Excuses for Not Earning Your College Degree

I decided to write a quick post about some reasons that people decide not to continue their education by earning a degree. I wanted to list some of those reasons and approach each reason with a resolution to remove any excuse not to go to college. I know excuse is a hard word and often times the excuses are legitimate excuses and noble reasons for not going, but many people with these excuses have a desire to earn college degrees. I’ve broken it into two sections; “Why they don’t…” and “Why they should…”.

Why they don’t…

Money

One of the main reasons that many people do not go to college or continue their education is money. A majority of people do not have the luxury of having their parents pay for their schooling. Many people do not make enough money to pay for their own schooling. Many people have made bad money management decisions in the past that now prevent them from being able to afford to invest in their education.

Other Obligations

Other obligations that people have are their children, debt, their jobs, etc. Maybe you can think of more obligations. It’s important for people to understand what types of obligations may hinder their ability to finish their degrees. Many people live beyond their means and this often times will create a ever-growing mount of debt that will hinder not only their education, but many other opportunities they might have in their life.

Time

Often times the schedules of school classes that are offered do not fit in the schedule of a persons work schedule or other obligated activities they have. Often times people are just plain too busy for school. They have too many other things going on. Priorities may be a bit mixed up.

Not the “College Type”

“I’m not the college type” to me means that someone thinks they are too dumb for college. This excuse is most likely a cover up for a fear or for a lack of confidence in ones self. High school is a unique situation. Many of us do not have the maturity level to understand the importance of our time there and often times our grades reflect it. High school grades do not necessarily identify your level of intelligence. Everyone should understand that they are the college type.

Not Necessary

Many people do not feel a degree is worth it and necessary for them. They may be correct in certain situations but in an educated world this idea may need to be examined a bit deeper on their part. Just because your father or uncle or whoever doesn’t have their degree, that doesn’t mean you can go without one. I would consider talking to those people without degrees that are successful and get their perspective on that question. Some of their regrets may involve not completing school or getting a degree.

Why they should…

Money

There are many resources out there to help you get the money you need for college. An education is one of the few justifiable investments that one has in their life. It requires some major consideration and thought, but it pays back in full. There are college education scholarships and grants that people may qualify for that can help pay for their tuition. I know that parents can often times qualify for education grants just because they have children. Local community colleges can often times soften the expense by offering more inexpensive schooling. Community colleges are great places to work on your general courses then you can often times transfer your credits to another university or college.

The average income of a high school graduate is $28,700 as compared to the average income of a college graduate is $53,800. In a lifetime of work a college graduate makes a lot more money on average throughout their life. If someone is patient enough to invest in their education they will be rewarded on the back-end and see their education continue to pay dividends throughout their lives.

Time

Now a days time should not be an excuse for anyone. Most colleges offer online classes and entire online degrees that often times allow you to work at your own pace in order to complete you online college degree. A general degree in any subject will open up more opportunities in your career. I highly recommend taking advantage of the online education opportunities that there are.

Career Freedom and Flexibility

In an economy that is very unstable, non-college graduates may find themselves trained into a specialized career whose industry itself is unstable? What good is all that knowledge when you lose that job and work becomes even more limited than before? Continually educating yourself is very important with our economy the way it is and having that college degree often times creates more flexibility and freedom in what industries and opportunities you can take advantage of. Job security is a personal responsibility. The only way to create job security now a days is to broaden your toolset of skills so that you can be ready for any situation, college will help you do that.

Open Up More Career Opportunities

Not only can a college degree create more freedom and flexibility for your career, but it also opens up more opportunities for higher paid positions. Many companies do not allow anyone without a degree to hold a management position. Most careers pay you more as you take on more responsibilities. A college degree can really create a management opportunity and higher salary for you if that is what you are looking for.

Set an Example

In a world where people seek heros and examples, you want to make sure that you set a proper example for those who look up to you. When people have higher goals for themselves they often times value themselves and their time higher than they would otherwise. The more educated our society becomes the more able we can resolve problems we have and the less ignorant the general population becomes. Set an example for your kids, your neighbors, your parents.

Schedule and Money

The root of most all of these excuses has to do with money and time. If we can learn to manage both our money and our time, we will open up many more opportunities for ourselves and for our children. Take responsibility now so that you’re in a better place in the future. Spend your time doing things that will make you better. Invest your money in things that will help increase your personal value.