THE OPTIONS
In order to decide whether it is right for you to make the investment in your future to attend college, you must understand the various and seemingly endless options you have for college. Below you can find many of the options you have for college and facing the issues and maximizing the benefits.
IS COLLEGE FOR YOU?
College is not for everyone, Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, and Mark Zuckerburg all dropped out of college and never received a degree, yet became some of the most successful people in the world by finding their calling. So how do you know if college is for you?
There are a few ways to determine this. The first way is if you have never been academically inclined, or have not learned from the traditional school setting and learned better on your own, then college may not be for you. Additionally, if your passion and dream career does not require a college degree and you know you can learn faster, and gain experience without college, then that is what would be best for you.
An important way to decide whether college is for you is to determine why you are going. If you are thinking about college just because your teachers, parents, and peers are telling you to go, and that is your sole reason for going, college is not for you.
However, if you are going to struggle to find a job in the chosen career without education from college and if your career requires a degree then college may be for you. If you are going into a career that requires a lot of connections and networking then college may be an amazing opportunity to create those. If your future career requires a lot of education, for example, a doctor, nurse or dentist, then college is for you.
In the end, it truly matters to your goals for the future. If you are looking for education with a degree to show employers then college is for you, however, if your career is not dependent on a degree and rather your performance then college may not be for you.
FACING THE FINANCES
The finances are the biggest challenge for many students who plan on attending college. So in order to tackle this, there are many options to reduce the price college will cost you, regardless of choice of degree. The best way to pay for college, is to ensure you do not have to pay it in the present or future. There are a few ways to do this. The first way is to get scholarships, to apply and put yourself out there, scholarships can be great for students who cannot pay the ‘sticker price’ of college. It is also worth mentioning that not all scholarships have to be associated with the college you are attending, in fact, there are many great private scholarships from non-profits organizations and companies. However, scholarships are not a possibility for some students. The next way is to apply for grants from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA. This is dependent on your reported income, if you have the financial need to get the grant they will give you the money without expecting it back. A less known way to reduce the price is to speak to the college directly, this is typically done through a formal appeal letter and a phone call, explaining your financial situation and struggles that they may not have considered. Another way to help pay for college is to get a work-study job. These are part-time jobs on or nearby campus for eligible students, depending on the student’s finances and the funding available at the school. A submission to the FAFSA is required in order to qualify. Work-study jobs pay students directly, at least once a month. Undergrads earn hourly wages, but the amount you earn can't exceed your work-study award for the year. The amount should be included in your financial aid award letter sent by the school. As a last resort, you can always take out loans to pay for your college. All of these factors are very important to consider while determining whether college is the best option for you.
UNDERSTANDING THE COMMITMENT
College requires commitment, not just financially but with time as well. The time it takes to attend classes, complete homework, study for tests, and the time it takes to receive the degree. Obviously, college is not a cheap way to get your education. However, if you have accepted the price and decided it is the best course of action for you and your future career there are other factors to be considered. The time commitment spent is a huge part of college. On average a college student will spend one hour in class, and three hours out of class for each class. For many, this can be an obstacle or a struggle. If this time commitment does not work for you, the college will become a struggle and may not be for you. However, many students will opt for a harder, more time-intensive schedule to graduate earlier. Summer school would be a great option for those who can handle the workload and want to graduate early to decrease the time spent on college and allow for more time to gain experience and seniority in their chosen career.
DECIDING THE RIGHT COLLEGE
So you’ve decided to go to college, but there are so many options for you and your future degree. It is important to first find a college that offers your desired degree and field of study. Once, you have a list of potential colleges that offer your needs, it is good to factor in their geographical location. How close is it from home? Some may want to be far from home and that is okay, but if you want to be close to home this may be something to figure out. After, you figure out a geographical range that would be ideal, go to the college campus get a tour, and talk to the current or past students about the downfalls and positives of the college. Speak to your school counselor about the college, and then speak to the college rep and attend a college fair to grasp the culture of the college. Once, you have found the ideal school culture, education, and campus it is important to lastly consider the cost and ways to decrease it.
MAKING THE PLAN
It is important to plan and understand all factors that will go into attending your ideal college as early as freshman year in high school. You may not have everything figured out yet and that is completely normal and perfectly okay. But taking AP or college courses in high school can be a great way to decrease cost and time commitment spent during your college career. Additionally, getting a job early and saving up can be a great way to help manage the steep cost of college and to plan for a successful future. If you are interested in the military there are many ways to plan to attend college at the expense of the government, however, this will always take a time commitment to military service. If this is something you are interested in there are many great resources to guide you through the process, one that I would highly recommend is https://www.military.com/education/money-for-school/your-top-5-education-benefits.html. Hopefully, you can now begin to plan and get ready for your college experience.
