When I think back to the day I graduated college, it was one of the happiest days of my life. I felt a sense of accomplishment—like I had really made it…not only graduated with a four year degree, but graduated into official adulthood. I knew that with my degree I was going to find a great paying job, buy a car, and move into my own apartment. I knew that with my degree I had made my parents proud because they didn’t go to college, and they wanted their children to have that experience they never did. I just knew that the sky was the limit. I was ready for whatever the world had to offer me…except the student loan bills that started popping up in my mailbox, and when the only job I could find was through a temp agency, and when the only car I could afford was a ’93 Dodge Colt hatchback. Or even when I had to live with my sister and her family for almost two years after I graduated because I couldn’t afford a place of my own.
Unlike some of my friends I went to school with, my parents couldn’t afford to put me through school…or my other six siblings. So I had to take out student loans…a lot of them! I’m still paying on some of those loans today, which kills me because as the picture states…I’m not even using the degree to which these loans are paying for. In addition, I studied Biology and ended up working as a professional in Human Resources. But I know I’m not alone because I meet people all of the time that are not working in the field for which they spent countless hours in, to get a degree. Was it a waste of time? Not at all. Was it a waste of money? I’d have to say it was considering the interest that I’m paying on it. Don’t get me wrong: I don’t regret the time I spent in college (ok, maybe some of those all-nighters studying for Organic Chemistry exams). I went to two great schools and have formed some amazing friendships from both experiences. What I do regret is not having the necessary tools and information before, during, and after I embarked on my college journey.
What I do regret, are the things that college didn’t teach me; things like how to put together a resume, how to prepare for a job interview, how to budget, how to deal with conflict resolution on the job, how to sell, how to start a business, or even the fact that the ability to get a job doesn’t guarantee the ability to keep that job. I had to learn these things by trial and error, the latter being the hardest lesson that hit home with me. When the Great Recession occurred back in late 2007, little did I know it meant me having to witness several of my friends getting laid off from their jobs (majority of them making close to or over six figures) with no warning. Some of them were out of work for months, even over a year or two. Some of them had college degrees and some of them didn’t. But it didn’t matter because they were all out of work, and a college degree didn’t save their job. This was a wake-up call for me because I knew I never wanted to find myself in that situation. I knew that I would have no control over whether or not my job was snatched right out from under me. It was scary for me, so I know it was scary for all those who lost their jobs during that time period.
Working in HR, I spent a lot of time reviewing resumes…and turning a lot of people down – college degree or not. We always had way more applicants for a position than we had openings. Like me, a lot of candidates automatically assumed that having a degree qualified them for whatever job they applied for. But also like me, they were wrong. Plain and simple: it oftentimes didn’t matter. There’s always been so much emphasis on finishing high school, graduating from college, and getting a job. But what about teaching the students of today the art of entrepreneurship? What about teaching them how to make their own money so that they don’t have to depend on a corporate job that may or may not dump them at the drop of a hat? My school never taught this, but I’m really excited that they are among a host of other schools who are currently teaching their students this valuable information. With the rising cost of tuition, we’d need to be making Oprah money in order to pay for our kids’ college educations in the next thirteen to sixteen years (YIKES!). There are so many additional options including some great online schools which would greatly cut down on cost. So if my kids decide they want to go to college, then I will support them. But if they decide that they want to start their own business (and hire the college grads that enter into the workforce), then I’ll most definitely support that too!
BMWK — Will you teach your children that they need to go to college?
There has to be a plan and I think college is a good one. There are plenty of cheap ways to go to college (state school, community college first then transfer etc) and for students who really excelled in high school, they should be able to go for free.
That being said, I expect my kids to go on scholarship of some kind. If it’s not a full-ride, then I’d offer to help pay if they majored in certain things that I had a high ROI or 1 year job placement rate after graduation- like engineering or computer science.
As far as life skills, I think it is true that many kids don’t come out knowing how to write a resume or prepare for life in the workplace. Some of that comes from getting hands-on experience doing it over time . . . i.e. working at an internship, being around people older, different, and diverse. Kids can start getting that experience early in life, before high school graduation, if we stop coddling them and force them to grow up and be “grown” by 18. My parents taught me about writing checks and filling out paperwork as soon as I could write!
Hi Gizzle, thank you for sharing with us. I agree that there are cheap ways to pay for college, and that could be an article on its own. But what if your kids don’t get a full scholarship or want to major in engineering or computer science? Or, what if they do it only to please their parents and then end up regretting it and wanting to do something else after the fact? We can’t really predict the future, so this article was meant to look at the college experience with an open mind (as I don’t want my kids to be stuck in the mold of what society expects of them).
