree, and it’s not unreasonable. College grads with bachelor’s degrees earn on average of 30,000 per year more than high school graduates, according to CNN analysis. It can add up to around 500 000 more dollars per lifetime. 

Adding to this, the average earning grows depending on the level of your degree. Consequently, the pay gap between school grads and higher academic degree holders (master’s, doctor’s, etc.) comprises a significant number.

More Ways to Obtain Employment

College provides multiple nippy things such as job fairs, career services, internships, and volunteer opportunities. Nearly 80% of college students complete internships during school, which always comes in handy when applying for jobs after graduation.

“So what? Everyone has access to Google and may discover these opportunities without enrollment”, you may think. You are right, and anything can be found on the Internet. But is it easier to scour webpages searching for vacancies and programs or learn the same or even more in a relaxed atmosphere interacting with interesting, like-minded people? A lot of companies frequently contact colleges welcoming talented and ambitious students to join them. Let’s be honest; it’s way easier to reach out to the top company being a student with a dream than a high-school grad with ambitions.  

Exploring of New Options

For those not having a clear idea of future career but having a particular field in mind, college helps students to explore new options. Apart from vocational subjects, universities offer other not related to your degree programs that you may join. Many students do not declare a major when they sign up for classes, so college is a great way for them to test the waters and figure out their passion.

Higher Chances of Employment

Although it may sound old-school, this is an absolute truth that the highest paying jobs require a college degree. Based on research by Georgetown University, around 63% of jobs will require some level of college education or a degree. A diploma does not guarantee fast and successful employment though it increases your chances of taking a position. 

If we talk about Eurozone, the employment rate of recent graduates reaches 85% for tertiary education and 76% for non-tertiary, according to Eurostat. Talking about the US statistics, recent graduates’ unemployment rate comprises only 3.9%, compared to the general rate of unemployment of 11.1%.

New Contacts

If we stop thinking about college in terms of career opportunities and better earnings, education presents one more benefit – networking. In fact, all the opportunities mentioned above are not offered on a silver platter. Of course, you will not have much time due to active study, but there are services like essay-reviews.com designed specifically to help to prepare assignments such as essays and save students time. Though communication and new contacts will add to your resourcefulness, it simply means this: the more you network with people from your field, the more aware you become about upcoming job opportunities that others may not know about. 

Also, depending on your school, you will have access to some brilliant professors that you might not have ever met otherwise. These connections, whether short-term or long-term, are very beneficial. The degree itself is not a key that will open any door. But the way you benefit from it may give you better chances for success.

Apart from a practical perspective, new contacts may equal new friends. The college years are considered to be a favorable time for making friends because:

 

  1. you’ve chosen the same course or program meaning you have some common interests;
  2. you spend a lot of time together in the classes, studying together, and having other extracurricular activities;
  3. you use college opportunities together (join volunteering or exchange programs);
  4. you may even live together (which is fun itself).

All these togetherish things get you closer and forge a new friendship. Isn’t that awesome?

Those who associate college exclusively with learning and stress probably are not familiar with helpful studying resources. For example here is a useful article on college interview questions, created to take the pressure off students and help them to experience all the college-life perks.

Personal Growth

There are several reasons why college education is a need, starting from the knowledge that you gain and finishing with a higher chance of job promotion. But it’s also important not to overlook the benefit of self-development that college time presents you. Let’s look at several advantages of personal growth:

 

  • College provides better preparation for the workplace. While studying for a degree, students not only attend classes and do their homework but also learn to cope with new task formats (course works, case studies, etc.). Also, undergrads learn to prioritize the tasks and manage their time (of course, they dealt with tasks at school as well, though college assignments give them another type of preparation).
  • Students become more responsible and learn to make informed decisions. If the school is obligatory, college is a matter of choice or preference. And nobody else but you is responsible for the courses you take, programs you sign in, and the path you decide to take.

To Sum It Up

In many cases, college is not a cheap and easy option. You will face a lot of things you were unfamiliar with being a school student. Sometimes it will be hard and stressful, sometimes fun and exciting. The price you pay is high, but the things you gain from college and carry with you for the rest of your life are priceless.

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