A shorter path to success: How college can still pay off

Acommon misconception about attending college is that the only benefit is earning a diploma and that one needs to attend for a long time before getting it. While obtaining a college degree is likely the chief goal of attending a university, the educational experience can also provide skills and knowledge that simply cannot be gained elsewhere.

There are many things you can do with your life honestly, from being a straight out of school person to even a straight into college person. Every person has their own ideals of things, for some people they don’t really like the idea of college, being stuck in school for more years than they have too. What they don’t know is that college can be really helpful in life and some degrees can only take a year or two of your life to complete.

College can be fun if you make it fun, you can join clubs, sports, go on trips to places you’ve never been before and even complete internships to grow your experience. Some people say that college is too “long” or too “complicated.” There are some degrees that are very easy and can take you a max of 1-2 years to complete, they are called Associates Degrees. Many people don’t know about these degrees, these can really help out your future career. Jobs can look and see what type of education and experience you have, leading you to have a better chance of getting hired.

For people who don’t want to go through 4-10 years of college they can easily apply to small schools that offer an Associates Degree in the field they choose for example: Associate of Science (AS) in Nursing,Associate of Arts (AA) in Liberal Arts, an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Computer Information Systems and even Associates Of Business (AAB).

Having a form of education can broaden your sense of organization, communication, critical thinking skills etc. So for people who don’t want to spend their whole life in college, going to a two year college could be a great experience for them within the society. According to www.aplu.org, “Nearly 70 percent of Bachelor’s Degree holders earn their diplomas from public universities and public university graduates play a central role in enhancing their communities” They explaining that people who have some sort of higher education than high school tend to get better paying jobs and effect the community is a positive way.

Shorter programs also mean less debt and faster entry into the workforce. Many employers value applicants who show commitment and effort, even if they only completed a certificate or associate’s degree.

Ultimately, college doesn’t have to be a four year commitment to be beneficial. Whether you study for two years, one year, or just take a few courses, higher education can open doors, build confidence, and prepare you for opportunities you might not have expected.