College isn't something everyone can do, some people just hate education and would rather work physically. Whatever you decide to do after high school is totally up to you. The world has so many options that sometimes it can be hard to decide. Going to college can and will open many doors to you and expose you to so many new things. But over the years, college has become a luxury that some people just can't afford. The price of a college education has been increasing as the years pass. Even some of the cheaper schools will cost you anywhere from about $3,000 to over $5,000 a semester.
Sure a college education can get you a better job and open more doors to new possibilities and even show you the world, but at what price? If you manage to get scholarships or financial aid, it still might not be enough. And financial aid isn't always helpful. Some loans collect 25 cents a day and need to be paid off after you graduate. Sure that's all fine to do if it works for you, but you'll be looking for a job to pay off loans and keep yourself afloat right away. After college, the real world can be a lot to take on all at once.
Now I am not saying that college should be free. If it was free everyone would go, and I can almost bet many people would treat it like high school, but with more parties. College is something you need to work for and at in order to be successful. Getting it free won't give you an extra push to do your best. College shouldn't be free, but it also shouldn't cost students their first born child every year.
Here is a breakdown of what to expect to pay for your first year in college: housing, food, university fee, lab fee, activity fee, textbooks and other supplies, along with a set amount per credit. Also things like graduation, parking pass, recreation pass, locker fees, club fees, payment plan setup charges, and who knows how many other things can get added on. Every school varies on the amounts and the types of charges. But they all are looking for the same thing — money.
College is something special and it isn't for everyone. I myself love college and have grown so much as a person. I just don't feel it is fair for students to start their lives out in debt for making a goal- and career-driven path. You can spend four years in college (the average for a bachelor's degree) and spend the next ten years in debt. The real question is, why?
