Why the rush to go to college?

[renegade7]

I've never understood it. The last couple years (I'm going into my senior year of high school) pretty much everyone I meet asks "Where are you going to college?" or "What careers are you looking at?" And really, here is the answer I really want to give:

I HAVEN'T FUCKING DECIDED YET SO STOP ASKING ME!!! I'LL TELL YOU WHEN I MAKE A DECISION!!

There, that's out of my system. But I really just want to know why everyone's in such a rush, and why there's so much pressure to get started with your life right out of high school. I understand wanting to get on with your life, really, I do, and I do plan to go to college. I just don't know where, or what I want to do yet. And it seems like everyone expects me to have it all figured out. Isn't 15-17 a little young to be making those decisions? What if I spend the rest of my life miserable because I made a hasty decision at 17 while under pressure from a guidance counselor? That's mainly what I'm worried about.

Basically, I've worked like a dog since I was like 12 and now that it looks like my senior year is going to be my toughest yet, I'm seriously thinking I might just take a break (like a year off school) after I graduate. What are the (good) reasons to go to college right out of high school?

 

[Gennadios]

There really aren't any if you don't have a very firm idea of what you want to graduate in.

I went in there knowing f***all what I was going to do with my life, got my GE's done by the beginning of year two, and then wasted the next 6 years of my time and money cycling majors looking for something that could hold my attention.

I mean In a way I'm glad to have learned as much random stuff as I have, but working those 6 years instead of dicking around with Uni would have landed me alot of money.

 

[Shoggoth2588]

I can't think of a single one. Granted I only took a half a semester at a local CC...not my choice but luckily I've broken up with her since.

I'm 23 and have no idea what I want out of life career wise. I didn't take the SAT or ACT since you can get into any Community College without having taken them then transfer into a 'proper' college after a year or so. In my time at my CC though, I've found that college (or at least the community college) was the same thing as high school only you have to pay to get in.

Save your money.

 

[Drenden]

Having recently graduated high school myself I wanted to take a break from schooling all together for about a year. I wanted get a job save up some cash and then go to college when I was good and ready. Why? Because I was in the same shoes you were in. I had no damned clue what I wanted to do, or where I wanted to go.

But I was told that if I wasn't enrolled in a school I wouldn't be covered under my father's insurance which would be a really bad thing. I have a horrible habit of getting myself hurt because I'm an idiot. So that got me to enroll. I don't know if it's the same for you, but it's something to think about.

In my opinion? Take it easy your senior year. Just because other people know where they want to go and what they want to do shouldn't affect you at all. Don't get all bent out of shape because you don't know what you want to do. It'll all come to you. You just need to take classes that seem interesting to you and you may find something you really like.

 

[staika]

Some people (like me) already know what they want to do with their life so why not just go right into college that and I don't know if this is true but I overheard someone in my class talking about it is that they wanted to take a year off between high school and college but she couldn't because she'd be taken off her parents insurance because she wasn't in school.

 

[Salad Is Murder]

/vasniptomy

So, where are you going to college?

 

[Sightless Wisdom]

I'm also going into my last year of high school. The only reason you should probably have an idea of what you're going to do when you graduate is because of the courses you take in the the last year. A lot of University and College programs have pre-requisite high school credits. Example: I'm going into a game design program and it requires at least college level math in 12th grade, which I selected just by chance before I knew I wanted to get into this program. It also recommends senior level physics, something I didn't take... and I now can't.

TL;DR: Timing is annoying, too many decisions to make and not enough free time.

 

[commiedic]

You don't have to rush to college. I wasn't sure what I wanted to do with my life so I spent four years in the Military. By the time I got out I was sure what I wanted to do. The reason people want you to get into college as quickly as possible is because the standard for retirement is 20 years of time spent in the workforce. So do the math. Would you rather be in your early 40's retiring or in your 50's to 60's.

Also college where it is some times a ripoff helps you out in the long run. Jobs don't care what you learned or didn't learn in college just that you had the discipline to get a degree and possibly if they care have good grades.

Eh, I can't stress enough how much privately owned technical schools are a bigger ripoff then a college/university. If you ever wanted to transfer to a bigger college don't count on any of your classes transferring for one. Take this for instance. I was working on the CEET program at ITT technical institute. That is Computer Electronics Engineering Technology. When I started to look at what jobs would be available to me after the four years it demanded for the full degree I couldn't find anything. They said that they would be able to land me a local job around Tulsa, OK, but I don't want a job working on telephone poles or hooking up someones cable internet. I want to do something big. ACTUAL engineering. So I am going to a college now. Where you actually get "recruited" to big corporations before you even finish your degree.

Plus avg. salary of someone with a High School Diploma is ~$31,000 a year.
avg. salary of someone with a Bachelors Degree is ~$60,000 a year.

You get what you pay for.

