Is going to college the right choice for me?

PROS:

CONS:

    Can be a time to explore new and different areas of study.
    Can help you build social and professional networks with classmates and instructors.
    Can help you develop reading, writing, and analytical skills that are useful for many careers, and in daily life.
    Can prepare and qualify you for better jobs, increase your chances of getting hired, and boost your wages in the long run.[2850]
    Can prepare and qualify you for graduate or professional study, which may lead to even better jobs.
    Can be time consuming and may delay your entry into the workforce.
    College campus life can be distracting and overwhelming.
    Academic coursework may not give you the specialized technical skills and training you need for certain careers.
    A college degree is not necessary or even helpful in some career fields.
    Can be very expensive—if you take out loans to pay for school, you may end up with a lot of debt.

Depending on your career goals, your life situation, and your access to resources like financial aid, college may or may not be the best option for you now. The following sections of this chapter will provide details about the different types of college degree programs so that you can make an informed decision.

  1. 2850

    See Fed. Student Aid, Fact Sheet: Why Go to College?, www.studentaid.ed.gov/sites/default/files/why-go-to-college.pdf (citing 2011 Current Population Survey, Fed. Bureau of Labor Statistics).