I don't want to go to college, will I be able to make a decent living with out it, if so how?

Answer 1

Well, I've been in and out of college. I've finally decided to not go back. Right now, after 5 years in my retail job, I'm able to afford a bottom of the market apartment (I live alone) basic DSL service, I can't afford cable tv (but I have it anyways cause someone hooked up the wrong cable :D ) and the ingredients for the food I need to stay alive. I am lucky I got a lucrative summer job right out of high school, cause that enabled me to buy a 7 year old (then) car. This car is now 14 years old, and it costs most of my leftover money to keep it running. I can't afford new clothes, new shoes, fast food, or anything else I'm sure you, as a teenager, are accustomed to. I put all my extra money into savings, because my car will need those few hundred dollars for a repair very soon. I owe about $8k in various debts, because there are times when I simply don't have enough money. When you only make $900 a month, life isn't easy. I hope to someday marry a man who makes enough money, so I'm not always living on the edge.

But you could just go to college. Those 4 years will be over before you know it. Trust me. I would've graduated 3 years ago if I had stuck with it.

Answer 2

Yes you can still make a decent living and don't let anyone tell you different. I am a mom of a 4 year old and am still with the father of my baby and I started working at 17 years old at McDonalds and I've had a few other jobs since then and where I'm at now with my family and life is fine but we want more. When you want more you need to do more. I am a Receptionist and have been for the last 2 years now and my fiance works at a door store making doors. We both make a decent amount of money and I'm going to college and have been since Jan 06 because we want to better our lives. I know you hear the sain the more money you have the more problems you have and more bills to. I agree with that but I think if you do decide to go to college it will be for the best. I didn't like school very much and after I graduated in 2002 I didn't go back to school unitl just last year jan 06 so don't feel bad for not going. Give yourself time to think about what you really want to do with your life. Don't rush it ok!! You'll be fine. I wish you the best of luck!!

Answer 3

Yes, you will be able to, but you need more training than just a high-school diploma. If you are in high school, talk to your counselor and find out what trade/vocational programs are offered by the school district. You want to avoid having to attend a high-priced for-profit institute if at all possible. You may be able to take classes at a local community college, too.

Think about becoming an electrician, mechanic, plumber, welder or carpenter. There are lots of jobs around for technicians of various sorts--dental assistants, computer people, and so on.

Don't say no to a job in the trades just because you're a girl, and don't fall into the "pink collar" trap--choosing a traditionally female (and low-paid) job. There are lots of opportunities for women in the trades. You might call the local union of whatever interests you and find out what training opportunities they can recommend.

Good luck!

Answer 4

thats the ten million dollar question. No one wants to go to college but it is hard . I suggest truly find out what you are interested in and get the best job you can get right now and save all your money and go for it. But I have to be honest unless you want to be carpenter, welder or some kind of trade job 90 percent of employers want a degree I know its stupid but thats life. The only way to make money and not have a degree is either work at a company for a longtime and move up through the company or start your own business which takes money, time, patience, persistence, and even then most people fail good luck

Answer 5

I'm a Recruiter and can tell you first hand that a college education will make a big difference. You really didn't give many details, but, if you a truly adamant that you don't want to attend college, you really should at least consider a trade school. If you are still in high school consider Vo-tec - for instance a Certified Nursing Assistant program or something similar. Email me if you want more details.

Answer 6

It depends on what you call decent. There is lower class, middle class and upper class. I consider myself middle class. I have a college education and still have to worry from time to time how one bill or another is going to get paid. I'm not saying you will be lower class if you don't have a college eduction. You can still live in a middle class neighborhood, but the less education you will have, you will have tougher and more stressful time just to have a roof over your head and pay your living expenses. If you have the opportunity, why not go to college and save yourself stress in the future.

Answer 7

I think it just depends on what you find interesting (work-wise) far as what you think you would like to do and what field you believe you would like to work in. The next thing to find out would be, does that field you are interested in require a Bachelor's degree, AA degree, or any degree, or just a high-school diploma. If it does not require a college degree, but just experience in it, then the next thing to find out is how to gain experience in that particular field. Perhaps some schooling may be needed, but it may be a lot less time than a full college degree would be. For instance, if it is a cosmetology school, it could be as little as perhaps 9 months to a year program and then you would be done. I think the same holds true for massage therapy, etc., so it will just depend on where your interests lie.

Answer 8

It depends on what you want to do, and what your standards for decent living are. If you're looking to be working for a medium to large business, it will be tough advancing without a college degree. It doesn't mean that's impossible, but you'll need to be better than the people who have one, and if you want to move to a different organization you'll be battling questions and prejudices about it.

If you want to work for a small business, you'll have less issues, but less opportunity for advancement and growth.

Probably the opportunity with the highest upside if you don't go on for more education is to have your own business. But that's a huge amount of work, you need to start small and grow it, and there's a lot of risk involved when the business is yours.

Answer 9

Well, you can go to a trade school. But that's like college, only a lot shorter. You could learn plumbing, heating and AC, auto-mechanics, etc. Good money and benefits.

If you don't want to go to a trade school, I would recommend the pizza business. Start out as a driver. You get minimum wage, + gas, + tips. That averages to about $15/hr. Learn the ropes and get into asst. manager. Then manager. Then superviser. A Domino's supervisor makes $70K+.

I use the pizza business as an example, but any kind of food industry offers the same opportunities.

Good luck!~

Answer 10

Absolutely--plenty of people do so. I recommend finding something that really interests you and working hard at that. (For what it's worth, Bill Gates dropped out of college to write computer programs.)

There are also a lot of learning/training options other than traditional college--specialized schools that teach computer repair, cooking, massage therapy--you name it. If you are interested in working with your hands, fixing or building things, etc., you could find someone in a trade and learn it from them. Plumbers, electricians, carpenters, auto mechanics--all can make a very good living (I know how much I have to pay them to fix things for me).

That said, remember also that you can always change your mind later if you decide you'd like to give college a try. Community college or taking classes part-time might appeal to you when you are older, you never know.

For what it's worth, I spent six years in college and loved it. But I know it's not for everyone and I have a lot of respect for people who know how to do all the stuff I've mentioned that you don't learn in college. Good luck!