High school students are often taught that getting ready for college is their most important objective. The vast amount of options you must choose from, as well as the magnitude of their consequences, is often overwhelming. “Do I want to attend college?”, “Will college help me succeed?”, and “Should I start working instead?” are a few of the questions you may ask yourself. The first question you should ask though is, “Why is college important?” Unless you know the answer to this, it will be difficult to make the most critical decision of your future.
Of course, your parents, teachers, and friends are likely to give you their opinion, but in the end, your life is your own, and only you can determine what will be best. Acquiring enough information about your options, such as their advantages, disadvantages, and your own personal preferences, will give you the tools you need in order to ensure your personal goals become a reality.
Greater Income
Most people who gain a four-year college degree typically earn more money than those who only have a high school diploma. According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), employees with a bachelor’s degree are less likely to be unemployed as well.
The unemployment rate decreases with a higher education level, while the earnings increase. There is no guarantee that an advanced degree can secure you the best job in your career field of course, particularly in the beginning.
However, as you gain experience and prove yourself to your employers you will be able to achieve promotions or change to a higher paying job. After obtaining your degree, it is up to you to demonstrate your commitment to furthering your career and conquering your future.
Job Satisfaction
College graduates have a greater chance of landing their ideal job than non-graduates do. Being able to enjoy the career you have chosen is an accomplishment that you should cherish. A degree not only provides job satisfaction, but it can also increase your overall happiness and allow you to have a richer life outside of work.
Many degree programs offer other benefits such as on-the-job apprenticeships where students can gain experience in their chosen profession. Some graduates who have taken advantage of these apprenticeships are in more demand than college graduates are because they have already had experience in the workplace.
Taking advantage of this internship program scan allow you to test whether or not your preferred career is right for you. At times students who are in these programs decide that the career they have chosen is just not right for them. Therefore, without the chance to have this first-hand experience, they may have spent four years getting a degree they will never use, or being in a career that does not make them happy.
Better Job Opportunities
Searching for a job can be a frustrating task, but the better education you have, the more options that will come open to you. The more advanced, highest paying jobs are usually only available to those that have the required degree. Predictions are that in the future, it will be even harder to obtain a career that will be fulfilling financially and personally without a higher education.
As mentioned earlier, the apprenticeship or internship program that most four-year colleges offer can help provide job satisfaction. That isn’t all they can do though. They offer you a chance to learn or hone your skills such as time management, decision-making, critical thinking and problem-solving, as well as communication, and teamwork.
Prospective employees who already have experience in their field and have acquired these skills have an advantage over other applicants. An employer will be able to see how you performed in your internship, as well as your work ethic. It is also a common occurrence that the company you work with during the program will offer you a job after graduation.
Businesses want employees they can depend on, having already proven yourself capable and willing to succeed in your field an employer is much more likely to hire you.
Conclusion
College is a lot of hard work, but it does pay off in the end. What you gain is not only rewarding in a financial sense, or even in job satisfaction. Sometimes the most significant achievement is your sense of pride and personal fulfillment. Meeting new people, experiencing new cultures and beliefs, and making potentially lifelong friends; those are just a few of the rewards you will attain when going to college.
Even if you decide that you never wish to use your degree for employment, you will achieve a great triumph and learn many skills along the way. You will learn a lot about yourself as well. You’ll be able to recognize your own strengths and weaknesses, gain the ability to become a more productive member of society, and learn valuable skills that you can pass on to future generations.
To find out more about the importance of college you can research the internet, contact colleges you might be considering, speak to a teacher, counselor, parent, or friends and learn the answer to all of your questions about gaining a higher education before having to make the most critical decision in your young life.