Is getting into a top-ranked college the only option for success? What if you can’t pay for a selective college education, or what if you don’t know what career you’re aiming for? What then?
There are really many possibilities for you still. Here are some myths about going to college in order to have a successful life.
- College is too expensive – No! There are always options to pay for college, and sometimes an option can be debt-free. There is financial aid, both federal and private loans. You can pay for these loans over a long period of time. Also there are scholarships, which do not have to be paid back. Local scholarships are available through your community or school. Online there are many listings for multiple scholarships, and often colleges offer scholarships in the form of merit aid.
- It’s only worth paying for a “good” college. – No! Many successful people come out of community colleges, state universities, and even small, inexpensive and less well-known schools. Unless you are going after a very particular career and the college doesn’t offer courses in that area, all colleges can give you the basics skills and degree you need to find good employment.
- Don’t even consider a technical school. – No! Technical schools can train you for very specific skills that offer good paying jobs and sometimes only after two years. If you need a four-year degree, you can go from a tech school into a four-year college later and often transfer credits.
- I don’t know what I want to do so college isn’t worth it. – No! First, in high school you can take a personality or career test that can help you decide what talents and interests you have. Also you do not have to declare a major until after your second year in college, and these first two years can help you find what interests you.
The plan should be that students and their parents start to discuss college early, around the 7th grade.
Parents can
- Research the FAFSA form to apply for federal financial aid,
- Go to financial aid seminars,
- Talk to a banks about private financial aid loans,
- Start looking online for scholarships available,
- Research the costs of college, and
- Talk to their child’s guidance counselors.
Students can
- Read about careers,
- Ask to take skill and personality profile tests around their sophomore year in high school,
- Visit nearby technical schools and community colleges,
- Talk with their guidance counselors about affordable colleges, and
- Start applying for scholarships early.
Nothing is impossible if you plan ahead and keep a positive attitude about all possibilities available to you.
