It is certainly possible that a four-year academic education can offer a better life through superior jobs, more money, and a life-enriching experience. But is it necessary? Is it worth the crippling debt-loads parents and students must often take on these days in order to get it? Most importantly, is it the best route to a successful and happy life for your kid? Many parents automatically assume that their children should go to college. Yet college dropout rates in this country are nothing short of disastrous, and that doesn’t begin to count all of the students who end up graduating even though they should never have gone in the first place.
A college education is no longer the end-all-be-all of education, nor is it a guarantee of success. There is no end to the number of careers and self-employment opportunities that do not require such an education and that can provide both a very good income and a very satisfying life. Obviously some fields require the standard academic route. If you want to be a doctor, lawyer, scientist, engineer, teacher, or architect, for example, it’s the only way to go. However, in my experience, many employers now value the skill set more than the proven ability to be taught. They no longer have the time or the money to invest in teaching the skills they need. They want people who will be productive the minute they walk through the door.
These skills can be acquired in more places than in a four-year academic institution. It may mean a two-year degree, an online degree or certification, trade or technical schooling, real-world work experience, or any combination of these. These alternatives may end up costing a lot less than a regular four-year college education and also provide a better entrance to the work force. Maybe the best path for your kid is to start his or her own small business. Although challenging, small business ownership is historically one of the most rewarding routes to both financial and personal success.
It so happens that the subject of whether or not to send a child to college is one I faced personally. My youngest son, Dan, is extremely bright and was designing video games in high school thirty years ago, back when they essentially didn’t even exist yet. His mother and I thought that he should go to college. Well Dan didn’t exactly see it that way. His college experience lasted a grand total of about two weeks, after which he pretty much cut every class, flunked out royally, and never went back. Dan knew college wasn’t for him and it was his life and his future and he wasn’t going back.
Don’t feel sorry for Dan. He went on to become one of what the techies call the “Masters of the Universe,” and is currently the “Architect” of a cutting-edge startup cloud software firm. Every time you use the Internet, or even your cell phone, Dan has probably been there somewhere. For Dan, the non-college route was his path to a very successful career. Best of all, he loves what he does.
In telling you this story I am by no means suggesting that your kid follow Dan’s path. Each person is unique, as should be his or her path in life. Is college necessary? It shouldn’t be an automatic yes, what it should be is a discussion between you and your child to try and find the right answer.