 

[Erana]

I've never understood it. The last couple years (I'm going into my senior year of high school) pretty much everyone I meet asks "Where are you going to college?" or "What careers are you looking at?" And really, here is the answer I really want to give:

I HAVEN'T FUCKING DECIDED YET SO STOP ASKING ME!!! I'LL TELL YOU WHEN I MAKE A DECISION!!

They're just trying to make conversation, don't take it personally.

More importantly, they expect that you are going to college.
Take that as a compliment.

Few people know what they want to do when they start college. Its easiest to deal with that kind of conversation by coming up with some pleasing spiel to fill in the gap and get on with things.

Really, though, I loved college. For once, I was challenged and excited to learn about the material. I went to a great, small school where everyone wanted students with enthusiasm to succeed, and would go out of their way to help anyone with the will to work through their problems.
And now, getting my grad-level classes settled, I'm excited to face this new step in my life.

You don't have to immediately get into an ivy-league school, either. Get into a decent program, do well, and enter a great graduate program of what your given field is, if applicable.

The real question is this: Do you feel like you are motivated to be a good student, or could be motivated if you had interesting subject matter?
If so, going to college immediately is almost certainly your best bet.
Otherwise, consider taking a bit of time off so that you could get to that point. If you need a year or two to grow as a person to get to the point of confidently handling a more strenuous education, then that may be your route instead.

Still, this is Your life. College is generally a good idea, yes, and I sure as Hell appreciate a good education, but it can't be about other people. Your motivation to get your education needs to be your own choice.

 

[Esotera]

Because over here in the UK tuition fees are about to go up - I saved myself about £20K of debt by going a year early. Aren't fees rising faster than inflation in the US too?

Most undergrads in higher institutions really aren't ready for it. The older students seem better at handling the workload, having the motivation, and asking the right questions. They also have a better idea of what they're going to do at the end of it. Also, your school probably isn't the best source of advice for this, as it's their job to get you into higher education.

Basically, if you have the motivation and a clear idea of what to do afterwards, you should go for it while they're still there.

 

[Mandalore_15]

Some people (like me) already know what they want to do with their life so why not just go right into college that and I don't know if this is true but I overheard someone in my class talking about it is that they wanted to take a year off between high school and college but she couldn't because she'd be taken off her parents insurance because she wasn't in school.

So what do you want to do with your life?

 

[staika]

Some people (like me) already know what they want to do with their life so why not just go right into college that and I don't know if this is true but I overheard someone in my class talking about it is that they wanted to take a year off between high school and college but she couldn't because she'd be taken off her parents insurance because she wasn't in school.

So what do you want to do with your life?

My future goal is to be an Intel Officer in the air force and I am currently in college working on an intelligence degree.

 

[Salad Is Murder]

I've never understood it. The last couple years (I'm going into my senior year of high school) pretty much everyone I meet asks "Where are you going to college?" or "What careers are you looking at?" And really, here is the answer I really want to give:

I HAVEN'T FUCKING DECIDED YET SO STOP ASKING ME!!! I'LL TELL YOU WHEN I MAKE A DECISION!!

tl;dq

I think what Erana is trying to get at here is for you to find a measure of peace. Also, keep in mind that you can only eat the fruit once a day.

 

[Sexual Harassment Panda]

I graduated 2 years ago, everyone, and I mean EVERYONE I meet tells me I should go to college, but I honestly just don't want to. They wave all these ideas for jobs in my face and all I can think is "I'd rather work at a coffee shop somewhere for just over minimum wage and do nothing important with my life." and people just don't get it. So, no I don't get the rush to college idea, in fact I don't get the "college" idea at all, pay to do something I don't want to do? What the fuck, that's like saying "I'll give you ten dollars if you'll let me get tackled by the football team instead of you".

I suppose it makes sense for some people who actually WANT to do things, but I spent a week in college and all I got out of it was a $300 bill cause I decided to quit an hour after they decided to not give back all my money to the government.

I get this.

You're supposed to feel like a failure because you don't want to move to the capital, study...and then get a job to pay off the debt. It's cool if you have goals, but it's not the adventure that people claim. Infact it's the done thing, it's mundane...

I can't shake the feeling that it's all bullshit.

 

[Rin Little]

I think most people are starting to freak out over it now because schools (even colleges) are losing a lot of funding (thank you Corbett for that massive screw-up in PA!) and thus college is costing a lot more. I just graduated college and I can pretty much guarantee you're going to pay more than I did for it, sorry to say

 

[Roboto]

Why the rush? Because I want to own this [http://www.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/displayPage.action?pageParameter=modelsMain&vehicleCode=MZ6#/home] as soon as I possibly can.

 

[Lt. Vinciti]

If I could get into a nice college...I would go

I still entirely know what I want to do...

Psychology interests me

I dont want to go to some annoying beerfestival of a regular college and know I have no right to try to get into a private college of any type