Deciding whether one should attend college is a major life decision that has to be thought out diligently. First, you have to decide what type of career you can see yourself doing in the future, long-term. Deciding what career you may be interested in requires much soul-searching by analyzing your interests, your dislikes, your strengths, and weaknesses.In addition to figuring out where your passions lie, you also have to consider what type of lifestyle you would like to live. Do you plan on marrying or staying single? Are kids in your future? Those lifestyle questions impact what type of median salary you will need to maintain your life.After you have answered all of those questions, you must look at the pros and the cons of college. We believe that there are only positives and below are the top 4 benefits of earning a college degree.
  1. On average, you earn more money. Studies show that college graduates earn significantly more money throughout their life than high school graduates do. Therefore, the draw for most people to attend college is that generally, it gives you the ability to earn more money. Whether you are going to earn your Bachelor's, Master's or PhD, a degree is a prerequisite to careers that require you to have a higher skill set and offer you higher pay.
  2. You expand your network of people.By attending college, you allow yourself to meet others from various walks of life and expose yourself to other students that will be going into the same field as you. In addition, networking allows you to become connected with professionals in your field such as professors and guest speakers.
  3. You learn how to handle diversity. Today the labor workforce is as diverse as it has ever been so diversity in college prepares you for future career success. The diversity you experience at college makes you a more aware and well-rounded person that can understand multiple perspectives while preparing you to work in a global society that technology has created.
  4. Better career opportunities. When you attend college you are pushed to analyze and critically think while being taught how to understand complex situations. College teaches you key skills employers look for such as organization, follow-through (such as how to complete a task from beginning to end), research skills and keep you current on your software skills. Plus upper level and senior executive positions in management require you to have graduate degrees.
It is never too late to earn your college degree. Even if you have been out of school for an extended period of time, do not let the idea of going back to or to college for the first time to attain a degree feel like a daunting task. You can easily take 6 week, 8 week, or 10 week online classes so that you can keep your full-time job, have easier attendance while teaching yourself the self-discipline that you will need to complete your education. Remember that ultimately you are the only one that can secure your future.
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