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Should I Have Gone to College?

Recently President Obama got some people upset by saying that everyone should go to college.

You read that right--the President upset people by saying that college is a good thing.

The funny thing is, I was kind of upset by it too.

Let me explain.

I think the "college is the only choice" way of thinking probably made sense back when EVERYBODY wasn't going to college, and so a college degree actually meant something. Unfortunately, unless you're going to school in one of the three fields that are adding jobs, it's possible that skipping college might be a good idea.

I went to college for four years, got two degrees (granted English and Theater, but still, went to college!), and when I graduated I went looking for part-time work in retail until I could find a full-time job, and what did I discover?

All the people who would be hiring me had not only skipped college and spent the past four years advancing in their respective industries and making lots of money, but they also harbored a bit of resentment over us college kids who sat in cushy classrooms while they were working their behinds off folding cardigans.

Now, were I to get hired by these people, it's possible I would have advanced past these people, and they were aware of that, so they simply didn't hire me.

See the vicious circle that's created here?

So when kids ask me about college now, I ask them what they're interested in doing. For me, college was a good choice, because I wanted to have that experience and I loved learning about what it is I'm passionate about, but the degrees themselves haven't been a big help. I also didn't pay as much for college as other people did. If I was saddled with tens of thousands of dollars worth of debt for the rest of my life, I'd probably be a little more bitter.

I think it's only smart of us to advise kids accordingly based on what field they're planning to pursue.

College seems to be a safe default answer to give a kid when they're asking you about their future.

Maybe we're just scared to tell them that there isn't a default answer anymore.

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