State school isn’t cheap anymore, unless you count $18,000-27,000 a year as cheap. That’s not even necessarily including room and board either. I excelled in high school (4.0 GPA) and was offered a one-time $2,000 scholarship for an in-state school where the tuition was $17,000 and the books, room, and board were another $18,000 or so. Unless you get an athletic scholarship, which might be a possibility, full-ride academic scholarships hardly exist anymore.
I completely agree with the article. Majority of schools teach how to work for an employer, rather than oneself. I have a two year old daughter, and my husband and I are already teaching her about managing money. I plan to begin teaching her about entrepreneurship soon. It starts at home, and it
starts young.
You are not alone in feeling this way. People from a variety of perspectives are questioning the value of a degree, including parents, students, and employers themselves. As a financial planner, I can no longer tell clients that a four-year college is necessarily a good investment because of many of the facts you mention. I know one thing about you, and it may have nothing to do with your college education, but you are wise as you resist the temptation to follow the crowd of those who think their kids must go to college. Stand firm.
Hi Candice,
Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts and encouragement. I honestly feel that there are other options, and a four-year college education is not the only one.
I agree with most of your article. I do believe we need to teach our kids more life skills and money management. But I also think some kind of post-secondary training will be absolutely necessary to compete in the job market, especially for our children. Not necessarily an undergrad degree, but I want my daughter to know just having a HS diploma will make it more difficult to achieve her dreams. I like the idea of encouraging entrepreneurship. But I think a college degree also helps people develop the time management and dedication it takes to be a business owner. Completing your degree doesn’t just mean you went to school for four years, took classes, and graduated. It means you have the ability to be focused and commit to seeing something to the end. It is a great accomplishment and that is why I think most employers require a degree because it says a lot about that person.
What I experienced when going into my freshman year is being told that in order to be successful, I had to go to a big university and receive grants and student loans to pay for school. My parents didn’t go to college and knew nothing about it. My high school counselors were useless and so I have absolutely no guidance. 30k in student loans later after I graduated, I met my husband who graduated with as BS in Computer Science as well, with absolutely no debt. He went to community college first. Instead of taking out loans, he got on a payment plan with the school and worked a full time job plus a part time job to pay his way through school. The thought never occurred to me that there was any other way besides taking out student loans because that is what had been programmed in my mind.
SOME kind of training after high school is absolutely necessary, but a 4-year degree doesn’t automatically have value. Now if that degree is in, say, actuarial studies, then it has a LOT of value. On the other hand, a degree in African studies or Russian literature from a private liberal arts school? That has no value at all in terms of investment in one’s financial future. In fact, those degrees are probably liabilities more than they are assets. Honestly, skilled trade apprenticeship can be a much better option for some people. Elevator inspectors, for example, can earn $90,000 a year or more and receive their training through apprenticeship. That’s more than I can say for my friend who is trying to pay off an African studies degree while working at the church daycare.
I was very disturbed to read this: “Was [college] a waste of money? I’d have to say it was considering the interest that I’m paying on it.”
I completely empathize with the author’s challenges in finding employment. This economy is the worst we’ve experienced in generations. And yes, getting a college degree is not a guarantee that you will secure employment. But, NOT getting a degree? I would venture to say that, depending on the industry, it will put you even further behind other candidates unless you have amassed considerable experience (which, again, depending on the industry, is often only available to people who have the requisite educational background to qualify for such opportunities).
College is not just about getting a job. It’s about learning how to expand your mind – not only in the classroom, but among your peers on campus. Children need to be given OPTIONS . . . and to be given the full plate of information when it comes to decisions about their future. Not just “go to college, get a job” like many of us who are Gen X/Millenials were told, but to select your college carefully, think about what you might like to do as a career, what kind of experience you want to have AND how you will pay it back. Do I regret college? Not for a minute – because it has empowered and equipped me to be in a position to be able to pay back those loans.
I think that the idea that if-you-go-to-college-you-will-be-rich is beginning to be replaced by the notion that if-you-start-your-own-business-you-will-be-wildly-successful. Not always the case – at all. Also, as African Americans, I think we have to be very careful when it comes to the idea of college vs. no college — often that’s interpreted as “school is for suckers, don’t learn how to read, write, spell, calculate, etc.” Remember, entrepreneurship isn’t a guarantee of economic success or stability either. Most small businesses fail. Working for someone else may not be the answer, but when you work for yourself, you work ALL the time and when you don’t work, you truly do not eat.
