You are viewing a single comment's thread from:

RE: Post-Secondary Education Musings

in #college6 years ago (edited)

Very important questions, well-stated. I spent a year at college before realizing it wasn't for me, and dropped out. I was fortunate, in that I escaped with only a few thousand dollars in debt and had that paid off in two years, leaving me free to pursue other interests.

Weighing the potential application of a degree vs. the amount of time and money spent acquiring it is of foremost importance. Going to university and majoring in something just because you like it and would like to know more about it, or because you have to pick something, is just as bad as going because of parental or societal expectations. I have a friend who went to medical school not because he was particularly interested in his field of specialization or even the medical field in general, but because his parents wanted to make sure he made enough money to live comfortably during his adult life. To that end, they were willing to pay for his secondary education, but only if that involved medical school. If he had pursued some other area of study which interested him, it would have meant crushing student loan debt, or no education at all.

He does fine for himself, he passed the boards, and he's in private practice. He earns plenty of money. He also used alcohol as a coping mechanism the whole time he was in school, because he hated it so much. Out of my circle of friends from high school, he's probably the wealthiest. I've often wanted to ask him if he felt it was worth it, but that seems like a terrible question to pose to someone who has the financial ability to do pretty much anything in life, despite hating the journey to reach that point. I don't get the impression he's terribly happy, but he lives out of state and I don't have frequent contact with him, so I may be completely off-base. I just don't know.

Sorry for the rambling comment. Very thought-provoking post today, @jacobtothe. :)

Sort:  

I know of may people who escaped college with mininal debt and just enough experience to see it wasn't the path for them.

Even when selecting a major for purely economic considerations, add a minor in something interesting if possible. A degree in the humanities may not pay economically for most, but adding some courses that broaden your horizons alongside a primary degree is no bad thing, and can enhance employability along with personal enjoyment.