If you’re getting ready to graduate from high school, chances are that you might be a little unsure when it comes to your future. After all, you have a lot of choices to make. Life After High School: Is College for You?
College or Not?
Should you go to college? What should your major be? Should you enroll at a trade school? Should you try to enter the job force right away? What if you don’t feel ready for all of this responsibility?
Graduating from high school is an important time in your life, but it can also be incredibly overwhelming. Unfortunately, friends and relatives may be eager to tell you what they think that you should do.
While they undoubtedly want to be helpful, this can cause you to feel more confused than ever. If you’ve been trying to decide what you should do after graduation and whether or not you even want to bother with college, there are a few things that you need to think about.
How are your Personal Finances?
First off, consider your personal finances. The cost of college tuition is expensive. While you might be able to qualify for grants and scholarships, keep in mind that the responsibility for the final cost of your tuition will fall on your shoulders. Many students are questioning whether a college education is actually worth going into debt over.
If you can’t afford to pay your way through school and you aren’t interested in taking out loans, you may want to take a few years off before you go to school. You’ll have a chance to get some work experience, see the world, and maybe even make some new friends before you decide to cough up the money for school.
You should also ask yourself “What do I want to be?” If you don’t know what type of career you want to have, why would you waste your time in college? While your guidance counselor might encourage you to take electives during your first year of school, you need to realize that it’s important to choose your major area of study immediately.
Upper-level classes often have prerequisites for enrollment. This means that if you want to take 4th level Spanish when you’re a senior, you’ll need to start taking it during your first year of college.
What are Your Options?
Finally, consider what career options you have that don’t require attending college. If you want to join the military or pursue a career as a receptionist, you may enjoy starting work right out of high school. While entering the job force immediately isn’t for everyone, it is an option available to you.