My sentiments exactly, Curvy CEO. Well said.
Curvy CEO- I agree. There is an opinion that exists that entrepreneurs don’t work for anyone; and that is simply not the truth. As an entrepreneur, you typically work for everyone. You work for the client or customer who comes through the door. You work for the employee that comes to work and needs a check. You even work for every single bill that comes through the door and the ability to keep the lights on both in your business and at home. I’m not saying it’s impossible, I did it for years. However, there is a certain personality type and passion that you must have for your business and part of that is learning as much as you can about your specific industry as well as how to actually run a business. College does help with this experience; but it’s not designed to give you everything. What we should teach our children instead of not going to school is the “system” of school. We need to teach them from day one how to get scholarships (because the prime time is getting them ahead in elementary school so they are advanced by high school and applicable); how to obtain internships; independent projects; summer jobs in their field, etc. We need to teach them to find and explore their passions early and foster that spirit in them. Teach them how to network while they are in school with professors and other people in their class, business professionals and sponsors of the schools. Yes, it is true that college is not for everyone; but I personally don’t believe in limiting anyone’s potential because of the price tag. Where there is a will, there is a way to do anything!
YES!! “What we should teach our children instead of not going to school is the “system” of school….We need to teach them to find and explore their passions early and foster that spirit in them. Teach them how to network while they are in school with professors and other people in their class, business professionals and sponsors of the schools.”
I think one problem that many college graduates face is that they bought into the myth if that you’re a good student and do what you’re supposed to do, you will be successful. It’s not that simple. College is the beginning of your professional network . . . and you cannot develop the relationships that will help you in the working world simply by keeping your head in the books or sitting at your lab bench. Again, this all goes to what a person wants to do with her/her life in their career.
^^^This thread. African Americans face so many obstacles we have to guide our kids to set themselves up for success, attending college is one such route but it’s not simply graduate from college and you’ll be set. There are a host of factors that will be determinors of success which you guys have enumerated very well.
College is not required to be educated. That is the propaganda that we’ve been lead to believe. I am glad that I didn’t need to be in a “position to pay back loans”. College should teach you to NOT get a position that you need to be concerned about paying back loans, LOL!
Education and college are not synonymous, but most people believe two are dependent on each other. You can educate yourself. I know that for sure because I have done so with online courses.
College is not worth the costs. The return on investment is very low. In my field, all you need to succeed is a two-year trade license, experience, drive, and some intelligence.
A degree is not a requirement or guarantee of success. I wouldn’t say that entrepreneurial ship is the answer either. Because like college, running your own business is not for everyone.
The college/degree thing is a very successful propaganda/scare campaign. A college educated person surely can see that.
College should definitely be about getting a job. If an institution asks it’s customers to pay an over the top amount for it’s services, they should guarantee something more than the customer can get for a fraction of the costs. It’s criminal to charge all that money for tuition+, ENCOURAGE huge amounts of debt accrual and then not offer any return on that investment.
If I make a loan to get a house or a car; I have something tangible in the end. When I spend money on tuition, hopefully, my education will translate into something tangible. That just is not happening.
African Americans have been duped by the allure of college, just as they were with integration.
Make your own definitions of success. Then decide if spending $80K will help you get there. If not, do something different. Education/learning is definitely necessary for success. College is not.
Think of what else you could have done with the income you spent on paying back loans…
Hi there and thanks for taking time out to read this article and comment. I actually have never had any challenges finding employment once I started working full-time (since 2003). “Children need to be given OPTIONS” I completely agree with this comment, which is why I want to make sure they know there are other options than just attending a 4-year college. I also would never discourage them from doing so if that’s what they wanted to do. My husband and I are very involved in our children’s learning and spend time teaching them correct grammar, spelling, reading, etc (they are almost 2, 3 & 5). No, entrepreneurship isn’t a guarantee (and neither is a 9-5), but I want them to be able to understand what it is, and make an informed decision.
Hi Angela, Thanks so much for your comment. ” Education/learning is definitely necessary for success. College is not” I agree. And I agree that just like running a business isn’t for everyone, college is also not for everyone.
