Sometimes College Isn’t the Right Choice

 

right choice

When our student graduates from high school we flaunt college names like a badge of honor. “My daughter is going to Harvard.” “My son will be attending college at Texas A&M.” You get the picture. Sometimes our desire to prove we raised a successful teenager clouds our judgment and causes us to push our children in the wrong direction. The simple truth is: college isn’t for everyone. And that’s ok. There are alternatives to college.

For some young adults, the thought of college terrifies them. They didn’t do well in school and they know college is academically more difficult. For others, they are simply burnt out—the prospect of another four years of school does not appeal to them. Others prefer to take a different path such as the military or trade school.

With all the talk about college during high school, other options are rarely discussed. My son never saw himself in college. He was an average student but from the time he entered high school he had military aspirations. He joined the Naval Junior ROTC program and as a senior, he enlisted in the U.S. Marines. It was a good decision for him at the time, even though I protested strongly because I wanted him to go to college.

If your student seems disinterested in college there are other options to consider. A gap year might be in order. During that time he can work at an internship, learn a trade, or find a volunteer opportunity abroad. He could always work for a year, take a few classes at the community college and test the waters. Another bold initiative would be to become an entrepreneur–start a business or invent a product to sell. All the college acceptances in the world make your child happy if he’s not invested in the process or willing to commit to study.

The bottom line: college is not always the right choice for every student. And, as I said, that’s ok. The important thing is that you know your child. Don’t push if you sense strong resistance.  Discuss options and make a plan. It’s perfectly acceptable to delay college, work to discover a career path, or concentrate on a trade. College isn’t for everyone.

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2 thoughts on “Sometimes College Isn’t the Right Choice”

  1. Hi Suzanne,

    You’re absolutely right.

    My family did not have a lot of money growing up and neither of my parents went to college, so I was brought up to believe from before I even started school that I needed to one day go to college in order to be happy and successful.

    After doing fairly well in high school I did start college as planned. However, within a semester I had dropped out. It just wasn’t right for me.

    I had a growing company at the time and I knew deep down inside I just couldn’t work for other people. My parents were reluctant to accept my decision, but trusted my judgement and we both had faith things would work out alright.

    It turned out to be one of the best decisions I ever made as I was able to fully dedicate myself to something that truly aligned with my goals and my values.

    Had I stuck with college because I felt I was forced to, I likely wouldn’t be nearly as happy as I am now and would not have had the opportunities that come with taking a different route. There is no shame in not going.

    1. You are exactly right James. Some of our greatest entrepreneurs never went to college. It is not for everyone!

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