Not Sure If College Is For You? Consider The Pros And Cons

“Should I drop out of college?”

The question has troubled countless college students, including myself, for years.

According to a study conducted this year by Sallie Mae, a banking corporation, approximately one in four students are at risk of abandoning their pursuit of higher education. 

Tuition, transportation and stress take a toll on everyone. Sometimes giving up seems like the best option. 

However, I encourage you to keep an open mind.

You are an investment—the more you spend on your growth and development, the more valuable you become. 

Imagine yourself in 10 years.  

A report published by the National Center for Education Statistics in 2022 found that graduates with bachelor’s degrees can start earning an average of $59,600 annually. 

If you drop out of college today, you could be working at a dead-end job—doing overtime to make ends meet, missing holidays, learning skills that are only applicable to your current occupation and losing the opportunity to achieve more. 

However, college is not for everyone. Some interests, like construction, cosmetology, culinary arts and auto servicing, align better with a vocational school. 

Consider this list of pros and cons.

Pros:

1. Improved Career Opportunities: A college degree frequently results in jobs with higher earning potential because many occupations demand additional degrees or specialized training.
2. Personal Development: Higher education encourages intellectual curiosity, critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Scholars are exposed to challenging viewpoints, which might deepen their awareness of themselves and the world. 
3. Networking: Universities offer excellent opportunities to improve one’s communication and build relationships with professors, industry specialists and peers.
4. Specialized Knowledge: Higher education enables people to focus on their areas of interest, allowing them to cultivate a deeper understanding of their field. 

Cons:

1. Financial Burden: Seeking higher education can be costly. Many graduates are saddled with student loan debts, which can take years to pay off and affect financial independence.
2. Time Commitment: Keeping your grades up in college requires discipline and sacrifice. It’s difficult to juggle academic studies with personal responsibilities such as a job or family.
3. Uncertain Return On Investment: Although a college degree can improve job prospects, success is not guaranteed; it can still be challenging to secure employment and a high salary. 
4. Rapidly Changing Job Market: Due to the ongoing changes in the job market, skills and information acquired through higher education may eventually become obsolete. To be competitive in their chosen sector, people must be flexible and stay up to date on their abilities.

If you’re already deep into your college career, stay the course because a college degree opens doors that might otherwise remain closed. 

But if you’ve recently started, meditate on your values, goals and character before taking the plunge.