Its kinda funny the guy at the Post Office has been going on the past two trips up there about my not going to college and having been taught by my mom, who had no education beyond highschool...so today I wrote up the Forbes.com list of "Five Reasons to Skip College"....gave it to him, and told him he had to read it, I got him to read about half of it before we left...least it made him shut his trap about me being un-educated...hahaha...turns out....he went to college for Telecommunications.....and now he is a government slav---worker? huh? hello!....
Just thought it was kinda funny...*begin rant* people can't leave well enough alone, they have to go sticking their noses into other peoples business, like their education...and you know...look at Thomas Edison...home schooled, no college education...absolute genius! John D. Rockefeller, long dead, but a high school drop out, oil tycoon, and possibly richest man in history thus far! It is interesting that so many people think that college is some requirement, a sign of intelligence, "if you don't go to college, you are not smart". What!? Sure, alot of really smart people go to college, thats all great and wonderful...but what about us? The young entrepreneurs, who know what they want? And believe they can reach their dreams if they just keep at it? Why do the older generations think that all the kids should go on to college after highschool? Take a look at this list...
1. You'll be losing four working years.
There's an opportunity cost associated with going to college: Not only will you lose the money you'll have spent on tuition, you'll also be out the amount of money that you could have made if you'd worked during those four years. And if your family isn't wealthy enough to pay for your education on their own, you'll also owe a hefty amount in interest payments for your student loans. Perhaps more importantly, with four years of experience on your resume, you’ll be far better off when looking for work than the average 22-year-old college graduate.
2. You won't necessarily earn less money.
College grads earn an average 62% more over the course of their careers than high school grads. But economist Robert Reischauer of the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C., argues that those numbers are skewed by the fact that smarter kids are more likely to go to college in the first place. In other words, the profitability of higher education is a self-fulfilling prophecy.
3. In fact, you could probably make more money if you invested your tuition.
Put $160,000--the approximate cost of a Harvard education--into municipal bonds that pay a conservative 5%, and you'll have saved more than $500,000 in 30 years. That's far more than the average college grad will accumulate in the same amount of time.
4. You don't need to be in a classroom in order to learn something.
Truly motivated learners can teach themselves almost anything with a couple of books and an Internet connection. Want to learn a hands-on skill or trade? Consider an apprenticeship.
5. Plenty of other people did fine...
Bill Gates, Larry Ellison, Quentin Tarantino, David Geffen, and Thomas Edison, among others, never graduated from college. Peter Jennings and John D. Rockefeller never finished high school.
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Another great article, by Forbes....
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12409530/
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But think about, really think about it....did *your* parents ever discuss with you "Why" *you* should go to college? Did you go to college? Better yet, are you doing what you went to college for? What did you actually learn? Could you have figured that out yourself? *end rant*
Leave me a comment..tell me *your* opinion, though be forewarned, any comments containing obcenities, that are rude, mean, etc , WILL be deleted.
Halloween 2024
6 hours ago
13 comments:
Whoa... How many ways can I say I completely understand? I'm sick and tired of people asking me all the time, too. I wrote this long novel of a comment last night, but I decided to dumb it down, you know, for all us uneducated home schoolers... :-) I've just about decided I want to do something in the fashion field, and in order to do that I would first have to go to a local community college for two years (waaay on the other side of town). And then, after two treacherous years of remedial math (*gasp* I never learned algebra.), I'd have to drive 45 minutes each way, everyday, to go to the nearest college with a fashion program, just to learn how to sew. My dad thinks I should probably go, even if it's just for a couple of years, but my mom thinks I should only go if it's what I really want. And it is hard, being asked where you are going to go to school or what do you plan on doing next. And when you say you aren’t going to college or you just don't know what you want to be when you 'grow up’, you get questioned about your level of intelligence, like you just aren't smart enough, or something. After a while it can really get to you, and I can’t help but wonder if I am smart enough or not. I can’t seem to shut up about this topic, and it’s hard to imagine, but this is way shorter than what I wrote last night. I have an argument for going (my dad’s been through a lot because he doesn’t have a little piece of paper…), and an equally strong argument for not going. I really don’t see myself going any time soon, but I would still like my mom to get my transcripts together.
I’m sorry for this being so long, but it’s just one of those things I can’t shut up about. (We’ve talked about this for years around the house.) You’re probably tired of me leaving all these comments by now, but I couldn’t resist this one. Sorry about how long it is, delete it if you want. I’ve got to go- we have a tornado warning... :-( -Becca
Becca,
Pray tell why I would delete your comment!? Its not rude, mean, or obscene....haha...
Hurrah for us "uneducated homeschoolers"...
I'm totally with you, our community college is a good 45 minutes away too, I quit algebra to learn practical math, business math. I'm wanting to do sewing, and probably some design too, but I'll do it on my own, mostly, I do have a sewing teacher, who is ever so kind enough to do it free, as I am her "guinea pig" for the book she is writing. I don't see why I have to go to college to get a "good paying" job, if I'm ging to wortk for myself....Just don't understand that really...my dad, he went to college for 2 years for accounting...he hasnt done accounting since he graduated. Graphic Design is his thing, he taught himself, and has been doing it for about 18 years now, both for his business, and the military base in our town...tell me how college helped there?
