Is college really necessary for someone who doesn't plan on working after they get done?

Question

I don't plan on working after I graduate, my husband has a good (well paying) job and I really want to start a family. Do I really need to finish my college education? Or is it just a waste of time and money?

Answer 1

I do not have a college degree.

There are plenty of good paying jobs that do not require them.

My job, which I LOVE and pays extremely well, does not require a college degree ... just a special license.

I took some college courses when I planned to become an RN, but changed my mind and left school.

A college degree is not a guarantee for a well paying job.
However, it can help. It depends on what career you plan on pursuing, should you decide on a career down the road. My sister in law decided to get her degree after her kids were grown and it was a good thing for her. It helped her advance her position at work and increase her pay.

Life will throw unexpected things in your path. My husband was disabled for about a year and I had to work several jobs to keep us going.

If you are close to finishing your degree or have a scholarship of some kind, then you may want to take advantage of that and finish. Although, an option you may want to consider that would allow you to stay home and go to school is online courses. Most colleges and universities offer many courses online. I took several of them. Also look into taking the CLEP tests and save taking a few classes.

I wouldn't call college a waste.
On the other hand, it isn't a guarantee either, unless you have a career goal in mind that requires a four year degree or more. My brother is an MD, so of course college and medical school were required.

Bottom line, what are your goals in life? What is your backup plan? You have options. Choose what is best for you.

Answer 2

Back in the day it was enough to have a high school diploma. Then you had to have a college degree. Now employers are looking out for people with graduate degrees. The fact of the matter is that even if you want to start a family tomorrow, at some point later down the line you WILL go back to work because you are bored, need to help finance your family hits a rough patch or your husband gets laid off, SOMETHING will come up. You will be far more marketable if you have at least your college degree. I can almost guarantee that after your kids are grown and in school you will regret that you didn't finish your own education. Just finish it, it will be one more thing for you to be proud of next to being a good wife and mommy.

Answer 3

College is always a valuable lesson to have. Life is a lifelong learning process and the more you know the better you will become. College will help to make a well-rounded citizen as well. College is never a waste of time and money. You should be grateful that college may be an option for you. Take advantage of it!

Perhaps after the children are grown, you'll want to go to work. With a college education, you'll be more marketable in the job market.

Perhaps you could major in early childhood development. It'll at least teach you valuable resources for when you start a family.

Best wishes!

Answer 4

Learning is never a waste of time! Some people go to college with no plans of ever using what they learned in a job situation. For example, even if I don't go and get a degree, I would like to go and learn several foreign languages, just because I want to.

The question isn't "is it necessary", it's "if I'm not going to use it, should I keep striving for it". If the only reason you are going to college is for the degree, then no, it's not worth your time. But if you enjoy what you are learning, then it is. It's all about how you feel about it.

Before you quit, remember this: Not all relationships last forever. You could get divorced, he could be in an accident and die or become disabled, and then what? It may be worth you getting the degree just in case anything happens to your husband, that way you will be able to take over the responsibility of earning the income you will need to survive on.

It's up to you. If you think it's worth it, go for it, but if you truly feel that you are wasting your time, energy, and money, then quit. Whatever you do, goodluck!

Answer 5

College isn't just for getting a job. Generally, people who are educated are more interesting, and education also helps them to develop their own interests.

Not to cast a dark cloud on your situation, but you may some day be in a position where you have to make a living. What happens if your husband loses his job? What happens if he becomes sick or disabled? What happens if you divorce? Women who aren't independently wealthy need to make sure that they can make a living if they have to. That's just a fact of modern life. A college degree won't automatically get you a great job, but believe me, having a college degree listed on your resume is a good thing, and for many jobs it gives you a leg up on those who don't have a degree. Maybe the world shouldn't be that way, but it is. Bottom line -- if at all possibie, get the degree. It also sends a message to your future children that education is important. Best wishes.

Answer 6

I had a colleague from another country which believed that women should get an education so that they could be good conversational partners to their husbands. They moved to the U.S. because that wasn't enough for her, but I thought the concept was interesting. Part of being an educated person is your approach to the world. If your husband is educated, you want to be a partner to him, not someone who serves him. That may become particularly true once you have children. A lot of women lose self-esteem when they are at home, listening to the stories about their spouses' work lives. If you knew you could do this if you chose to, you might be able to be more comfortable as an educated at-home mom, rather than as someone who doesn't have any options.

Answer 7

I sadly had a friend think the same thing. Her husband got really sick. He had life insurance but he didnt die, but he couldnt work. All their savings was taken away by his illness.

They lost their house and now live in a tiny apt with 3 kids. She stopped school after 1 year and now works 2 jobs to pay for medicine and put food on the table. She doenst have time to go back and get her degree where she could actually get a better job.

Moral of this story is, you never know. Hope for the best but plan for the worst.

Answer 8

Since it appears you're already in college, I'd definitely finish if I were you. You never know when you also may need a "good" job. And you'll have a many more topics for conversation...;-) and more to teach your children! And, if you want to start having children right away, discuss it with your college counselor or dean...maybe there's a way you can do both family and school. (or take accelerated courses to finish quickly)
I really think you'll be glad you finished college in the long run; that's what I really mean to say.

Answer 9

You really need to finish your education; it is something you will have with you all of your life and someday could make the difference between your financial survival or not making it.
Impossible to imagine now, but what happens if you lose your marriage or your husband? If you have a college degree you can survive on your own when and if you ever have to...I recently heard a story of a woman who married a very rich man, lived in a huge house, servants, etc and he met someone else, divorced her and she was left with nothing...wound up sleeping in her car! She did learn job skills and found employment, but that is an example of how you can lose security overnight through no fault of your own.

Answer 10

I've been divorced two times- the higher education came in handy. You never know what will happen- that's the beauty of life. Take something you're interested in and it will be fun. Education is never a waste of time- maybe it's a waste of money if the instructors aren't any good or you aren't applying yourself. Plus, you will impress your kids and when they graduate from high school - they will be more open to the idea of going to college.