How can we teach high school students that college is not a requirement for success in the world?

Question

Many high school students are pressured to go to college when it's not the best choice given their talent, career interest, and maturity level.

Sometimes college is actually NOT a good decision. (I speak from both personal experience and endless examples of successful people without college.)

Answer 1

I think the whole structure and focus of school would have to change. Right now, it's so focused on results, results, results, in the form of tests, tests, tests, when what makes the biggest difference in success are character traits--perseverence, self-direction, things like that.

Answer 2

Although it may not be a "requirement" for success, it sure doesn't hurt!! In our technological world, a college degree can go a long way. Yes, there are people in this world who have no college degree and are successful, but I personally would not advise NOT getting a degree. However, I do recommend at least one year off after high school before entering the college atmosphere. Blow off steam, enjoy being young, whatever, but then grab those horns of the higher education system and hang on until you get that degree and land a great job.

Answer 3

Simple... quit teaching them that it is a requirement.

College is only a requirement for people who cannot work with their hands or possess the skills necessary to create substance from raw materials.

Just have them call a local plumber or electrician to get an estimate to investigate a problem, and then ask for an estimate on fixing that problem. This should give some indication of the level of money that can be made in the "blue-collar" industry.

From my point of view it is the blue collar machinist that turns an engineers dream into reality.... or a contractor does the same for an architect.... for most every job there is both the person who comes up with the idea and the person who makes it happen...

just a few thoughts off the top of my head

Answer 4

stoner,

You ARE right, to a degree. There are myriads of well-paying professions that does not require a degree. Some require a different kind of education. To be a pipefitter for example, requires one to join a Union, spend several years as a journeyman, then apprentice, then they can call themselves card-carrying pipefiters.

On the other hand, if someone does not really know what they want to do, or have realized their strengths, what possible harm could education do? Entering into a technical trade, even with something like an associates degree can put a person ahead of the competition.

I would find it tough to really dissuade someone from going to college based upon a degree not being 'required' for that person to be successful.

Answer 5

Have them read "A Brave New World" first then tell them politely they're a delta-minus...

Seriously, I see yoru point but the fact is that without a formal education (and other education that continues throughout adulthood), the odds of financial prosperity are stacked against them.

I think the key thing you're saying is that they may not be ready for that right out of high school. I think the argument needs to be presented as "Youall need a college education, and to determine when you shoudl start that education." They need to see examples of people that achieve prosperity both ways, and what happens if you just neglect learning a trade altogether - e.g. the reality of working in a succession of part-time no benefit minimum wage jobs...

Answer 6

I agree with Captain A. It's not as important to get a college education as to find a skill that you're good at and can enjoy. I have a master's degree and probably make less than a lot of welders. But, I enjoy what I do. You can definitely do fine without a college degree, but you still need some direction. You don't want to send a kid to college before he/she is ready, put them in debt and then have them drop out. So, I guess kids need to be encouraged to find direction, and if that doesn't mean college, there's no reason why it can't end with profitable career.

Answer 7

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Answer 8

give MANY MANY MANY examples in the real world that they know about. practical ones, like no super famous people.