Why the rush to go to college?

[Biosophilogical]

\Isn't 15-17 a little young to be making those decisions?

I'm 17 and in my first year of university. I have no idea what I want to do, so I'm doing psychology (because f*** engineering). But I agree, you go from "I wonder what subjects I want to do ... screw it, I'm going to go hang out with my mates" to "This choice will determine your social and financial future ... no pressure." It is a lot to dump on someone all at once, and yet because it is still 'school' it manages to carry the responsibility of your entire future, while only appearing to have the responsibility of what you've been doing for the past twelve years.

 

[The Lawn]

I'm 23 and I only just started working on my Bachelors degree, because I spent 4 years pretty much finding out what I never ever would want to do again, let alone as a job.

I wanted to do web design in high school, got good at it, took a freelance job. Hated it because my client changed his fucking mind every 2 seconds. And I had to make about 30 different, almost totally finished end products.

Then I wanted to learn programming, which was fun, but far too tedious for my ADHD addled mind.

Then it was art, but then I realized I sucked at art, so I stopped.

Then architecture, which I was ok at and I liked making buildings. But too many regulations and details for my tastes which led to what I'm doing now.

Which is 3D Design, all the fun of architecture with none of the bother! Which means I can also work in architecture doing previzualiazation, or do CG for movies and level design for games.

 

[Chasing-The-Light]

Maybe I'm the odd one out, here, from what I read it seems like it. I went into college straight out of high school. But at the same time, I've known what I want to do with my life since I was in the 11th grade, too. I'm one of those rarities, i guess, that actually really likes school and can't imagine having done anything less.

College was a good decision for me, personally, because I know that if I'd taken a year off I wouldn't have had the drive to go back. Or it would've been harder to work up that will.

I suppose it's really all up to you -what kind of person you are. You can go to college straight out undeclared and search for something you're good at. Or you can wait a year and try to find something you want to do, and then go for that. Or go to trade school. Or... well... you get the idea. The possibilities are endless, really. ^^;

Best of luck

 

[Polarity27]

Well, the longer you wait, the more your study skills and essay skills will decay. Also, depending on the industry, a lot of employers won't look at you without a 4-year degree and you also make less without it.

Believe me, my husband is kicking himself for not getting a 4-yr degree instead of a 2-yr degree. He'd have more job offers, and he'd be making $20k more than he is right now. It matters.

But idk, it could be better to take a year off to work and figure out what you want than wasting your student loan money in college & not knowing what you want to do.

 

[spartan231490]

I've never understood it. The last couple years (I'm going into my senior year of high school) pretty much everyone I meet asks "Where are you going to college?" or "What careers are you looking at?" And really, here is the answer I really want to give:

I HAVEN'T FUCKING DECIDED YET SO STOP ASKING ME!!! I'LL TELL YOU WHEN I MAKE A DECISION!!

There, that's out of my system. But I really just want to know why everyone's in such a rush, and why there's so much pressure to get started with your life right out of high school. I understand wanting to get on with your life, really, I do, and I do plan to go to college. I just don't know where, or what I want to do yet. And it seems like everyone expects me to have it all figured out. Isn't 15-17 a little young to be making those decisions? What if I spend the rest of my life miserable because I made a hasty decision at 17 while under pressure from a guidance counselor? That's mainly what I'm worried about.

Basically, I've worked like a dog since I was like 12 and now that it looks like my senior year is going to be my toughest yet, I'm seriously thinking I might just take a break (like a year off school) after I graduate. What are the (good) reasons to go to college right out of high school?

Part of the rush is that it's generally easier to get scholarships right out of college. It's also a bit of a social stigma to go straight to the work force, even if you intend to go to college later. The other major pressure, is that it's really fucking hard to get a job as a high-school grad who's not going to college in the current economy.

Also, don't worry about not knowing where you're going, I didn't and I figured it out without too big of an issue. Just don't make the same mistake I did and pick something specific just because you think you might like it. go for undeclared major, and knock out your universal requirements while taking a class or two in various subjects every semester. You'll figure it out pretty quick.

Taking a year off makes it harder to get accepted, and harder to get scholarships, I really don't suggest it. If you really need a break, and god I understand if you do, i strongly suggest just going for undeclared major and taking easy classes for a year. Trust me, most classes that fulfill universal requirements could be passed by an untrained monkey.(In the US anyway.)

 

[Mr. 47]

Preservation of knowledge? Can you honestly say that you can remember facts, and do math at the same level as you can during the school year, mid-summer? It's easier to just keep going, you may forget some things otherwise.

 

[Troublesome Lagomorph]

No good reasons that I know of. But people act like if you don't go the moment you get out of high school, your life will be ruined and you'll be forced to be a beggar for the rest of your life.

 

[Mandalore_15]

Some people (like me) already know what they want to do with their life so why not just go right into college that and I don't know if this is true but I overheard someone in my class talking about it is that they wanted to take a year off between high school and college but she couldn't because she'd be taken off her parents insurance because she wasn't in school.

So what do you want to do with your life?

My future goal is to be an Intel Officer in the air force and I am currently in college working on an intelligence degree.

You can do a degree in that? Wow, I had no idea. Is it good/reputable?

 

[Cazza]

They put pressure on students so you don't neglect it and end up that 25 still with no plans for the future.

