Comments on: Why You Shouldn’t Go To College Just To Figure Out Your Life

By: Gary

Gary — Wed, 03 Sep 2014 13:47:12 +0000

Wendy,

You bring up some amazingly thoughtful points regarding a college education. I really appreciate your “Stop & Think” with the links to some continued education avenues that are rarely discussed.

Most here in the states are “Conditioned” from a very early age what the only REAL path to success is, and that is usually a college dgree of some sort & years of debt..

Somehow I do not think the “Trillion Dollar Student Loan Disaster” was ever anticipated but it is here with us now, and my wife’s oldest just became a member of that special club last August.. Fortunately with Community College and the Credit Union he should survive.

Wendy, great post on a very important topic, keep up the wonderful job,

Gary

By: Cathy

Cathy — Mon, 01 Sep 2014 06:10:33 +0000

Hi Wendy. I graduated in year 2008.

I spent 5 years in college to pursue a professional degree so that I can live in my “dream career’. You can more or less calculate the depth of my debt that I am in right now. Doesn’t look very good on the monthly bank statement actually, especially when you realized that the reality of a ‘dream career’ doesn’t compensate enough to feed your survival in this current economy.

While I appreciate what I learned at school, I wish someone has told me to start saving (or earning) so that I can start paying off my loan way earlier than letting it drag (and be a burden) till now.

By: Wendy

Wendy — Sat, 30 Aug 2014 01:45:32 +0000

Thanks Scott. Well depending on what happens after college (and what they go to school for) the loans may not be so bad for some, I think it can be useful and worth it in many cases. Like, for example, my cousin went to law school and accumulated $100,000+ in student loan debt(ouch), but he’s now a lawyer and makes very good money.

That being said, I also know people who graduated YEARS ago and are still deferring their loans because they just didn’t get a decent paying job yet, or they’re forced to use a huge chunk of their income making $500 monthly payments on student loans. It’s just one of those things where people need to stand back and think if taking out that loan is REALLY worth it. You definitely don’t HAVE to go to college to be succesful in life, yet most people still seem to think that way.

By: Scott Newkirk

Scott Newkirk — Fri, 29 Aug 2014 04:24:01 +0000

Hi Wendy,
This is such a great post about college and why you don’t need it to have a very rewarding career. I tried to go to college multiple times but I could never get enough financial aid to be able to afford it. Back then I thought this was the thing to do if you wanted to make anything out of yourself.

I’m actually glad that I never got approved or couldn’t get enough financial aid to go now. I wouldn’t want to be stuck with paying back this debt, and hope that I could find a J.O.B after graduation.

All my friends are still brainwashed into thinking that they are going to have it made after they graduate. I actually was talking to one of my good buddies about this last night and he is certain he will be making good money in less than a year from now.

He doesn’t realize that he is going to have to start paying all those student loans back 6 months after he graduates. I’m also one of the lucky ones who has found my true passion to work online and help other people out.

Thanks for sharing this with everyone
Scott

By: Wendy

Wendy — Thu, 28 Aug 2014 14:14:13 +0000

Oh you’re lucky, 200k?! Where did you go to college!? Lol. Actually I didn’t end up paying for college personally, but I attended a public university so it was probably only a quarter of that cost. However I know how horrible it was for my peers who took out loans and are currently struggling, so I feel ya. Some are having to defer them because they don’t have a “real” job yet, and others are stuck with $500/month payments!

Yeah I don’t regret my education either, but for some it may not be worth it with how expensive it can be these days!

By: Wendy

Wendy — Thu, 28 Aug 2014 14:07:48 +0000

Thanks Evelyn! Yeah, there’s a big difference between skipping out on college to play around and doing it so you can gain vaulable experience and take action on your dreams. I think sometimes college can hold people back if they don’t intend to hold certain stereotyped professions which absolutely require a degree of some type. Otherwise, you may be wasting time in the “bubble” of college… I was there for 5 years and I know all too well how easy it is to slip through the system with a degree yet still be very unprepared for the job market. You’re right, we only have so much time on this earth and no one knows when their last day will be!

By: Wendy

Wendy — Thu, 28 Aug 2014 13:59:36 +0000

Yeah can definitely be risky for some people, but it also works out well for others. I think the main thing is people need to understand what they’re getting themselves into if they plan on taking out massive loans, especially if they have no clear cut plan in mind for their future. That debt will many times stick with you for the rest of your life!

By: Dustin Garness

Dustin Garness — Thu, 28 Aug 2014 12:07:20 +0000

Hey Wendy! I can definitely empathize with the student loan debt.

Luckily for me I got my undergraduate degree covered with a 200k thousand scholarship…however, I wasn’t so lucky for my graduate program! Even just two years at 50k a year adds up to A LOT of loan debt.

If I would’ve stuck with my program and gotten a job in my field of education I probably wouldn’t be hurting as much as I am now; however, my story took me into other places and I haven’t been able to start my “career” yet.

Now I’m stuck with these huge student loans. Sometimes I think I should’ve just bought a house instead! Haha.

That being said, I don’t regret my education at all. It’s already paying off…just not in a financial sense!

Dustin

By: Evelyn

Evelyn — Thu, 28 Aug 2014 00:41:48 +0000

Hi Wendy,

You pointed out some great points. I tried community college after high school and decided to work instead. I found working 9 to 5 more fulfilling than going to college.

I know college is not for everyone, but for someone who set out to be a doctor, lawyer, teacher and so on then I understand the need for an extended education.

My daughter wants to be an artist or even set out to write her own comic books. I’m backing her up 100 percent on her dreams. If she decides college isn’t the right thing for her, I will understand, but what I wont allow is not taking action on her dreams. There is no sitting around playing around.

I learn through my own life that the clock is always ticking and your time to build a life of your dreams on this earth is limited.

I believe your article will make people really think about what they want in life and how to pursue it. Thanks!

By: Neil

Neil — Wed, 27 Aug 2014 18:18:11 +0000

Hello, Wendy

Such an insightful post on not going to college just to figure out our lives. I had dropped out of school when I was 17 and half way through my business course because I just reached the point where I had enough and just wanted to earn some money in the world of work.

As time went by, I realized 2 things – 1: School days “were” the best days of my life and 2: A “job” sucked.

Eventually I found my way in to the online business world through research on Google and I’m just thankful I didn’t choose the college route which seems to be too much of a risky investment.

Neil