College paves the road to your dreams. By going to college, you open many doors to opportunities that would be closed without a college education. Reach for more and make your dreams a reality.
"Why should I go to college?"
College is more than just extra schooling. It is an opportunity to enrich yourself socially and emotionally as well as academically. Classes you take in college provide valuable training for the field that you are interested in entering but also helps refine your critical thinking and reasoning skills, skills that can be applied to any field. It is a valuable social experience because of the setting of highly educated and like minded peers that is rarely replicated anywhere else. While each person's reasons for applying to college is different, below are the most common reasons for applying to college.
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Reason #1: You're not Michael Jordan or P. Diddy
While becoming a sports superstar or music mogul would be exciting and rewarding, most of us will not be able to accomplish it. A college education allows you to grow as a person and develop the skills need to have an exciting and rewarding career. From sports management to music producing, a college education is becoming increasingly necessary to get into these fields. There is one that fits your interests and strengths.
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Reason #2: You'll make more money
The more education you get, the more likely it is that you will consistently be able to get a high paying job. In 2005, the average salary for people with a high school diploma was $23,500 while the average salary for someone with a Bachelor's degree was $39,500.
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Reason #3: College is a great experience
A college education is more than just going to classes, it's an opportunity to experience more independence then you've every experienced and a chance to practice living on your own. College is the opportunity to transition from child to adult and prepare for your future and your career.
"I don't think I'm going to college."
Many students can be intimidated with the prospect of going college and give many reasons why they do not want to attend college. We, here at Bell Curves, have heard them all and we say that there should be nothing stopping you from going to college. Here are some of the reasons given and why they do not hold water.
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Reason #1: I can't afford to go to college.
There are many different resources available for students who can not afford to go to college. Also contrary to popular belief not every institution costs 20,000 - 30,000 dollars a year. There are many affordable and good colleges to attend. With federal financial aid available to kids who need it, loans, and a myriad of scholarships, money is not a barrier. Click here to find out more about financial aid, scholarships, and programs that can help you afford college.
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Reason #2: Nobody in my family has ever gone to college.
Being the first to do anything can be tough. But going to college is important for your future. You can explain to your family the reasons that you wish to attend and how it will lead to a better life for you and your family. In fact, it may be a point of pride for you and your family to go to college. By attending, you will make it easier for future generations. They will not have to go through what you have. They will not be the first.
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Reason #3: I don't know what I want to do with my life.
Who does? This is something that many people take a lifetime to answer. It is not a bad thing as long as you actively seek to improve and find that answer. Thousands of freshman enter college every year without a major or future career in mind. College exposes you to many new ideas, people, and subjects. It gives you the time and opportunity to explore and find your calling.
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Reason #4: College is too hard for me.
Many students are concerned about the difficulty of coursework. All colleges have many different academic support programs, from tutoring to study groups. There are many fellow students who have taken the courses that concern you and can help you figure out that troublesome point the professor didn't get across clearly. Even better yet, you can see the professor in person and ask for clarification. Help is available for those who need it.
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Reason #5: I just won't fit in.
Most colleges have highly diverse student bodies. There are students from every walk of life and from every ethnicity you can imagine. It is important to do an extensive search for the college that is right for you. There are many college searches available that can help you find the perfect place based on all kinds of criterion. You can visit different campuses to find what makes you comfortable. Whether you are looking for a campus that is big, small, one mile from home, or one thousand miles from home there is one where you fit in just right. Click here to find out more about different colleges.