Life Guidance to High School Juniors: How Much Does a College Degree Matter?
It’s time to decide on your college, but you aren’t sure which school to go to after graduating from high school. There are so many options these days, from public to private to even online-only schools. How could you maximize your time in college and leverage it for your future? Most people go to college to secure a sustainable job after graduation. You choose a major that would give you the best financial success and career potentials like engineering, healthcare professions, business, and such. However, even these majors would not guarantee your financial success.
If I could return to my junior year in high school, what would I do differently with what I know now?
Join the Military when you’re 17-years-old (rather than going to a college)
The time is on your side. You are still young and can start your career right after high school. The Military offers career education depending on your MOS (Military Occupation Specialty). Think of it as your job training on a military budget. Most enlisted MOS are entry-level occupations that require further training later on. My MOS was a 68W healthcare specialist. I do not regret securing this job because I learned to be a medic and took the national EMS certification test to be qualified for the position. You can tap into your GI Bill to further educate yourself with at least three years of service in the Military. Even if you decide to stay only for four to eight years, you still have time to start another career after the Military.
Get admitted to West Point or other military schools that support full tuition
A college education does not have to be expensive. It would be best if you spent the golden years of your life in your 20s focusing on learning without future financial responsibility. Four years of college cost me over $120,000 as an out-of-state student to a top-tier public university. I did not choose to go to a private school because the tuition would cost a lot more, and I did not want any more financial burden than necessary. I regret spending that much money on a degree not relevant to my current life and career. You never know where you will be and what you will do after ten to twenty years from college. You do not have to work in a field only related to your major, and you may likely change your life goal later on.
Invest in stocks with income from all of your part-time jobs
If I were you, I would invest tuition dollars in stocks like SPY or QQQ, the most popular ETFs that pay dividends and have growth potential. You may not know about doing a company’s fundamental or technical analysis as a high school student. Learn as you invest about stocks like Warren Buffett. Start early in investing because being an investor will be your long-term career.
Conclusion
My college degree did not matter that much after all. All that time went into studying and memorizing was unimportant in real life, especially my financial life. The school doesn’t teach you to be rich nor make you financially free. A college is an institution to educate you to be a good employee for the capitalists and employers who may hire you. If you decide to go to a college, choose wisely because every dollar matters, which could be invested in the stocks for better returns than your college education. If scholarship funds do not fully support your tuition, think about joining the Military or going to a military school for your education. Graduating without student loans alone will place you far ahead of your peers in wealth building and financial stability.
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