Why I Asked Was Getting A College Degree Worth It

was college degree worth it

When I graduated, I didn’t have a job lined up and that’s a reality for a lot of people. Honestly, I wasn’t lazy by any means, but it was hard to get interviews or any offers. I’m not sure what it was about me, but I had a degree from a really good university and I thought that I could compete. When I was met with resistance, it became a hard pill to swallow. I thought for sure I was a failure. This wasn’t true at all and thinking that way did nothing better for the situation. Now, I know that this attitude was perhaps not the best way to go about things. However, let’s be honest. I did ask myself this: “Was getting a college degree worth it?” Yes, that’s right I questioned if getting my college degree was worth it.

Related: Why I Started This Blog After College

Was Getting A College Degree Worth It?

Yes. I’m just going to start off with that solid answer to that question. You see, even though my fancy degree from my fancy university didn’t immediately land me a job, it did help me. There are so many things that I was able to do because of it. I know some will say that anything is possible with or without a college degree, and those people would be right. However, my experiences tell a different story. To simply say it, I may have very well turned out to be lazy if I hadn’t gone to college. Why? Because college pushed me so hard to be better. Yes, compared to other people, I think I was quite mediocre. I mean, you have students who are developing apps, building businesses, and creating opportunities. The thing is that I was creating opportunities for myself and I didn’t even know it.

Related: Turning An Internship Into A Job

Why Do I Think It Was Worth It?

I remember when I was high school, I just begged for a chance to show people what my talents were. In hindsight, I’m not sure if they realized it or just felt that I had nothing to offer. Frankly, this contributed to a lot of missed opportunities that I could’ve taken. My thoughts were that I was never going to be class president or student activities board leader. Those were positions reserved for the popular kids. I wish I didn’t have that attitude then because I think about how many great things I could’ve done. However, college was a bit different for me. When I joined a sorority, I found a community of people who were so incredibly supportive. I ended up having experiences that I probably wouldn’t have had otherwise.

One thing that I loved was that my talents were recognized. Essentially, I became the sorority’s party planner, holding positions such as special events chair and director of event planning. Then I moved on to director of alumnae-collegiate engagement, which meant planning alumnae functions. I had never been given opportunities like this and it was really nice to feel like I was creating something. I also studied abroad multiple times while I was in college. When I was studying abroad, I learned so much about myself and I truly gained a sense of independence. These were some of the best things about college and if I hadn’t gone to college, I’m not sure where I would’ve been now.

Related: Advice For College Freshmen

Is A College Degree Worth It For Everyone?

I definitely think it is. However, I can understand why some choose not to do it. I can’t speak for everyone but I loved my experience. I especially think it was worth it because it built credibility for me. What I mean by this is that in the future I have a list of things that I have done during those 4 years. So, sure I asked myself, “Was getting a college degree worth it?” and the answer is yes. I think it’s important to note that sometimes we do question the decisions we make but sometimes we need to reflect. Just because things don’t work out the way you think they should, doesn’t mean it won’t.

Just because things don't work out the way you think they should, doesn't mean it won't. Click To Tweet

 

Question of the day: Do you think getting a college degree is worth it?

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7 Comments
  1. Great post and a lot of food for thought. It definitely depends on the career you want; some need degrees. I didn’t go to university but I wish I did but I think it’s always worth it, even for the life experience xx

  2. Even though you wouldn’t have a job waiting after getting the degree I still believe it’s something that is good to have. I’m trying to apply to uni, for the 4th time (aka I’ve had 4 gap years) and it’s insane how hard it is to get in. In the mean time I’ve started my family & if I get accepted now, I’ll be able to do my degree when the kids are still young. Then I’ve got some time to build the career and grow them all up 🙂 always thought that degree first, career second & kids third but if this continues like this I’ll be 40 when I’m starting planning the kids.

  3. I think going to university is definitely down to the individual. I didn’t have a career path lined up and I didn’t want to go to uni, instead I left home and started my life with my boyfriend. It was the best decision for me and I’ve never looked back. However some careers do require a degree and I’d never try to put anyone off going if that’s what they want to do. Your post is great. X

  4. This was a really interesting post! As someone who hopes for a future career in academia, getting a degree was the natural starting point for me. I’ve finished my undergrad and Masters studies and in October, I’ll be embarking upon a PhD! I agree that my studies have pushed me to be more ambitious, work hard, and get better – so I really resonate with what you’ve said in that regard. True, a degree probably isn’t for everyone, but I personally found it so worth it, and I’m glad you did too!

    Abbey 😘 http://www.abbeylouisarose.co.uk

  5. This was interesting to read, as I have no knowledge about the US education system; I think, in a nutshell, all education is helpful, but rising costs, etc have me agog. 😀 Great post!

  6. Thanks for a great read! I agree that college teaches you life lessons you don’t get elsewhere, regardless of whether you get a job or not, it sets you up for life quite well.

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