College is a decision many decide to pursue, but not everyone finishes. In my opinion, the end result is not only about what you’ve learned but about the credentials. More recently, there’s been a growing conversation going around that pursuing a college degree might not be worth all the financial hardship it puts you through. Especially in today’s times since we never know what will end up happening next. Here are my pros and cons of pursuing a four-year undergraduate (and a little graduate) degree.
DISCLAIMER: I do have a bachelor’s degree from a four-year university and attended a master’s program for a year so this is all based on experience. I’ll start with the cons so we can end on a positive note.
Cons
Might be hard to find a good job post-graduation.
After the four-year-long journey, you are not guaranteed a job because you have the degree. While some might find this debatable, what you did during your time in undergrad and how well put together your resume/CV matters a bunch. Just because you have the degree does not mean you get the job however, it is a plus. For most jobs, experience matters more than credentials, so an internship would help, or any type of skills that you acquired relatable to the job would help as well. You put in the work to get the degree, now you have to put in the work to get the job.
College is too expensive and will probably leave you in debt for life.
Pursuing a college degree can be very expensive, leaving most students having to take out student loans in order to pay for it. Your matriculation will be paid for but most students end up stressed six months after. When the student loan payments start. Not being able to take care of your student loan amongst all your other bills, can potentially put you in the hole for a long time–maybe even life. Everyone wants you to go to school, but no one wants to help pay for it.
People are steering away from school more and more because the world is full of poor graduates and rich criminals. Why should we have to pay so much for education anyway? I wanted to stop living life so linearly. Until recently, I was never not in school. From elementary, middle, high, college, to grad school, I never took a break to see what the world had to offer. Ever since I decided to explore those opportunities, it’s only worked out for the better.
Some students come out with tons of knowledge but lack the skills they need to properly advance.
This can depend on what school you go to and the specific department you’re in. Schools may lack proper resources to prepare us for the future, leaving us to have to fend for ourselves in the end. When you do graduate with your degree, nowadays most entry-level jobs require some level of experience and/or an advanced degree that everyone can’t afford. Remember, everybody wants you to pursue a college degree, but no one wants to help you pay for it.
Which is another reason why you should do whatever you feel is best for YOUR life and not anyone else’s. If you can’t afford it and can’t get a loan, you’ll be constantly trying to find ways to pay for it which could have a big impact on your entire experience. You’ll end up stressed, and more worried about how you’re going to pay for each semester. Working while in school means no free time. You’re trying to manage everything at once might even affect your performance because you aren’t able to give your coursework your undivided attention. Again, this is not always the case, just something to consider.
I made the decision to pause grad school because I couldn’t afford it. I took out student loans for the time that I did attend and decided I did not want to be in any more debt, so I didn’t take out anymore. Student loans were one of my worst nightmares and unfortunately, while I have to pay them back, I’ll probably just go back when and only when I can afford it. I decided that that is the smartest financial decision for me, so I’m sticking with it. After all, school isn’t going anywhere.
Pros
You get to move to another place outside of home.
Going away for college was one of the best decisions I made, it turned out to be an experience of a lifetime. Living out of state opened my eyes to a world I never knew. I met (and still know) people from all over–different personalities, cultures, and backgrounds. I now see the world beyond what I’ve always known. While going away to another state forced me to be on my own, it taught me independence. Your parents won’t always be there so it was a good start to being able to make my own decisions.
You meet lifelong friends.
Pursuing a college degree isn’t just about the education, but also about the relationships you make. These people end up being our children’s godparents and become a part of the family. You’ll be forced to share a room with them and spend the past four years developing a bond, they probably know you more than anybody from your past. They know the current you, not the person you were before you got there. You go through hardships together, from being out there on your own to tackling school full time and facing life all at once.
They see the ups, the downs, the real you. When school is over and everyone goes their separate ways but you want to bring them along and continue that bond that was cultivated for four years. These people not only watch you evolve over the years but they become a part of the growth process. They are also going through the same many transitions like graduating into real-life post-college.
It teaches you to evolve.
The person I was before college, during college, and the person I am post-college are totally different people. Of course, college expanded my knowledge, but it also taught me a tumultuous amount of life lessons. Reading is fundamental in ways I did not understand at first. When you leave college, it is up to you to continue educating yourself because education is one of the most powerful tools you can possess.
I learned that there’s life beyond your hometown and the people you grew up with. Every city, state, and country has its own culture and way of life. People come from certain backgrounds that instill behaviors, thoughts, and beliefs that leave you with an open mind. I’ve opened my mind and heart to different ways of life after questioning them of course. I don’t do things I used to do or even consume the same food/drinks I used to.
Unless you are trying to become a doctor or lawyer, there’s always a way to get your dream job if you’re willing to put the work in.
Although it is up to you to take the proper steps to get where you want to be in life, having a degree might just put you ahead of someone who doesn’t. That’s only in some circumstances because today a bachelor’s degree is equivalent to a high school diploma. Like I’ve mentioned in my blog post, Tips for the Job Search, experience is more valuable.
Pursuing a college degree (two) showed me a level of professionalism that I wasn’t taught in high school. Both undergrad and graduate school taught me to project, listen, defend myself, and how to exist in a world based on capitalism and everyday survival tactics. And of course, how to dress appropriately for the occasion. I understand my space as a black woman in America and that I have no limitations on where I can go. These are things I will forever take with me in life and beyond.
