Should I Go To University?

For a lot of high school (or homeschool) students reaching the end of their school days, the big question of whether to continue on in higher education- such as Uni, TAFE or other trade schools and the like- is a difficult one. For some students, they have long planned to do so, are certain that it is the right path for them, but for others, it isn't so clear cut.

I think it partly depends on where you see your life headed, and what you require to get there, or need along the way.

Start from the perspective of your final (current) goal and work backwards.

• Is a degree or other qualification going to be essential or useful?

• Could your current goal possibly divert somewhere that will then make it more necessary?

• Will the people controlling the industry you want to become involved in, require, or look more kindly on someone with qualifications?
  Or is motivation and getting in hands-on experience more valued?

• Are you planning to never actually "work for the man", but to venture out on your own?
  Are you suitably educationally equipped for what you plan to do? Would a college degree help, or would some individual courses, or your own study of what is specifically relevant, be more useful?

• If you see nothing in your future goals that it seems would benefit from tertiary qualifications, then what else might be better?
  Hands-on experience? Your own personal learning?

• Are you planning to start your own business?
  Could study or work in the field be invaluable experience and knowledge?
  Could you still study at Uni, but start a business part time in the meantime? Get a head start, before you have to totally go it alone? Make sure you have some money saved to fall back on though, while you are starting out, once you have to support yourself!

• Look at people who are doing what you want to do- what did they do to get there? Is that still practical in this time in history?
  Find mentors and talk to them! Get their opinions and advice.
  Read books written by people such as Robert Kyosaki and other successful entrepreneurs, or people who work in the field you wish to be in.

In many cases, some qualifications can be good to have, to fall back on if necessary, even if your immediate plans don't seem to need them. If you are academically inclined, or keen to learn more about a specific area, then probably the best thing to do is to continue your studies, if at all possible.

Sometimes it is a good idea to have a "gap year" first, to get some practical experience, or a life adventure, before making a final decision about it.
Be careful, however, that the "gap year" doesn't stretch into a "gap decade"!

There are some people who are just not cut out for prolonged study, or are keen to get going with what they perceive as "real life".

In a lot of situations, what we need to know, we learn as the need arises. This can be much better motivation to learn than just because it's on the syllabus.

Remember, even if you decide not to go to Uni now, but to try whatever it is you want on your own first, in most cases you can always decide to go at a later date. Or if you do go, and decide (after giving it a really good go) that it isn't for you, or if you start a business and it's flourishing, and needs your total attention, then you can leave Uni. One decision now, doesn't exclude the opposite later.

You can change your mind.

Life is learning... learning is life.