question is to go college or not go.

[Root beer]

It seem like college is not far away at all for me. Right now I'm having a second doubt about going. It like only reason why I want to go is the obvious reason just to have fun. I dont even know what I want to do. But things I thought about doing dont even require a degree so why spend money on college when I can go straight to it save up money then buy a bread or any food service route and be on my way working my own hours etc.

Dad only told me go college if you got a specific career in mind that requires a degree. My brother on other hand went to college for an accounting degree and he need taked one more class then they dropped it for some reason, he end up getting a degree in business administration. He spend 4 years paying all the tutition and they drop his class never gave him degree he wanted. My brother scored a 26 on his ACT without studying or preparing for it, he was on honor roll, had 3.8 or 4.0 GPA and never recieve a scholarship. He is hearing impaired and the hearing impair people was like his grades are too high.

It seems like I have no good reason go to college. Part of me wants to go, but I just dont have a solid reason for going. All jobs I can see my self doing with or without a degree I'll be making same money. It wont change anything.

What you guys think I should do? Blow all my money in college have time of my life then end up with small business or a route where my degree will never be useful.

I'm just confused, part of me really only want to go college just to have fun meet interesting people, but I dont really want do all that studying hardwork that has nothing do with what i truly wants to do.

Dad just simiply said it completely up to you, you can make same amount with or without a degree. That of course doing what I truly want to do i just want a small business or a food service route. Or something. I dont want to sit in an office all day crunching numbers and crap like that.

[Floridabassking352]

Go to college regardless. Even if you get a job that doesn't require a degree, you will still get paid twice as much with one (unless you're an entrepreneur, which in that case would mean you don't need a degree, although it would still help). In today's world, you pretty much need to go to college. I say GO, even if it's a small community college. Plus you'll meet many new people, especially women!!! What better place to meet them than college.

[Crabcakes]

Why not go to see how you like it? Give it a year to see if its for you.

But a bit of advice. Even though you might plan on being self employed taking courses in college would still be very useful in that path. Running a small business isn't all intuitive and college may help you in that regard.

Bottom line is theres no contract saying you have to spend 4 years. So I say give it a try and see how you fit. Also remember if you want to go back when your older to take courses to get a degree that's an option as well.

[roadwarrior]

Let's cut through the BS.

There are lots of people that do and will do VERY well without a college education. However, on AVERAGE, college grads will earn $1.5 -$2mm more during their working years.

How many MILLION DOLLARS do you have?

[KU_Bassmaster.]

What's your back up plan if Plan A doesn't go as planned???  With a college education, the back up plans are unlimited.  I don't know your situation, but I assume you are young and your obligations are minimal (wife, kids, house payment, etc, etc, etc).  It would be a hell of a lot harder to go through college when those things start to pile up, if not impossible.

But like roadwarrior said, if you measure success in terms of the amount of money you make, the two most successful people I know personally never stepped foot in a University.  But they are definitely in the minority; especially these days.

[Cephkiller]

If you were my son, I'd say go, but I realize not everyone is cut out for college.   I will say this:  Your goals and dreams will not always be the same as they are now.  If there is even the slightest chance that you might want a degree for something in the future, the time to get that degree is NOW!  When you are responsible for taking care of your family in a few years, it may be too late.  Also, don't forget, as in all things, it wouldn't hurt to pray about it.  Good luck.

[Guest the_muddy_man]

Not everyone needsa to go frpm HS to college You may want topp work for a while, you mat want to do a few things first This is not a popular view but THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT CHOICE

If you are not wanting or ready to go to college then there is no need to do it today

[Long Mike]

OK, let me get this straight.  The only reason, at this time, that you want to go to college is to party.  In the same breath, you say that you want to run your own business, but you are not really sure what business you want to own.  To me, that speaks volumns about your business ignorance.  Bear in mind that I did not say you were stupid, I said you were ignorant.  Everyone on the face of the planet is ignorant.  For example, I don't know a thing about atomic physics.  But I know how to run a small business.

You need to start asking yourself some hard questions about any new business, but at this point I strongly doubt that you have any real idea what questions to ask yourself.

I'll throw out a few. "How much money in sales will I make each year?  More important, how much money will it cost me to make that much money?  What equipment am I going to have to buy to make that much money?  How am I going to get the money to buy the equipment to make that much money.  What costs did I forget about, like insurance, advertising and taxes?"

