When I started college, I had great expectations.
After checking out at the bookstore, I realized my bill was over $1,000. I gulped in despair and asked myself, “Is this really worth it?”
I went home that evening and did some research. I discovered that each textbook cost an average of $10 to make and market. I began to wonder, “Why are they charging me $200 per book?” It seemed like a $190 profit was too unreasonable, especially for a book I barely used.
As my first semester flew by, I realized that I hadn’t even read a dozen pages. I concluded that we only go to school to read books and it was a curriculum I didn’t want to be affiliated with.
Here Are The 5 False Promises Of College:
1. You Will Be Educated: Most people think when they graduate college, they’re fully educated. I remember one of my friends who’s a recent graduate saying, “I’ll never read another book for the rest of my life.” It was the saddest statement I’ve ever heard.
Several college students have the false impression that they are thoroughly educated once they leave school. The fact is that your real education might begin in school, but your self-education will last a lifetime.
2. You Will Land A Job: When the average 22-year-old graduates college, they expect to immediately secure a job. After hopefully getting an internship the previous summer and tweaking their resume along the way, they eventually apply to as many jobs as possible only to find an ocean full of rejections.
The majority of college graduates are ill-equipped to enter the workforce after going to college. That’s why our government has allowed deferment of student loans for multiple years. They understand that the schooling system has failed and most students won’t be able to acquire a job after college, leaving them dependent upon their parents’ premises.
3. You Will Make Connections: A multitude of schools will boast about their alumni associations as if the students were already future hall of famers. They sell the students and their parents on the importance of networking with the school’s credentials and current reputation.
However, I’ve never heard anyone say, “I graduated from Penn State with a 4.0” when they accrue their achievements over their lifespan. In fact, in my own personal circle, no one has ever asked me if I have a college degree or if I’m affiliated with any kind of college organizations. Strangely enough, none of my connections have been made through college, which is what I was promised when I started.
4. You Can’t Live Without It: The majority of parents will pressure their children to go to college and preach on the perils of being uneducated. Parents will convince their children by saying something like this: “Bobby, I want you to be better than your mother and father. You have to go to school and get an education.”
If you do your research, you’ll find that there are countless successful people who have succeeded without the aid of a college degree. Sure, a college could put you in a better position, but it does not mean that you will lose opportunities without one.
5. You Will Be Rich: Many college students graduate with the understanding that they’ll be worth at least $50,000 per year. However, when they get their college bill, they discover that they will need to give at least 10 percent of their income for the next 20 years to pay off their hefty loans.
This is a tragedy in our modern society. The “go to school and get a job” mentality is a farce that has been advocated by derelicts since our first major universities were established in the United Kingdom and the United States. Look at the Zuckerbergs, Edisons, and the Gates and you’ll find that school was the antithesis to their success.
Summary:
These are the five false promises of college. For the doctor, lawyer, engineer, and architect, and any other specialized field, school is highly recommended. However, if you’re an aspiring entrepreneur, school is not required.