Why Not Go to College - Essay Example

            Everyone attending high school is told from their first day of freshman orientation that the most important thing for them to do during high school is to take the classes they will need to get into college after graduation.  The entire focus is always on the importance of college as if there were no other options on the table.  While this may be helpful for some students, not all students are cut out for college for a variety of reasons.  For people who already know what they want to do, people who are concerned about the monetary comparison, or who are open to new possibilities found in the ‘real’ world, college may actually be the wrong answer.

            People like multi-billionaire Richard Branson got his start in the world because he knew he wanted to do something to do with music.  He started up a small company that sold mail-order albums and eventually built up enough capital to open up his first record store.  From there, he was able to build his record label with new artists and his fortune started rolling in (Lorenz, 2006).  People who are motivated and dedicated can teach themselves whatever it is that they need to know in order to follow the profession they’ve selected.  If this isn’t possible, then there are also the possibilities of internships or apprenticeships, where the individual is taught the skills they need in order to perform the job they’re trying to get without having to shell out their own money to learn (Forbes staff, 2006). 

            Then there is the question of money.  We’ve all heard it said that you can make more money if you have a college education, but this premise is called into question by a number of studies.  Relatively hostile to the idea that non-college-educated individuals can earn close to or the same as college-educated, Michael Robertson (2008) was forced to admit there may be some truth to the statement after examining the results of a 45-year survey.  Forbes staff (2006) indicates those who opt not to attend college are able to gain 4-5 years of work experience while their peers are in class, they do not acquire the tremendous college loan debt that frequently haunts college grads well into their adult lives and, if they invest their college money rather than spending it on education, they may end up making money there, too.

            Finally, there are several examples of very wealthy people who have managed to make their fortunes at young ages because they weren’t wasting their energies in the classroom and were out there waiting to take advantage of any opportunity that came along.  These include Barry Diller, who started in the mailroom of the William Morris Agency and became president of Paramount Pictures by age 32; Matt Drudge who has made a name for himself in the blogosphere; and Rachael Ray who started at the Macy’s candy department and became an Emmy-winning television personality (Lorenz, 2006). 

Finally, true dedication and a willingness to find opportunities can gain a person much more success than a piece of paper degree any day of the week.