Career and studies

Should I go to college?

Go now, wait a year or take another path: eight questions to decide.

Should I go to college? The quiz

Work choices touch money, pride and who we are, so it is normal for this one to weigh on you. Your answers stay on your device; nobody else sees them.

1Does the career you want require a degree?
2Do you know roughly what you want to study?
3Do you enjoy learning in a classroom, from books and lectures?
4Can you pay for it without debt you would struggle to repay?
5Are you mostly going because everyone expects you to?
6Is there a trade, apprenticeship or job you would rather start now?
7Would a year of work or travel help you decide?
8Will the degree open doors in the country where you want to live?
8 questions

Is college worth it?

For careers that require a degree (medicine, law, engineering, teaching) there is no question. For many others, the payoff depends on the subject, the cost and whether you finish. A degree you do not finish usually costs money and gives little back.

Questions people ask

Is it okay not to go to college?

Yes. Plenty of well-paid, satisfying careers do not need a degree: trades, sales, tech, entrepreneurship. What matters is learning something people will pay for.

Should I go to college if I do not know what I want to do?

Consider a gap year or a broad first year that lets you switch. Starting an expensive degree with no direction is how people drop out with debt.

More career and studies choices

Should I quit my job?Career and studiesShould I change careers?Career and studiesShould I do a master's degree?Career and studiesShould I take the job offer?Career and studiesShould I start a business?Career and studiesShould I ask for a raise?Career and studies
Advertisement

TheHardChoices gives general life guidance, not professional advice. It is not a substitute for medical, mental health, legal or financial help. If you are in crisis or feel unsafe, contact local emergency services or a crisis line now. Full disclaimer