The answer to the above questions is that the money you expected to make is one hell of a lot less than you figured it to be.

You do not need to go to college and get a degree to own and run your own small business, but, in my opinion, you are an idiot if you do not take at least a few business courses at your local Junior College.

[Red]

Go to college regardless. Even if you get a job that doesn't require a degree, you will still get paid twice as much with one (unless you're an entrepreneur, which in that case would mean you don't need a degree, although it would still help). In today's world, you pretty much need to go to college. I say GO, even if it's a small community college. Plus you'll meet many new people, especially women!!! What better place to meet them than college.

this is very true...my wife did not go to college...she worked at a rental car agency for 5 years...we then moved to texas....she got another job for another rental car agency....it was easy to get, she had 5 years experience in the field....after about 2 months....they hired some dude with NO rental car ageny or customer service experience...paid him more to start and now he is in training to be the manager...he has a 4 year degree in criminology...nothing to do with the rental car business at all...but the fact that he went to college for 4 years got him a higher starting pay...even now my wife still does higher sales than he does....i say go take some general courses...maybe by then you will have changed your mind about what you want to do, and can then focus the rest of your schooling on that....trust me, you will change your mind

Cliff

[justfishin]

GO TO COLLEGE. I returned and finished at 45 years old and my first year back was a struggle because I had been out so long. Go while everything is still fresh in your mind and your mind is in a learning mode. I can almost promise you that if you don't do it now, you might not ever go. You are young and it is only 4-6 years to finish depending if you want a Bachelors or Masters degree. Don't be like me paying a mortgage and a college loan at 50. Now is the time, trust me.  

[tipptruck1]

Ok I posted some thing like this a few weeks ago. I didn't want to go. But after me family naging me for the last three years iam going back. I just have to go for a year. But also think when your maknig 50,000 plus a year. Iam sure its nice having more then a few bucks in the bank. what are you going for also.  

[Dan:]

You should go. Good reasons have already been stated; better pay, more alternatives, it'll make you more hire-able, etc...

One thing I would suggest though is to try a community college for a few semesters and see what you think. They often have cheaper courses and if you work hard, you can transfer into 4 year colleges with a lot of credits and having spent less money. (But make sure you go to a CC from which you can transfer credits to 4-year schools, some 4 year schools don't accept credits from certain, less respected CCs)

[PaparockArk]

Let's cut through the BS.

There are lots of people that do and will do VERY well without a college education. However, on AVERAGE, college grads will earn $1.5 -$2mm more during their working years.

How many MILLION DOLLARS do you have?

RW is right, I could not have said it better!

Even if what you think you want to do does not require a degree. A college education does more than teach you a field of study. It was not until my second year in college I decided my degree and I never worked in that exact degree field however I used the knowledge and skills I learned there all the rest of my life both in my personal and business life. A good college education will teach you how to learn any skill. It is the way to approach learning not just facts. Life has a funny way of changing over time so you should prepare to be adaptable to those changes. Few people stay in the same carrier all their lives anymore as my parents generation did. That good college education will help you to adapt to the changes that come in this ever-changing world we live in. So, take it seriously and learn as much as you can because some day you will look back at my age at that time as some of the best days of your life. I sure am glad I did. I see my children and stepchildren that have not listened to this advice and I worry for their futures for they are in constant struggle paycheck to paycheck to survive. Too many people today live to literally one paycheck away from homelessness.

Prepare while you are young for the times to come for youth lasts but a season and is done. When the trials of life knock upon your door be prepared for sooner than you think you will find in my shoes you stand looking back through time. Will you have the comfort of a warm winters coat or the tears of regret over those things you were want to do but never found the time?  

[largemouthslayer]

GO! Chase girls, drink beer,study hard and of course find a college with good bass fishing. My biggest regret is not staying in school. In the fall i go back to Athens for football games and look at all the fun I missed. You will never be able to get that back. If not for the better income in the future go for the exerience,so you can say"I remember when I was in college".GO GO GO!

