Every fall, high school seniors are faced with the same difficult situation as the last graduating class, choosing what they want to do with the rest of their lives. The choice may not be as hard for some as it is for others, but, on some level, for everyone, the choice is an important one. Seniors at SLA are all now considering their own choices and hopefully this article will help a lot of you decide which path you should take bearing in mind the next chapter of your lives.
When you should reach for that Ivy League School
Nowadays, Many Ivy League Schools are considered to be overrated, putting kids in hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of debt each year. But, there are some instances in which this may be the best choice for you. If you are thinking of ultimately reaching a higher level degree, then having an Ivy League title attached to you gives you a great advantage. Or if you think you might be pursuing a career in law or politics, then this is the way to go. One thing to take into consideration when deciding on Ivy League is that, most of the time, they have the room to make negotiations. It never hurts to compare the money other schools are offering you with what they have offered because most of the time they can match it. Ivy Leagues are expensive, but in the circumstances above, it may very well be worth the money.
When “any old college” will do
There are a lot of instances, though, when spending the money on an Ivy League is pointless and any college would work. A lot of students are facing the issue at this time in their life in which they are still unsure what they want to do career wise, which is perfectly fine. Plenty of people change their majors multiple times throughout college, so if you are not 100% sure, then don’t worry too much, just don’t waste your money either. This is a situation in which any state (or even out of state) school will do. If you are going in undecided, then you are just getting your basic credits, in which you can receive anywhere, it would be foolish to spend a fortune. On the other hand, if you are set on a career, one of which does not require a higher level degree, than any college could work for you as well – although it’s also wise to look at school’s with specialties in your field . Also, if you want to live or pursue a career in a certain location, looking into the state colleges in that area can be useful. State colleges are also just useful sources of connections to make. These types of colleges, as explained above, do provide lots of benefits in certain circumstances for a lot lower cost.
When college might not be worth it
Aside from what the majority may say, there are some instances in which college is just not necessary. All your life you may be encouraged by your family and by teachers that college is the best way to go, but this is not always true. If you are set on some sort of labor career, such as construction, plumbing, etc., then college is not necessary at all. Also, if you are receiving any job offers right out of high school that do not require a college degree, than this may be the smarter route for you.
The advantages to college, apart from the career potential
It is true that for most career paths nowadays a college degree is not only preferred, but expected. American politician, Bernie Sanders, states that “Today, a 4 year college degree is equivalent to what a high school diploma was 50 years ago.” So, college is almost always necessary, but there are other lots of other benefits to pursuing this path than just for the potential of a better career. As stated above, college of any sort is just great for making connections. You meet people and experience situations in which you never would unless attending college. It can help us all develop better people skills. Just being in a new environment or location could really change your life. It also gives everyone options. Whether you have decided on what you want to do with your life or not, just having a degree opens up so much more to you.
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