I know, I know: there’s one college that you absolutely have to get into, and your whole world will come crumbling down if they reject you from admission. If you live in southern California, that school is likely UCLA. If you live in Utah, it’s likely BYU. If you live in Texas, it’s likely UT-Austin, am I right?
Okay, first, take a deep breath. Then, sit down, and don’t worry. If these schools don’t accept you, then yes, it will likely sting for a bit, but you will recover. It might seem like the world to you at the time, but that’s because you are young and are lacking in life experience.
The more experience you gain in life, the more you realize that it does not matter as much that you got into that prestigious school of choice as much as it matters what sort of experience you have that employers value. Because once you’re out of school, you are on your own in the big, bad world, and the only thing that will allow for you to effectively take it on, and eventually win, is with skills, experience, and practical knowledge. So what if I got a liberal arts degree at a good school? That means absolutely nothing in my job where I and my co-workers are expected to perform for the company. If I fail to deliver, then my team suffers, and I won’t stand for that.
So what’s the best approach towards college? Tuitions keep skyrocketing further and further every year*, with no end in sight. These days, if you want to avoid being saddled with a mountain of student loan debt, you’ll have to be smart.
Many college majors, even the practical ones, often require basic courses. They could range from lower-level math courses to general education courses in history, English, or public speaking. The smart thing to do is to enroll in a local community college where you can commute so as to get them out of the way. Find a community college where the credits will transfer to a reputable four-year university. Then, once that basic stuff is out of the way, enroll at that university where you can concentrate on the advanced stuff that will be germane towards your job of choice.
Yes, you might miss out on a few football games, and might miss out on partying. But take my advice: when you’re 19 years old, that all seems like a big deal. But when you’re 30, there are much bigger deals in life, such as making sure you earn enough to pay the mortgage each month, and that you can support a spouse, and, hopefully, your kids. These become your highest priorities, and with them comes one just about as high: making sure you are in a position to keep earning and keep advancing in a career with a solid future so you can provide for them and give yourself a good life in the process.
Internships are key, too. Do not hesitate trying to land one while you’re in school. They give you valuable experience that can be the biggest selling feature you have to offer once you graduate and are looking for your first full-time job. Learning stuff in the classroom is one thing. Applying that which you’ve learned in an internship is priceless. That might take a year or two, as internship programs usually require some related coursework already under your belt, FYI. Such criteria shall vary, but once you meet it, pursue it post-haste!
So, to recap:
Start off with the basic courses at a local school, one where credits will transfer. Take advantage of the lower tuition rates by getting the basic courses out of the way.
Once you transfer, go someplace where the tuition is reasonable.
Once you’re at a four-year college/university (again, where the tuition is reasonable), focus on the advanced courses in a marketable field (engineering, computer science, finance/accounting, etc.).
Get an internship as soon as you can! If you land a co-op, try to take as many courses as you can online.
The sooner you earn a useful degree (with experience!), the sooner you can land a full-time job and concentrate on that with all your energy.
Now, let’s break the huddle, execute this plan, and in so doing, we shall all learn and grow together!
*With some exceptions, at least. At Purdue University, my alma mater, President Mitch Daniels has frozen tuition increases for several years in a row.