5 Simple Reasons to go to College

Today we celebrate National Higher Education Day! The strategic purpose of this day is to educate and inspire students to continue their education and advocate for higher education.

With tales of students drowning in debt, many people are hesitant to go off to college or even pursue graduate school once they have received their bachelor’s. However, attending and graduating from college can open doors that a high school diploma cannot.

For those who are still unsure if college really does pay off, we have put together a list of 5 reasons to jump on the higher education band wagon.

1. Self-discovery. Going to college gives students the opportunity to grow not only their minds, but their overall character. In fact, many people find out their passions and several things about themselves during the higher education journey. Being in college also forces students to learn how to balance school, work and social relationships. After finishing up the long, arduous educational path to becoming a doctor, Author, John Shufeldt, MD discovered his passions kept growing and returned to school for his MBA, eventually two additional graduate/doctorate level degree paths. More on his personal story of self-discover through education here.
2. More job opportunities. Degrees unlock more job opportunities and will provide additional job security with ebbs and flows in the job market. In short, increasing job qualifications will lead to a higher potential to make more money.
3. Networking. During college, students make new friends or other connections with faculty that can be helpful when they start to pursue a career. In a market with many qualified candidates, sharing your resume and desired position with your personal network of friends and family is very helpful. It is very important to build a solid network that you can rely on in the future. We recommend social networking tools like LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and even Instagram to help you stay connected to your existing network and new colleagues.
4. Health benefits. Several studies show that college graduates are healthier and interestingly, less likely to get a divorce. A 2013 study by the College Board showed that college graduates were more likely to have an employer who provided health insurance. In addition, this study also found that college graduates generally smoke less, enjoy higher rates for exercising and have lower obesity rates.
5. Extra-Curricular Benefits. Pursuing a higher education introduces students to several ways to get involved with clubs, interest groups, fraternities, and sororities, religious and political activities. Students may encounter opportunities while in school that they might not otherwise be presented with, like joining a school sport, becoming a member of an organization such as Finance Club or Art Club, going Greek, studying abroad or joining alumni programs. Getting plugged into the activities you are passionate about when on campus also helps with #3- expanding a student’s personal network in a completely organic way.

While going to college has many benefits, it is still important to keep the debt to a minimum. Prospective students can still try to get scholarships or even a job at the school. Outliers Publishing has many other blogs to help students understand apply for financial aid and save money. Here is a list of potential blogs to help you in your higher education journey.

1. Scholarship Guide for High School Students
2. 10 Scholarship Search Tips and Tricks
3. College Scholarship Tips to East Financial Stress
4. 15 Money Tips for College Freshmen
5. Tips for the Young Outlier: 7 Steps to College Success
6. Graduate Scholarship and Tuition Tips

We would love to hear from you! Why do you support higher education?