As early as middle school, I couldn’t imagine myself doing anything other than graduating high school and going to a four-year college.
I didn’t think I had any other options, but the truth is, there are so many options out there, and many high schools do not do a good job informing students of them all.
I did end up graduating high school and enrolling in a four-year college. And I’m glad I did. I love what I’m studying, and I love the experiences I’ve gained here at IU.
Out-of-state students paid around $34,000 in tuition and fees my freshman year. I was lucky enough to receive three merit scholarships that year, but it still didn’t cover the cost of tuition. And I also had to worry about room and board, textbooks and technology.
I am so thankful my parents are able to help me financially through college and we can afford IU. But not everyone can.
Forbes reported that according to Make Lemonade, more than 44 million borrowers, or 1 in 4 Americans, owe cumulatively around $1.5 trillion in student debt.
It’s no wonder some students are opting for cheaper options like community college, two-year programs, vocational school or apprenticeships or just not going to college at all. And regardless of the cost, four-year degree programs are just not the right fit for some people.
My boyfriend graduated high school in Indiana in 2015. He started his first semester at Ivy Tech Community College before he realized college just wasn’t for him. A family member was able to help him get a job in construction.
He was able to get this job with nothing but his high school diploma. He has no student debt to worry about, and he’s currently making $13.50 per hour with tons of opportunity for overtime pay.
This is not the end game for him, but what’s great is his career has plenty of room to grow. Over the last three years there, he has learned skills in construction, excavation, paving and mechanics that could all lead him to new opportunities.
If he would like to get a technical certificate in automotive technology or welding, he could do so at Ivy Tech in just one year. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median welder's wage is $40,240.
At the end of the day, careers that don’t require a four-year degree can be just as successful and rewarding as those that do. Most high schools do a terrible job at communicating this to their students.
The high school I went to in northeastern Pennsylvania almost never mentioned options other than going to college, unless you were a student who sought that information out. The administration boasted about their graduating classes’ college enrollment rates, and it seemed like we always had to have one student attend an Ivy League from each class.
It is not only the lack of information but also the stigma that discourages students from pursuing options other than a four-year degree.
“Are you sure you want to do that?”
This is the question that many students get. It doesn’t seem malicious, but it makes them feel like their chosen career path isn’t good enough.
“I know you can do so much more.”
This statement is meant to be encouraging, but it just makes students feel like they have failed if they don’t or can’t complete a four-year degree program.
We have to start realizing four-year degree programs are not for everybody. Not everyone can pursue them, and not everyone wants to.
More high schools need to include other career options in their career advancement curriculum. And they should not treat these career paths as a last resort. Students who are interested in these options should not be seen as any less capable than those planning on attending a four-year college.
Numerous fields that do not require four years of college are respectable, successful and in-demand.
Let’s stop acting like college is the only option and start encouraging the pursuit of nontraditional career paths.
