College is just a tool
Dear SJ,
You don’t have to go to college. Not anymore. I know I sound like a shit-stirrer, and the internet is full of other louder, more opinionated people on this topic. But pay attention to the semantics (the word choice): have to.
Because college is just a tool. It’s not a lifestyle. You’re not less-than if you don’t go to college. Not everyone needs to pick up the same tools at the same time to create the life they want.
In fact, thank you for making that clear by pointing out to me how messed up it is that the Department of Education lets 18 year olds have $100k (or more!) for college without collateral — or a guarantee of a job to pay it back — but the local bank won’t give you half of that for a business loan, even with a business plan.
Some days making money is just avoiding losing (for no justifiable reason) the money you already have.
If you want to be, say, a lawyer or a doctor, yep, you’re going to college. But you can do it like a smart consumer. And if you’re interested in doing anything else, you can still do it like a smart consumer. The idea is that you at least have your own, justifiable, reasons for your choice.
What does this mean?
⭐ Key action: Think about when you buy a big consumer item, for instance a TV. You usually, whether you mean to or not, define your top criteria to help you make a good choice.
▶️ How to do it: Ask yourself, “what about this choice matters the most to me?” For the TV, it might be screen size, brand, whether you can hang it up, the ability to stream, how affordable it is, and so on.
Now take out “TV” and insert “college” or “start a business” or “roam around Australia waiting tables to survive for a year (this is real),” etc. What aspects of this decision are you most paying attention to that help you feel that your decision is good?
💭 Think about it: Look at your list. What did you come up with? If you had to explain to a friend what you’re doing and go through your criteria, how do you imagine that conversation would go? How does it feel to read your list — Exciting? A little confusing? Doubtful? These are all signals from your own intuition, let them help you.
Big decisions of course usually make us feel we want to consult our friends and family — it’s a social shortcut for research! I do it too. Just remember that there’s a line between consulting others and letting them think for you.
