Should I go to College? 9 Questions to Ask Yourself to Move Forward with Confidence

These days, it seems like pursuing a trade is the better option sometimes! How can you know if college is right for you?

I have two friends who display this dilemma perfectly. One went to college and is having a hard time using her degree and finding a job that she enjoys and pays well. The other went to trade school and got a job right away that pays super well!

Yet most adults and people you may get advice from push college like it’s the end-all-be-all! So if you’re asking yourself, “should I go to college?”, keep reading for a little bit of clarity!

By the end of this post, you’ll learn how to decide whether or not college is right for you by considering your desires AND practical logistics which will allow you to move forward with confidence.

This post may contain affiliate links which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you. Please read full disclosure for more information.

What Do You Want Out of Life?

First, before you consider the nitty gritty details and realities, I want you to dream really big for a second or two.

What are your actual desires? How about your biggest goals? Who is the best version of yourself?

It can help to journal about these questions to get all your thoughts down on paper. The beauty of journaling is that it’s just for you, so you can be as vulnerable and open as you want!

Think about what your ideal life is. About what your deep passions are. What makes your heart happy?

| Related Reading: 34 Best Books on Finding Your Passion so You Can Live Out Your Purpose in Life

Try journaling using any or all of these prompts:

1. Describe a day in the life of you if you were living your dream life.
2. What activities bring you pure joy? (When you do these things, it’s like time doesn’t pass.)
3. What do you REALLY want out of your life?
4. When you’re 90, what will you have hoped to accomplish?
5. What are your huge goals that feel too big to actually accomplish in life?
6. What are a few of your passions? List anything at all!

Here’s the Key

At the end of the day, finding a job that truly fits you is about figuring out where your passions and your skills align.

As an Employment Specialist, I tell my clients this all the time. Sure, you may be good at certain things, but it doesn’t mean you enjoy them. Sure, you may be passionate about other things, but that doesn’t mean you have the skills to make money with that passion.

I could be extremely passionate about gardening. But… *real fact:* I’m a horrible gardener. I don’t have a green thumb at all and can’t really keep much alive at all. It would be unwise of me, then, to pursue gardening as a career path. Not all hobbies and passions need to be an income stream.

Don’t think I’m saying that your passion can’t bring in money, though! I’m just encouraging you that it’s okay if a passion of yours stays a passion. When you bring money into it, you risk losing your spark for that passion (sometimes but not always!).

(Here’s a post about how to find fulfillment in life.) 

Now that you have an idea of what really gets you out of bed in the morning, and what inspires you… let’s shift gears.

What’s Practical for Your Life?

Okay, so you took some time to dream really big. Now, let’s get practical.

Ask yourself these questions: (and consider journaling them so you have everything on paper when you make a pros and cons list)

7. Do you have the money to go to college?

Most of the time, nobody has 100K sitting in the bank to drop on four years of college tuition, so if the answer’s no here, don’t worry, keep going to the next question.

(Here’s my favorite way to think about money and become financially wise!)

8. What would your major be? Does your major make sense?

If you haven’t decided what your major would be yet, do a little casual research and Google a few options that interest you:

• Read this article for help. 

Then do a google search for the following to get an idea of if your major makes sense for you:

• Look into the demand for jobs in this industry where you live.
• Research job titles you can get with that degree.
  • Then research those job descriptions to see if you like them.
• Find out the average pay for someone with that degree in your state.
• Find out what other education you may need. Is the four-year degree all you need or will you have to go to graduate school or pass a licensing exam?

(Read here for how to get a better job.) 

9. Is there a college nearby (with your major)?

Will you be able to commute to a college that has a well-rated program you’re interested in? If not, are you ready and willing to go away to school? Remember that staying on campus at school significantly increases the cost, especially if it’s out of state.

Consider all the schools that are in commuting distance and try to rank how good your chosen program/major is at each of the schools.

Then compare the cost if you have to go away to college.

