When it comes to living your own life and doing things your way, the opportunities to do so can come along from a fairly young age. You certainly do not need to wait until later in life to start taking control! One of the first major decisions many US citizens will have to make is whether to go to college or not, after high school.
This is naturally a pretty big deal and something to think about carefully. As always, this should be your own decision and you should only go if you really want to. Living the life you want is about making your own mind up and not being afraid to follow your instincts. College is actually a superb way to start forging your own path in life, and it has been shown that enrolling there brings many additional benefits to graduates.
As long as you are going because you want to and to start building the life you want, it is a smart move for many.
Awesome benefits that a college education gives
If you are seriously thinking about going on to college after high school, there are some great reasons to do so:
- Get a better job and salary –we’ll jump right in with the money issue first! While it is not everything in life, working in a career you enjoy that pays what you need to live well cannot be ignored. A college education has been shown to provide these benefits, with the average weekly salary of a college graduate being $1 137.00 compared to $678.00 per week for a non-college graduate. When you add in that is expected that by 2020, education after high school will be required to secure 65% of available jobs, it becomes clear why college makes sense.
- More qualification equals more choice –when it comes to having the education to forge the career you want, the extra qualifications you get at college come in handy. Having qualifications such as a degree will open up more career paths to you and mean you are not forced to take a job you don’t really want simply because it is the only one you can get.
- Increased job security –reports have found that the level of job security increases and unemployment is much lower for college graduates. This is because the specialist qualifications and skills gained at college makes you more valuable to an employer – they simply cannot easily find someone with the same skills to replace you. This is not the same for high school graduates, who often have basic skills that are easily replaceable.
- Develop your social skills and network– it is not purely educational benefits that college life can bring you. One of the big pluses for attending is the way it will help to develop your social skills. Having to mix with new people and make new friends will greatly enhance your ability to engage with people. When you move into your adult life, this is a great skill to have for both your career and personal life. College is also good for networking – the people you meet here, from tutors to fellow students, can often prove helpful later in life for your career or on a personal level.
- It makes you grow up –many people have the feeling that they go to college as a child and leave as an adult, ready to forge their own lives into the future. The independence that college gives not only makes you more responsible but gives you an environment to make that transition into adult life smoothly. If nothing else, it gives you the time and exposure to new ideas that will help you decide what you want to do when you leave.
Fraternities and sororities – essential parts of college life
When talking about college in the USA, fraternities and sororities play a key role. While you do not have to join one, the many benefits they bring makes it something to consider. You should certainly not be put off by the lurid tales that some people tell about them! But what can joining a fraternity or sorority offer to members?
One of the key roles many play is in helping to develop your character and become a leader. This is naturally of great benefit for later in life, when leadership skills will allow you to shine. Transformational leadership is the method of achieving this and shows you how to mix action with character to produce amazing results. These kinds of societies also offer mentorship and help for members even after they leave college, which many find appealing.
College offers many fabulous benefits
From better career prospects to superb personal development and the chance to meet like-minded people, college is hard to beat. Of course, you should remember it is also fun, and will give you a great start to adult life. The friends and memories you make at college will last forever and help you in building the life you want afterwards.
