You might have heard the old saying, “College isn’t for everyone.” And it’s true: going to college doesn’t always guarantee a fulfilling life. However, success doesn’t come with those who only sit around and say, “I don’t want to go to college.” There are other post-secondary career options you may pursue to perfect yourself and get ahead!
In today’s post, Jobandedu will guide your way and suggest a few things to do if you don’t want to go to college.
Table of Contents
I Don’t Want To Go To College: Is It OK?
As mentioned above, a bachelor’s degree isn’t the only way to success. However, if you decide not to enter college, you must be ready for the real world, which might be merciless.
If you enrol in college, you get an additional 4 years of maturing, making bad decisions, and learning from your mistakes; if you don’t, you will have to mature and familiarize yourself with the harsh world outside.
What To Do If You Don’t Want To Go To College
Take Vocational Training
Trade institutions provide vocational courses, and once you finish the lessons, you can land various stable and well-paying jobs.
Not only are qualified employees in basic industries in high demand, but vocational education and apprentices emphasize the acquisition of practical expertise that students can apply instantly.
Furthermore, while vocational education was once stigmatized, things changed due to today’s cutthroat labor market. “Colleges are not equipping our kids enough for the actual jobs,” says Diane Ravitch, an education expert.
Now known as career and technical education (CTE), vocational training attracts lots of attention from students, especially those who do not have finance (due to the high tuition), passion, or access to colleges and universities.
Register For A Boot Camp
Coding boot camps have received considerable attention in recent years as universities struggle to supply enough STEM grads to satisfy the need for IT professionals. Many people consider it an excellent alternative approach.
Are you questioning whether companies treat boot camp graduates the same way they treat university graduates? According to a survey conducted by Indeed, 72% of recruiters believe boot camp grads are “just as qualified and likely to be top workers” as university graduates.
Join The Army
The army, like postsecondary education, is not for everybody. But if “I have no idea what to do with my life” perfectly describes you, getting enlisted could change your life forever.
To begin with, enlisting in the army guarantees basic income, free accommodation and food, free medical services and dental treatment, educational perks such as financial aid, and even house financing.
Furthermore, as a serviceman, you might acquire specialized and technical skills in various sectors, including aviation, electronics, mainstream media, and human resource management, a few of which may qualify for academic credit.
And everything you experience in the army sticks with you for the rest of your life. According to Money Crashers, “this experience helps enlistees learn to be more responsible, focused, and disciplined, which can benefit servicemembers for life.”
Throughout their training, service men and women will learn how to make decisions under dire circumstances and work under pressure – skills that are essential in our everyday life.” As a result, most of them advance to be politicians, entrepreneurs, or startups.
Become An Entrepreneur
You’ve heard it right, become an entrepreneur,
Many undergraduates leave college with big dreams to become startups, having grown up hearing stories of iconic entrepreneurs like Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates. However, as many renowned entrepreneurs have remarked, college is not always the best route to reach your goals.
Many accomplished entrepreneurs left school early to start their enterprises. While establishing a start-up company may be overwhelming if you don’t know exactly what you’re doing, all it needs is a unique mindset, courage, a sound mind, and a strategy.
There are also plenty of resources available to help you find your feet and many online classes to help you become an all-around entrepreneur.
There are reportedly about 22 million self-employed people in America today, not including those who hire others. That equates to almost 14% of the whole workforce!
Go For Volunteer Campaigns
A freewheeling journey across the globe might not be possible unless you are filthy rich.
However, several ways can help you travel for free. Non-profit organizations like UNESCO, WWF, Red Cross, and UNICEF are willing to pay all the expenses for your volunteer. You will gain various skills that cannot be learned at university while simultaneously bettering yourself.
And although volunteering may not be counted as work experience, it could help you stand out if you play your cards wisely. Furthermore, if you, later on, decide to enroll in a university and want to apply for scholarships, volunteer experience is a great help.
Should I Go To College If I Don’t Know What To Learn?
Yes, and remember – you’re not alone. Approximately 20 to 50% of freshmen undergraduates are confused about their major—they want to enroll in colleges but aren’t sure what they would like to pursue.
You might even be surprised to find out that even after enrolling, many people still admit, “I don’t know what to go to college for.” In fact, almost 75% of undergraduates switch majors at least once throughout their university years.
So, your concerns and worries are very natural.
If you can’t locate anything you like, there are easy majors that pay well and offer bright job outlooks. Try one of those!
Should I Go To College If My Highschool Record Is Not Good?
Worry that your school’s grades aren’t qualified for the major you like? That doesn’t matter because most colleges won’t look at that. For more details, read our post on “Do middle school grades matter?“
If you have a low GPA, you can still impress schools with your SAT, personal statement, and reference letters.
Wrapping Up
There’s absolutely nothing wrong with thinking, “I don’t want to go to colleges.” Everybody has a different view and life; just because something is suitable for others doesn’t mean it fits you. However, once you decide to skip college, you have to grow up and face the harsh world earlier than others. Be ready for that, and good luck!
For more career advice, head to our Career Advice section!