[bassboy1]

Go to college!  My dad didn't, and that was the worst decision of his life.  Now we are feeling the effects.  We had some unplanned curcumstances that required us to pay for 2 $400,000+ houses for 3 years.  He had no plan of that when he was 20.  He is also stuck in a job with long hours.  It is pretty good job for someone w/o college, but it is not what he wants.  The hours are long and now the whole family is feeling the effects.  Not only can we not afford stuff, we have no time for anything, including fishing.  Go to college!

[Siebert Outdoors]

Lil story for ya.

I know a guy that went to college for 2 weeks.  Thought it sucked, being about 18 and gun hoe he thought the military was the place to be.  Well I guess it put his priorities straight.  He couldnt wait to get out.  At the age of about 24 guess what he did.  Went back to school.  Med school.  Now he is a Doctor.

IMO.  Save the time, go to college once you graduate High school.  If not later in life it will be alot harder to do.  You will be going to school, living on your own, working a full time job, and other things.  Worry about school now and the rest later.

BTW College is a great experience.  Its all about  the 3 B's.  Once you graduate you will know what that means.

[Pond Hopper]

I agree with most of the stuff said but college is more than an education, its an experience, probably similar to having kids or retirement.  College was the best times of my life, the friends, the fun, and the education.  You learn so much more in college than just your major or concentration of studies.  It teaches you about life, and how to manage your life.  I would say go, and once you graduate you will probably want to go back, or take more classes.  I have taken 2 classes since I graduated 2 years ago just for the hell of it, and because I had an interest in learning.  While there are plenty of proffessions that I would reccomend skipping college, entrepeneurship is not one of them.  Take some classes, some management and administration and accounting classes.

[Root beer]

GO! Chase girls, drink beer,study hard and of course find a college with good bass fishing. My biggest regret is not staying in school. In the fall i go back to Athens for football games and look at all the fun I missed. You will never be able to get that back. If not for the better income in the future go for the exerience,so you can say"I remember when I was in college".GO GO GO!

I found a college with great bass fishing let just say pickwick, weisse, guntersville, wilson, and many more all all within 5 minute -2 hour drive from campus.

[Jerkbate]

Listen to these guys.  GO TO COLLEGE.  I am a college instructor, & I currently have several older guys that are enrolled in my programs.  Most of them are in their forties.  I also have several guys in their late twenties to early thirties who went to college straight out of high school but did not finish.  They realized the importance of the college degree and have returned to get their degree.  Regardless of their situation, they will all tell you quick that they regret not going to or finishing college when they were younger.  It is unbelievable the opportunities that open up to you once you get you degree.

Like others have mentioned, you may not need a college education to succeed, but it is proven that college graduates earn much more money over their lifetime.  Go to Monster.com or Americas Job Bank and look at the top paying job postings.  99% of them will require at least a two year degree; most a 4 year degree or higher.  Right now you say you know what you want to do, & it doesn't require a degree.  Later in your life I assure you that your aspirations will change.  College will open you up to a whole new world that you do not know exists.

[Sam]

As a recruiter for LSU, may I add my two cents?

Want to make another $1,000,000 in your lifetime?

Want a nice boat and the time to use it?

Want to make new friends for life?

Well, then go to the college of your choice.

It is the best 5 years of your life!!!!!

P.S. Go to a big land-grant school if you want a fun social life and many majors to select among, like LSU, Auburn, Florida, Virgina Tech, Texas, Michigan, USC, Nebraska, Oklahoma, etc.  Check out the Sea-Grant Colleges and Universities if you want to study fisheries and fish biology like Ken Cook.

[Guest avid]

Follow your heart.

when your young is the time to take chances.

forget about the statistics and what works for most people.

You are you.  If you want something then go get it.

If you don't know what you want and someone will pay for college, by all means go.

but if you don't then the beer will end up costing you thousands.

Remember college loans cannot be declared on bankrupcy.   Once you borrow that money there is no choice but to pay it back.....with interest.

How bad does that suck if you drop out without a degree and thousands in loans hanging over your head?

If you can pass the qualifying tests, then some of the best technical training in the world can be gotten in any branch of the military.  when you come out you have experience on advanced equipment and a ticket to a formal college degree.

It's a consideration.

[Root beer]

Thanks for all the inputs. I'll pretty much spend all summer thinking about it, doing some pros and cons, and then re-take ACT in september and then see where I'll go from there.