i think it all depends on what you want to do. for example, i’m all about dave going to school if he knows what he wants and needs it to get there. but for me, it doesn’t make any sense at this point.

to be 100% honest, if i could go back and do it again, i would go to college, just for the experience (as long as i would still have all of my other experiences). that makes no sense. bye.

Here’s my question based on many of these comments:

If high school cost 50 or 100K would we start asking whether God was calling our kids to go?

I agree with many of your responses–my point is merely that the choice to not go to college should be made with the same sobriety and realization of the consequences that the choice to quit high school should be made with.

Of course, people can be successful w/o college. People can be successful without high school, too, but we think it’s important enough that we don’t give almost anyone except delinquents the opportunity to prove that high school is sometimes as unnecessary as college.

I went to college and loved it. I’m a homeschooling stay-at-home Mom of 2. I’m wondering just how often I’m using that $40K degree. My husband has his Master’s in education and was a great teacher before the MA. He says his MA made him only slightly worse of a teacher. LOL.

But that is not true any more. You can be successful without it IF you know how to be successful and professional. You have to know what it takes to have a career and a good work ethic, understand a little finance and/or money management (whats a 401K, 457k, Roth IRA and so on).

In fact you need to be like that after college too but you might get away with it if you have a degree.

as for that return-on-investment argument, i’m just not sure that’s going to be true in today’s economy. my total education is probably going to cost $250k (100k for undergrad and 150k for grad – most of which i personally didn’t have to pay, but SOMEBODY did), all so i can probably be a professor for a few years and raise some chillun. if we’re talking monetary capital, i don’t know that i’m really going to be able to pay Uncle Sam back.

i work at starbucks.

to pay off my 20K in student loans.

I’m sure college is exactly what a lot of people need. But for the motivated self-learner who doesn’t want to spend his life working in a corporate ladder maze, college seems pretty optional.

Secondly, it will depend greatly on what the Lord is calling an individual to do. College is extremely costly, both financially and in terms of time, and if it will not help a person towards their calling, then why invest so much resource into it?

I myself have been to Bible college because of my desire to enter into ministry, but I do not believe that higher education is as necessary as high school, not by any means. I do not think young people should be under huge pressure to enroll in institutions which may further them in the rat race, but not necessarly spur them onto their calling in the Lord.

Short answer: College is good, and the decision should be taken seriously, but it is not on the same level of necessity as high school.

That is, people who attend college might have been just as successful if they didn’t attend college because of who they are, not because they attended higher education. Correlation is not causation.

ED.

SINCERE IGNORANCE AND CONSCIENTIOUS STUPIDITY
http://blog.myspace.com/CAUGHTNOTTAUGHT

Some readers will point out that money isn’t everything. And of course they are right. Better a Christ-treasuring ditch digger than a worldly physician. But on the whole, in our economy, people find more long term satisfaction from the careers that require post-secondary education. And I think finding pleasure in your work is a very worthwhile, God-glorifying goal.

What I find odd, and slightly disturbing, are several families I know that assume that their sons will attend college(and encourage them to) and assume that their girls will not attend college (and discourage or even forbid them).

Steve

There are some obvious benefits (being in an environment that actually fosters learning being the main one), and some career choices demand it, but for many, it’s purely social/family reasons that they go.

I have an Associates degree that I never use if anyone wants it.

You are so right about stressing the importance of a college education. It is a priviledge that truly assists our proper contribution to today’s society. And for this we should remember to be truly thankful, especially to God, for equipping us in this manner. Truly He is deserving of our prayer and praise. Perhaps a prayer that goes something like this:

God, I thank thee that I am not like other men … even this high school graduate who did not go to college. I give you all the glory Lord, for allowing me to spend four of the most selfish years of my life in relative ease, where I could “earn” my badge of entitlement without being distracted by the cares of this world, and even work out my salvation without all of that “fear and trembling stuff”. Indeed, those friday night Campus Crusade meetings were “rest for the weary” enough for me.

But now that I’ve graduated, I’m thankful that you’ve produced even greater fruits in my life. Statistically speaking, Lord, this high school graduate will never be able to tithe as much as you have enabled me to, and I thank you for the priviledge to have this greater impact to further your kingdom.

It is by your grace alone that I recognize the accomplishment of this very important educational status. And I am devoted to being a good steward of the talents you have entrusted me with. While you are off desperately seeking sheep #100, someone needs to apply themselves so they can hold the fort for, or even rise up to lead, the other 99.

The problem seems to be more within the system of collegiate education than with the people deciding not to go…grade inflation perhaps. It starts in the high school too and then all the way up (at least through the Bachelor’s degree) its too easy.

Probably another aspect that has made college much like high school is the tendency it has to extend the “acceptable immaturity” phase of life. To not go to college would mean having to get a job and probably one with health benefits, etc. No more Christmas/Spring break trips!! Its not as much fun to not go to college!

Who knows…it depends on the individual and the field they wish to pursue. Something within the established educational system should change though too…

Let me suggest that all of you make a friend who is 15 yeras older than you are and ask him or her if they either -regret- going to college or, on the other hand, regret -not- going to college. Especially the “entrepreneurs”. The exceptions frankly prove the rule.

Go get a decent liberal-arts college education. And maybe minor in accounting.

now, all throughout my childhood, it was expected that i would go to college. it was never even an option for me. mostly because my parents were convinced it was THE way to get a good job these ways. and they’re KIND OF right… kind of. other people have pointed out plenty of exceptions already.

but equating college with high school is, i think, the biggest mistake. high school, being compulsory (for most states?) is supposed to ensure the entire population is reasonably educated with what we consider a basic skill set in today’s society – both subject skills and learning skills.

college is different. yes, there’s definitely a vocational aspect, especially these days. but what i think some people don’t understand (my parents certainly don’t) is that it’s about more than that. my parents scoffed at the “best college experience” argument when i was choosing schools, and i suppose if you thought college was mostly about the dorm and cafeteria and school spirit experience that would be a little bit shallow. but it also should be a time to build character as you build your mind. you learn how to think critically and think broadly and, hopefully, how to integrate knowledge into your life. college did that for me.

so maybe i wish everybody would go to college, for that experience. but if some people aren’t interested in that, or just really aren’t cut out for school, i don’t think they should have to go.

A college education is not what it used to be.