The Case Against College (Part 6)
This is the sixth part in a series where I am making the case against college. These are three more reasons why young people should not go to college.
Part six of a series where I am making the case against college. You can read the first five reasons against college below.
Oversupply Of College Degrees
First, there is an oversupply of people with degrees. Georgetown University projected that “35 percent of the job openings will require at least a bachelor’s degree” by 2020. That is a little more than a third of jobs that need require you to have a degree to get hired. This has been referred to as degree inflation. There is also an oversupply of students going into Ph.D. programs. There is also a surplus of workers in certain areas of STEM.
When there is more supply than demand, college graduates cannot find jobs in their field of study. That is how the basic economic laws of supply and demand work. When there is too much supply, the demand cannot be met. Since colleges are interested in making money off students and from the federal government’s student loan program, they have a vested interest in making you believe you must have a college degree.
Too many people have college degrees now. It no longer helps to make you competitive in the job marketplace, especially as college tuition costs continue to rise. If you have the guts to, it is better to learn your skills early and go out independently. This has been made easier with the Internet, websites, social media, and being able to self-publish on your own.
Teaches That Education Is Linear
Second, the education system teaches students that learning is linear. College says you can expect to set yourself up for a career once you graduate. Depending on your field, your employer will want you to get certifications to move up in the company or to prove that you are proficient in a skill. The company may or may not pay you to study for certifications and take a certification exam. This could be another added expense from your paycheck. You then must stay on top of any certificates you have or requirements in your field not to lose your license in your area.
Self-Education
Self-education recognizes that learning does not happen in a straight line. You could learn about a topic or skill starting at point Z and ending at A. Self-learning is focused on being a lifelong student. Self-education is what many successful people practice. They recognize that new information is always coming out through articles, books, and videos they can learn from.
They realize the value of learning from someone who lived in the past is valuable. They also know that learning from someone who lives in the present is valuable. When you focus on self-education, you are constantly working to educate yourself by learning new skills and knowledge.
You are a lifelong student. Your education does not end after you graduate from high school or college.
Fake Piece Of Paper
Third, a degree is simply an overpriced fake piece of paper that society has decided to give value to arbitrarily. You are forced to invest hours of your precious time and money to receive the paper from the college you graduated from. Employers then think the people they hire must have a fake piece of paper to get hired, even if they did not learn any practical skills while in college. Society has fabricated demand for a fake piece of paper of which there is already an oversupply.
Why do society and employers care so much about a piece of paper? You could Photoshop your own degree on a piece of paper. It would look the same as the one you will receive at a college graduation.
The point is that they are both pieces of paper. The degree made using Photoshop only costs you your Photoshop subscription, ink, and paper. The “formal” and “official” diplomas cost you valuable time, delayed your making money, and you had to learn from a professor.
My undergraduate degree in political science got me nowhere. I originally wanted to be a lawyer, so that was why I studied political science. I threw away my undergraduate degree and graduation robe since it did not help me get anywhere. I wish I had discovered ways to make money online sooner rather than thinking I must attend college.
The fact that so many employers care more about a worthless piece of paper shows you all you need to know about most employers today. An employer should only care about whether or not you can do a job or not. If you have the skills to do the job, you are applying for, great. But employers want you to pay more to go to college to receive a fake piece of paper.
The best thing you can do is find ways to make money independently at a young age. The Internet has made it easier to create multiple income streams, from advertisements on a YouTube Channel or a website, earning royalties from a book, or selling merchandise online. You have options.
You have options today. That option includes not going into debt to “earn” a fake piece of paper from a stuck-up university.
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Summary
You have alternatives to the higher education system. There is no need for young people to go to college today. They have plenty of options. The worst thing any young person can do is to get into debt. The education system is the trap that gets many people into debt. Young people can also learn about interesting things, learn from others, and find ways to make money outside the traditional system.
Self-learning is critical to starting to build wealth. The sooner you become curious and stop going along with the crowd, the sooner you will be able to discover and embrace your skills which you can then find ways to monetize.
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Views expressed in this article are the author's opinions and do not necessarily reflect the views of Secure Single. It is intended for informational and educational purposes only. It is not investment, financial, or legal advice. Consult with a financial or legal professional before making investment or legal decisions. James Bollen is the author of Thriving Solo: How to Flourish and Live Your Perfect Life (Without A Soulmate). It is now available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.
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