Top 5 Reasons Parents Shouldn’t Force Kids to Go to College

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Going to college is a big decision for young people today, and it is an important consideration for many parents as well. It is natural to want your children to succeed in life. For some, a college education is the best path to success and career options, however this is not necessarily the ideal path for all. There are many roads to take. Difficult as it may be, consider these top 5 reasons not to pressure your kids into going to college.

1. The Education Sham
   Many people now live under the impression that a college degree is the key to finding a place and a career in one’s preferred industry, but this is not always the case. Many graduates with bachelor’s degrees have a difficult time finding jobs after college. Some industries are more difficult than others, but the US economy is in such shape right now that the job market is extremely rough, fiercely competitive, and often barren. To put it bluntly, a degree is not necessarily the golden ticket to a career.
2. The Debt Burden
   Many college students now find themselves accruing debt throughout their academic years due to simply being unable to afford the rising cost of college tuition. This is something that students and parents alike are concerned about, and with good reason. It is not uncommon for students, unable to find jobs related to their studies, to continue working menial jobs just to manage living expenses and try to pay off student loans.
3. Other Paths
   College education is certainly not the only path to success. Some of the most successful people in America, in fact, made their way through life without a college degree. Think about Frank Lloyd Wright, one of the most influential architects in American history. Remember Henry Ford, the billionaire founder of one of the world’s first and largest automobile companies. Then, there is of course Ray Kroc, founder of the McDonald’s enterprise–one of the most successful businesses in the history our country. None of these people held college degrees.
4. Limited Options
   Very often it is the case that there is simply not a degree program available in a student’s particular area of expertise or one that fits the student’s desire to learn. Granted, the options are vast. One can earn a degree in mental health counseling or ufology, but even in this array of specialized and obscure programs, some students may find it difficult to hone in on a program that suits them. Some people are natural born entrepreneurs and may find college programs to be more a hindrance than anything else.
5. Uncertainty
   This is possibly the most compelling reason to stay out of college. Students who are uncertain about their futures and have no concrete idea what career path the want to take in life often end up wasting their time and money in college. Sometimes college is touted as a place to expose oneself to new things and find the path, but couldn’t this also be done without spending thousands of dollars in advance? Students should go into college with a goal in mind–those who are unsure may be better off postponing higher level studies.