This story was originally published in the third edition of The Lion’s Tale (January 31st, 2022).

College is a big stepping stone for many high schoolers. The decision of attending college is very different for everyone. Some see it as an opportunity for success but others see success in other routes.  

Many students are told from a young age that college is a necessary step in achieving their goals. As students grow into their own skin, they learn to form their own opinions on what is best for themselves and their futures. In more recent years, choosing not to attend college has become much more common. There are many available paths to take involving newer technology. 

Although some people find career paths without college, attending may open up a broader variety of opportunities. Having a college degree, opposed to just a high school diploma, creates a sense of security for job opportunities in the future. Different careers require different degrees and levels of experience, which college will provide. 

Unemployment is less likely to occur for someone who has a college degree. Depending on the degree, you can apply for a plethora of different jobs throughout your life, avoiding being out of work. 

With college comes the opportunity to open and restart your social life. It allows you to be  introduced to a whole new environment with new people and new experiences. This then creates further maturing habits in a way that you may not have been able to do while staying at home or not attending college. It encourages you to be self-sufficient and in some way gain ambition. This allows for you to learn the ways of working though life, independently. 

College is, in some cases, the best option for certain individuals who are academically and financially capable. But for some people, the pecuniary aspect of college just isn’t realistic. Nowadays, there are many options to counteract this, like financial aid, but many people just aren’t willing to take the initiative in figuring it out. 

Many people go into applying for college with a negative mentality, convincing themselves they aren’t good enough or their grades won’t suffice. For some this may be true, but a lot of times these issues can be worked out and even improved. Taking extra credits over summer or just generally aiming to improve your grades and GPA while still in high school can broaden your chances of success for college. 

An issue many seem to come across as well is not being able to maintain that college lifestyle. They may feel pressured into going due to those around them, this may lead them onto a path of conflict both academically and financially. In the scenario an individual attends college and “Flunks” out, they have now wasted time, money, and space within certain programs others may have been more adamant about. 

The timeline for college can look very different for everyone. Many people feel it is necessary to attend college straight out of high school, but that isn’t always best for everyone. Taking a gap year to regroup is one option for someone who isn’t looking to go immediately. Another path could be attending a community college to gain credits and better your transcript, then later transferring to a bigger university. 

In today’s age there are various options and resources for people to choose from. College isn’t for everyone, different paths work for different people. Depending on what kind of career you want to partake in, varying amounts of schooling and licensing is required. It all depends on what goals you are trying to achieve, and what works best for each individual.