Hardly anyone gets a worthwhile ROI in a college education. The amount of money spent whether it’s your parents money or Sallie Mae’s, it’s not worth the money spent. Education can be achieved for very little money, compared to the cost of tuition. I am studying as if I am earning an MBA but I am not in anyone’s school. I read the books the Business Schools assign it’s students. I went to a vocational school and got a license and certificate. The it costs me no more than $2000 total. Came out making $50K in less than 5 years. I went back to college after i had worked in my trade field for about 5 years. College is a big money propaganda campaign that too many people have been duped into believing that it is the only way to be successful. Everyone needs to educated beyond high school. But traditional college is not the cure all. Unless you are striving to be a lawyer, doctor, engineer, or other professional that requires special licensure. you need to be learning how to DO something. Go to trade or community college. Universities are a rip off. I have a degree that my employer paid for. It’s still not worth the money. I am an aircraft mechanic by trade, stuff always breaks. I can always fix things. My current job is a project manager, but I can still go back and repair an aircraft if push comes to shove.
@ Angela
I completely agree with you. I wish someone had advise me to take the route you took. I know from experience that most employers hands-on experience, which colleges and universities, for the most, don’t provide. In fact, I read somewhere that most employers prefer to hire someone with no degree and tons of work experience than one with a well-polished resume and no work experience. College, like the Angela said, is a money propaganda, but is not a bad idea for all. For most children who take the college route as a hopeful way out of poverty, it can be a huge fail. I didn’t go to college to receive a degree that would better be served as decoration on a wall. I
I personally think that college is now a business where you pay and receive a degree, not an education. However, I do not promote lack of education
I think this article should have emphasized that the road to success is a long one. While I was misguided in what financial and employment gains that would be automatically handed to me because of my Bachelor’s degree, I also understood that once I became established in my career I can build my life and my bank account. Some college students/grads fall into the hype that they can get rich quick. Success takes time.
I am teaching my children that they must attend college. In my world education opens doors that experience alone cannot open. Two of my children want to be lawyers, two others want to be doctors. These are professions one does not have access to without the appropriate education. At the same time, even if they decide to do other types of work I would like them to have the benefit of formal education in addition to practical work experience.
Hi Janeane! Thanks for your comment! I definitely agree with continuing education after high school, and obviously if my kids want to be doctors, lawyers, engineers, etc, they will be going to college. But if they want to do other types of work, and prefer to go to trade school or get a certification, then I’ll support that too. They definitely have to have a plan, but I want that plan to come from them and not from me forcing it on them.
Wonderful article. As parents, we do not push college down our children’s throat either, nor are we against going to college. Realizing that college is not for everyone, we were more concerned about teaching our children how to be morally correct and descent human beings, to be trustworthy, kind , charitable and compaasionate to others; if they decided that they wanted college and pursue it later, at least we worked on keeping them out of jail so that they could pursue “their”dreams, goals, and desires. Thank you and I hope trillions of people read this article. May I share?
Hi Hanifah, thank you for your kind words of encouragement. “we do not push college down our children’s throat either, nor are we against going to college” That was pretty much the point of the article 🙂 Please do feel free to share this article with others, thank you.
I enjoyed reading your story. It relates in so many ways to my own experience with college. To date, I’m still a college drop out. Don’t know if I’ll ever go back. At this point, I don’t need it. I’m waist deep in the field I want to be in: Marketing Communications. And I didn’t need a degree to do it successfully.
While I also don’t plan to push college on my son (who’s only 8 months right now), I’d be more than happy to help him through the process if he decides it’s what he wants to do. I currently run a blog, ByeHighSchool.org that pretty much sums up how I feel. Because I created the site to help others, like myself, who are pushed to go to college but don’t really know what path they want to take.
No one in my family had ever attended college, so i didn’t have anyone to help me with a lot. And a lack of financial support only made things worse. But it was only after I dropped out that I made a way for myself. And I just want other people to know that you can define your own path to success. College isn’t mandatory if it’s something you don’t want to do or aren’t sure about.
Thanks a lot for sharing this. I found the link on Facebook along with the image at the top. It made me laugh at my own Sallie Mae problems. It’s really bad on dropouts lol. Trust me.
Glad to have found your site 🙂
Nikki
Hi Nikki,
I’m so glad you found this site and article so thanks for taking time out to read and comment. I’m glad you could at least get a chuckle out of the Sallie Mae cartoon 🙂 I love what you are doing with your blog because I, too, felt like I was pushed towards one path, but realized too late that it wasn’t the path that I necessarily wanted to take. And I know there are many more students out there who can relate to that.
Love your posts! Check us out at poshmumsy.com
I will most definitely be pointing my child in the direction towards college. You can’t judge off your experience. You got a degree in something that no one should be majoring in unless they are pre-something medical. You should never ever ever major in biology unless you have connections or plan on teaching. I know this because I am am majoring in biology and its something I would never do if i wasn’t planning on going to dental school. There are just some degrees you should stay away from. Your college degree was a waste because if you had done research you would have known to stay away from biology degrees.