Why You Can’t Afford NOT to go to College
Most people want to further their education. However, not everyone has the opportunity to. Perhaps you jumped right into a career following high school. Maybe you had children young, and much of your life focuses on their day to day. As the years continue to pass, it becomes more difficult to go back to school for that degree. You fall into a routine and you find it impossible to break that routine to attend school. However, with the right school and the right plan, furthering your education and finally getting that college degree is possible.
A college degree often leads to better jobs and additional income. In a 2012 Pew Research report, workers with at least a Bachelor?s degree had median annual earnings of $45,500, well over the medians for people with only some college ($30,000) or a high school diploma ($28,000). Even those college graduates who find themselves in different career fields than they originally went to school for, tend to make more in their new career field.
You might think that you cannot afford college. College involves college tuition, book costs, sometimes room and board costs and it involves sacrifices such as reduced work time or required child care. However, it can actually cost you money to forego your college education. Not going to college will cost you about a half a million dollars (when you take into account average additional wages, etc). If you add together the additional pay that you will receive each hour, for the rest of your working life, you will find that you actually lose a lot to not attend school.
You might also think that college is pointless, if you do not have your area of study defined. This is far from the truth, however. Many incoming college freshman do not know what they want to major in yet. Most find thing information during their college education. Also, college graduates with a Bachelor?s degree in anything tend to make more than those without college educations.
A B.A. in English tends to be a popular degree. Many people are interested in reading and all of the skills that a B.A. in English can provide you with. You will further your reading and writing skills which can transfer to a variety of different jobs. A B.A. in English can also prepare you to go the academic route, furthering your education with an advanced degree or continuing on to teach other students going for a college education.
Psychology is another common major. A B.A. in Psychology is similar to the same perks of an English degree. The B.A. in Psychology will provide you with a variety of interpersonal skills that can be transferred to almost any other job. The B.A. in English may sometimes be double majored in with the Psychology degree. About 6% of all college grads majored in Psychology. Other common degrees include communications major degree and a family studies degree. Sometimes the family studies degree may also be earned along with the Psychology degree.
Many adults will find that college is very different than high school. College programs are built around adult education. Most colleges understand that their students have previous priorities and responsibilities. They are more likely to work around school and children duties. They may have options to work or study from home and will be more lenient with testing and internship requirements.
Once you get out of the habit of schooling, it can be difficult to return for your college education. Each year that you put it off, you find it harder and harder to return. However, foregoing college can actually cost you a lot of money over your lifetime. Most college graduates earn more than those who did not graduate college. You will lose out on a lot of money over many years. Many students choose to study fields like communications, psychology and family studies. These degrees teach the students a variety of skills. Many of these skills can be passed onto additional fields of work.