 

[parky85]

You should go into uni knowing what your working towards.

Otherwise, you'll end up like my brother who spent 4 years working at business related studies and do something completely different.

He now has a 5-15k bill hanging over his head.

personally the last thing i want to do after being at school for 6 hours a day, 5 days a week for 13 years is go and do MORE school.

These are your golden years, im taking time off work to try new things and just have FUN.

 

[Twilight_guy]

Why the rush? Well for one thing when you leave school and go out to work it becomes much harder to transition back into school since you will have other concerns. For another thing after a few years paying for college becomes less what your parents can do and more what what you can do. Aside from that, you really should have some idea where you're going to college if you plan to go to college right away by your senior years since you need to apply mid-way thorough senior year and thus should be looking at stuff by the begging of the year.

Aside from that, Haha, worked like a dog since 12, yeah good one. College will demand that much from you during your first year, and gets harder every subsequent year. Good luck with learning that lesson!

 

[Littlee300]

Why the rush? Well for one thing when you leave school and go out to work it becomes much harder to transition back into school since you will have other concerns. For another thing after a few years paying for college becomes less what your parents can do and more what what you can do. Aside from that, you really should have some idea where you're going to college if you plan to go to college right away by your senior years since you need to apply mid-way thorough senior year and thus should be looking at stuff by the begging of the year.

Aside from that, Haha, worked like a dog since 12, yeah good one. College will demand that much from you during your first year, and gets harder every subsequent year. Good luck with learning that lesson!

Also, move out from parents with a sense of career security

Extending on this.

 

[Jedoro]

Don't worry about the rush, just find what you want to do in life. If you have to go to college to do it, then do so. Me, I'm an unarmed security officer, and I honestly believe I've found the field I'd like to stay in. Come December, I'll go armed and get about a 50% raise. Once I've done that two years, I can go into force protection and make even more. I'm honestly tempted to just stop going to college and make this my career.

If you don't know what you want, you end up with a lot you don't.

 

[Nouw]

Isn't it easier to transfer from school life to school life instead of lazy life to school life? Also, time is scarce. You'll probably end up spending the year in College much more effectively and productively than a year doing something else.

I really don't know jack but that's just my thoughts.

 

[Adam Galli]

Why not start college right away. Further your education and get a job that pays more than flipping burgers at a fast food joint. Make some money and get your life started. Besides, the sooner you start your career the sooner you can retire =D

 

[Twilight_guy]

Why the rush? Well for one thing when you leave school and go out to work it becomes much harder to transition back into school since you will have other concerns. For another thing after a few years paying for college becomes less what your parents can do and more what what you can do. Aside from that, you really should have some idea where you're going to college if you plan to go to college right away by your senior years since you need to apply mid-way thorough senior year and thus should be looking at stuff by the begging of the year.

Aside from that, Haha, worked like a dog since 12, yeah good one. College will demand that much from you during your first year, and gets harder every subsequent year. Good luck with learning that lesson!

Also, move out from parents with a sense of career security

Extending on this.

Extend on what? When you leave high school and go to live on your own you have to get a job, pay rent, buy groceries, etc. and that tend to eat up time and leave less time to contemplate college and going back to school. Transition between work life and school life is a not a smooth switch, its a hard switch since the two are very different and its easier to not have to switch between them multiple times. Plenty of people want to go back to school but can't because of pressing life concerns that develop once you leave school and go out into the "real" world.
As for funding, financial aid, in the US, only looks at your parent's income until you hit 23 or 24 or something like that and after that it ignored parents and directly looks at only your finances. On top of that, once you leave the house after a few years your parents aren't going to want you to come back and say "going to college now, need money." Once you leave the relationship between you and your parents changes and its quiet possible that what they are willing to pay may change over time.
As for college work load, Well, just because you only go to class for a few hours a day doesn't mean that the rest is free time, the rest is doing work for the classes, studying, etc. (unless you just get drunk and party and fail your classes the first semester I guess).
What exactly did you want me to expand on specifically?

 

[staika]

Some people (like me) already know what they want to do with their life so why not just go right into college that and I don't know if this is true but I overheard someone in my class talking about it is that they wanted to take a year off between high school and college but she couldn't because she'd be taken off her parents insurance because she wasn't in school.

So what do you want to do with your life?

My future goal is to be an Intel Officer in the air force and I am currently in college working on an intelligence degree.

You can do a degree in that? Wow, I had no idea. Is it good/reputable?

Yes sir, but its not a degree in being smart its more of an information gathering type of deal, and it is very much desired in the military and in the private sector but it is a very tough degree to get (I have to maintain a 3.0 GPA or I get put on academic probation) but it has a 95% job placement out of college at the college I go to.

 

[emeraldrafael]

Because the idea is that you should get into the job market as soon as possible, mkaing as much money as possible, so you can live well after you retire.

But i agree, its a lot to put on someone.

 

[ajofflight]

For me, it looks good on a resume, gets me closer to University, and allows me to avoid getting a job for a little longer! (hahaha)

 

[VanTesla]

You need a MD just to get a job at Mcdonalds nowadays! Ok, that is an extreme exaggeration on my part... People go to college nowadays with no direction and with no idea what they want to do. Hell I am in the same boat...