And please do feel free to learn as many comments as you like! I dont mind at all! I actually think its cool, you are homeschooled, have recently "graduated", want to learn sewing/fashion/clothing design, and have the same opinion about college, etc etc...haha
There must be more of us....haha
cheers,
~The Bella Modiste~
oh and good luck with the tornado warning, we had a fair amount of those ourselves earlier this year...
cheers,
~The Bella Modiste~
Yes, I agree there are probably a lot more people like us out there, I just don't know where!
Turns out the tornado was on the other side of town (near said community college...), it was all the way past the airport and heading in the other direction (thank goodness). Now it's just raining, which we desperately needed! Yippee!
-Becca
Thanks for the comments on our blog. We don't get too many comments - mainly my Mom and my sister - so when some new blood comes into the blog - we notice! We have really enjoyed your blog - you are certainly a talented person. We even gave your blog a plug on our blog - go check it out! Thanks for 'commenting' with Bec - she has really enjoyed it! You guys need to exchange e-mails addresses so your comments from her aren't small novels! ;-) Kristy - Becca's Mom
Becca,
Rain is good..we've been getting a fair amount during the past week or two, the grass is starting to look greener, the plants aren't wilted at mid-day and the evenings have been cooler..HURRAH for fall...haha
Kristy,
I've really enjoyed "commenting" with Becca too...It's nice to know that there are others "out there" with the opinions, the same dreams...It's nice to find a connection with someone about something be it school, hobbies, home businesses, etc.
cheers,
~The Bella Modiste~
Way to go with thoughts on college!! You are absolutely correct in all you say. (I'm from Mary Jane's farm by the way) Most people I know who went to college are not working in their field(myself being one) or are totally miserable. Strength, determination and ingenuity far outway and expensive piece of paper!
Hi. This is my first visit to your blog and what an interesting topic and discussion. I appreciated the points made and must say I agree. My husband and I attended college but as homeschooling parents, we are not pushing for our sons to go to college. Yes, we want them to be successful in life and by successful, I also mean fulfilled. We want them to follow their dreams and college doesn't guarantee you'll attain your dreams. I'm not against college, rather I see it as a choice. Sometimes it's not the best choice and in my opinion you need to really think about what you what to do with your life rather than defaulting to "go to college, get good grades and get a good job". There are other routes than college as you pointed out. Some of the most successful and notable personages of history may not have even finished high school, let alone gone to college. That did not limit their future. You can learn throughout life and learning doesn't just occur within a "school". That's my opinion, anyways.
Oh and by the way, Becca. You are not alone in your thinking. Come visit my friends and I on our blog - you may find other like minded individuals happy to discuss such "radical" ideas. ;o)
Thanks for your post about NOT going to college! Neither my husband nor I have degrees. I went to school (because there wasn't a choice) and I knew exactly what I wanted to do when I left school. Left at 16 after my O Levels (this was in Britain when you could leave at 16, or stay on until 18 and do A levels and then, probably, university). Spent a year doing a secretarial course learning shorthand and typing and other stuff, got a job in an insurance office, which at the time was just a job but it grew into a career in insurance which I enjoyed.
I am certainly not going to push my kids into college. The oldest, now a teen, is very definite about his interests and he is making his own choices as far as learning what he needs to get ahead in his chosen career.
Thank you Sarah, Katherine, and Nicola!
cheers,
~The Bella Modiste~
My husband and I both have degrees and they helped us a great deal. That having been said, there are other ways to get the information and training needed, depending on what one wants to do. Why spend money on college if you are not actually going to use it? I used to hire a lot of people and if all things were equal I did like to hire college graduates because I knew that they had worked on a long term goal and had achieved it...which meant they had to be at least somewhat organized and hard working. However, I hired non-grads too, because there are other ways to prove to me that you can actually focus and meet goals. So I can see it both ways...nice post and interesting stuff!
Okay...this is pretty whack. Good points,but look at the times. You live in 2009, not 1909. Degrees WILL actually get you somewhere,should you choose to posses ambition enough to move out of your parent's home and try and make a name for yourself. Getting to the top is much, much harder when you lack proper motivation and education.
Anonymous, thank you for contributing your side on the coin. Those are very good points. However I still agree with my two year old post.
I do possess the wish to leave my parents home. But right now, when I have no need to do so, why should I? Right now, my carbon footprint is nice and small, because I share a home, vehicle, electricity, water, appliances, etc, with 4 others.
Things may be harder without a degree, but why should I make it harder for myself with a 30-160k college tuition?
A tuition I would have to get loans for and pay for myself? I can just as easily, use that money and start another business. I could spend that money on college, get out, and be unable to get a job doing what I went to school for. I would end up back at home, having to work at McDonald's to try and pay off high interest rates and thousands of dollars on minimum wage. Yes, it is 2009...not 1909, but even still, I believe you can survive just fine without a very expensive piece of paper.
~The Bella Modiste
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