Just a disclaimer. This blog post isn't about what I learned in class or anything to do with my major. It's more so about college in general and if getting a degree is even worth it.
College is not for everyone, and that's okay. You need lots of discipline to be a student in college. Don't get me wrong. In everything you do, you need discipline. But there is a certain type of drive you need to be successful in college.
College isn't cheap.
College is a different ballgame from high school. When it comes to college, you really need to focus on your studies because you are paying for it. Tuition can be as high as $20,000 a year, depending on the institution. Education is power, but that's a lot of money. You could probably even learn some of the same things for free on the internet. But if you really want that college experience, try to get some scholarships to help with the cost. You'll be glad you did. This way, you won't have to pay so much out of pocket or be stuck with a bunch of student loan debt.
Only go to school when you are ready.
It's very typical for graduating seniors to attend college straight out of high school. But if you aren't ready for everything that comes with college, it's best you wait until you are. College is more than just meeting new people and going to college parties. You have to pay for classes and books, spend lots of time studying, and it can get pretty stressful. So even if you know someone who would be extremely proud of you for attending college, do yourself a favor and don't go to school for your parents or your friends. You will not be satisfied, and it might show in your grades.
Don't assume some majors are easier than others.
College will find a way to make every major difficult. But that's okay because everyone can't do everything (at least I don't think so). The great thing about college is it offers a range of different majors and minors. So you can find something that you think will best fit the career path you desire to go down. If you ever want to study more, you can always do a double major or get a minor along with your major. But remember, as impressive as it is to achieve more than one major, all your classes won't come easy.
You might not get a job in your field.
I was fortunate enough to get a job in my field, but I know others who are not. Not to mention, I struggled for what seemed like forever to get my job. Also, your job description may not be what you were expecting as a student in college. Try to get on the job experience with internships before you go after a job that you think will be a career and end up being unhappy from it. It's okay not to get it right the first time. College is there to help you figure out what you want to do while gaining the skills and knowledge required of that field.
Community Colleges are just as good.
Yeah, I said it. I didn't go straight to a university after graduating high school. I spent two years at a community college before I became a transfer student at a university. I learned information just as valuable at that community college. Don't get me wrong. The experiences at a community college versus university do differ: the campus may be smaller, fewer students may attend, and the sports/organizations are likely less hyped. On the other hand, community colleges are much more affordable, and the classes are more flexible for students with families and jobs. Find what works for you, but you can't go wrong experiencing both.
In the end, you get a degree!
Whether it's an Associates, Bachelors, Masters, or Doctorates degree, be proud that you just received your degree! All levels require hard work, and you should be proud of yourself for all you have achieved. You put in the work, gained new skills, made new connections, and you get to decorate your graduation cap as cool and creative as you want. As seen on the image to the right, I decorated my graduation cap as a film slate with my school colors. It was a fun little project to do after all of that hard work. In the end, it's a great feeling to walk across that stage and be acknowledged for all you have learned.
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