Should You Go to College: Deciding with Confidence

There’s no magic answer to the question: should I go to college. Hate to break it to you, but I don’t have your answer. I do, however, have experiences to share that might help.

I went to college

I majored in Psychology, minored in Childhood Studies, and concentrated in Mental Health, meaning I have a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology.

What nobody told me was that having a BA in Psychology doesn’t add up to much in the work world. That degree is viewed as a kind of stepping stone. Usually, people go on to get a master’s degree. Then, they can make the big bucks. Not that it’s all about money, but money certainly plays a big role in how we live!

I didn’t research before I picked my major- I took Psychology 101 my junior year of high school and loved it, so that’s what I ran with. I didn’t know what kind of jobs I could obtain with this degree, I just knew it interested me.

But I also thought at the time I’d be going to grad school (flash forward, I didn’t because I totally changed my mind about what I wanted to do).

All this to say, I didn’t research ahead of time, and “suffered” in a way. Because my degree is broad, I could get many types of jobs but had no idea which direction to go in. And I soon found out that all the jobs I could get didn’t seem to value my degree because I wasn’t specialized in any way.

This isn’t a disclaimer against getting a Psychology degree by any means! I loved my major, and think it set me up well to write about mental health and wellness. This story should be an encouragement to do the research before picking a major!

With research, you gain the knowledge you need to make an educated decision that makes sense for YOU. You might find that a degree isn’t necessary for what you want to do.

Would I “Trade” It?

I have some friends that went to trade school and are making the big bucks. Buuut, some of them had to move far away, work crazy long hours with long commutes, come home physically exhausted from labor-intensive, physical work, are more likely to get injured than I am at my desk job, and so on.

Related reading: 5 Ways to Beat the Comparison Game

What I’m saying here is that, sure, trades may provide better pay up front sometimes, but they also come with other things to consider!

It’s Not All About Money

Fulfillment is more valuable than money. So if you’re hesitant to go to college because of the money, or you’re wanting to go to trade school because of the promise of a big paycheck, check your priorities first.

Related reading: Live Fully Today- There’s a HUGE Perk!

I can’t tell you if going to college is the best option, but I can tell you that the feeling of enjoying your job is unmatched! So weigh your options and be smart, but be sure to prioritize pursuing what fulfills you!

Last Words of Encouragement

Make a Pro and Con List

I’ve done this for every major decision in my life. It’s so helpful to see it all on paper.

You Don’t Have to Decide Right Now

You have time. Even if you’re “supposed to” decide by tomorrow, or even today, you . have . time! There’s no rule that says you have to decide the course of your life when you’re 18. I was SO set on my plan, yet I ended up changing courses anyway. You’re not alone in your confusion.

Related reading: Exactly What to do When You’re Feeling Behind in Life

There is No Wrong Choice

Whatever you decide becomes the path of your life, and you’ll learn through it. Plus, you can always change your mind- sure you might lose some money or time, but isn’t doing what you love day in and day out in your future worth a bit of loss along the way?

Let’s Bring it Home

Trying to figure out, “should I go to college?” is a huge decision. And unfortunately, I don’t have your answer. But you can find it through a little research, and through joining your passions with what’s doable and practical. 

At the end of the day, it’s about what’s going to fulfill you that can also make you money. If that’s achieved by going to college, then go! And if college won’t help you get that job/career that both fulfills you and brings in the dough, then don’t go! 

Whatever you decide, you can always change your mind, and the path you pursue will teach you and mold you into who you’re meant to be.

I hope you have more clarity now to decide whether or not college is right for you by considering your desires and practical logistics which will allow you to move forward with so much confidence!

Related reading:
Going For It: Take These Steps to Pursue Your Dream

The 4 Tips You Need to Know to Intentionally Set and Achieve Your Goals

The #1 Method You Need Right Now to Gain Perspective

4 Important Questions you Should be Asking Yourself Before Taking a New Opportunity

13 Stress Relieving Tips Every College Student Needs to Know