Is College Necessary?

Many would say that in modern times, yes, college is necessary. More and more, high school and even middle school students are being pressured to plan for college. Will all of these students make it to college? No. Do all of these students want to go to college? No. Why are we forcing the idea into their minds, then? Is it because we want our children to succeed? Or, is it because we want our schools to look good? You can decide that for yourself. I'm here to provide alternate ideas for what high school graduates can do after they turn in their caps and gowns and head out into the "real world."

Find a job: The most obvious college alternative is simply finding a job. This might sound like a lot of work, but truthfully, there are hundreds of good paying jobs that only require a high school diploma. One great job is working as a mail carrier. You have to pass general knowledge tests and have a valid driver's license, but the job pays well and provides good benefits. Another great job is a bank teller. Again, you have to pass some general knowledge tests and go through extensive training, but the job pays very well and has good health insurance, vacation, and other benefits.

Go to vocational school: Some people already know what they want to do and just need a little bit of training to learn how to do it. If you want to work in a technological field or a mechanical field, such as welding or plumbing, try going to a vocational school. The cost is significantly lower than college AND they provide the training you need in your job field. They also usually have great connections to find you an internship or a job.

Intern for a great company: Internships are great alternatives to college. You get to learn first hand how to do a particular job. Some companies do not pay their interns, but the US government is looking into passing a law requiring them to pay all interns in one way or another for their work. Some companies may give college credit for their interns and others pay for housing or other costs incurred while you are working for them. Some internships require you to be in college, but most only require you to be interested in the company or job and have a high school diploma or GED. When the internship is over, most companies will extend an offer of employment. If you loved the internship, you can take and job and be happy. If not, you can try somewhere else and you have some great work experience to put on your resume.

As you can see, college is not necessary. There are many great alternatives and anyone can pursue them.