Your College < Your Future

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Andreas Nemethy, Staffer

 

Ever since we started learning the alphabet and counting from 1 to 10, college is a recurring topic every school year. College is truly an important part of one’s education, but do we prioritize college so much that finding a career path and a fitting job become less important?

Nearly everyone at a young age aspires to be in some occupation or achieve something in their future. Although, as middle and high school approach and pass by, we generally become less focused on what we want to do in the future, and more focused on what college we want to go to. It’s good to plan ahead for college, however, we typically put so much stress on going to college that once we get there, we realize that we need to get a well paying job. In 2019, about 66% of high schoolers in America went on to college, and of those who went through college, only about 24% were unemployed. This is typically because once they get into college, they find out they picked the wrong major, they’re taking unnecessary classes or just lose interest. 

In addition to not doing very well in college, 44% of college students aren’t sure of what they will do after graduation. In today’s world, when planning their education, most people first pick what college or colleges they want to attend, then pick a major, then maybe scope out a few possible career options. Choosing a college first limits the amount of majors you have the option of taking, which in turn restricts possible career choices. This will occasionally result in getting stuck with a job that is only tolerable or that isn’t enjoyable at all. 

So whether you’re currently researching colleges and their campuses, or haven’t even thought about career planning, try to consider this information. It may not seem like a big deal, but having your passions and the things you enjoy drive your choices for your major and college will drastically improve your college experience and benefit you exponentially in the long-run. And for those who are preparing to enter the uncharted waters of college and into the unknown territories of the future, good luck.