Where you are going to college has always been a question that still has life-changing ramifications. Living in the moment, we sometimes fail to realize the magnitude of a college education and how important it can be. Your education has shaped you as an individual in society today. Ultimately, intelligence cannot determine capability and it cannot reflect effort.

1. Affordability is a key factor, determining where you can go to school.

Accumulated student debt is a major factor as to why some students choose to go to a community college or public university instead of a private or an ivy league school. Some students also make the decision to not attend college because they see how much money they could save in the long-run by not making a huge investment in their education. Financial Aid from the federal government can help lower costs. Scholarships can be awarded, and others are available if you apply for them too.

2. Deciding to go to college doesn’t make anyone who doesn’t lesser than you.

Although people may say “college will be the best years of your life”, that doesn’t mean that the people missing out made the worst mistake of theirs. Going to college doesn’t make you an untouchable human being, you’re still learning and developing into an adult.

3. Success is the ultimate goal.

No matter where we go, we want to get the most out of our education. We want to be able to provide for ourselves and our families and to be paid adequately for our labor.

4. Take advantage of the opportunities that come your way.

Any opportunity you can get is a blessing. Opportunities are gateways to greater and better things.

5. Paths after choosing to attend college (or not) may change.

Everyone’s college experiences are different. As we mature, our mindset about life changes. You may decide that college was not meant for you, or that you wouldn’t be successful in a particular field. You might miss your family and be tempted to transfer to another college closer to home. You might wish you attended another university because the curriculum and atmosphere were not what you expected. You might also wish you went to college right out of high school because you’d have something to talk about with all of your friends that did. You might wish you went to college because of the independence, social scene, and all the memories you could have had.

6. Make the most out of the education you received.

Whether or not you attended college, you should still strive to be the best version of you that you can be. Hard work and determination is all you need to advance in and propel your career. Don’t give up on your dreams- you are the only person stopping you.

7. You can always go back to school to further your education.

There is no age limit to when you can go back to finish what you’ve already started. If now was not the time, there is always tomorrow.

8. College can never really prepare students for life’s challenges.

Life is full of unknowns, and we all have to brace ourselves for what’s to come. The education we receive can only help us be better workers for our employers. We have to adjust to new environments, people, and aptitudes as time progresses.

9. It’s your own choice.

At the end of the day, you have the power to decide what’s best for you and your future.

"Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself." - John Dewey