College: Is it all Worth the Trouble?

As a graduating high school senior, it shouldn't be surprising that I would be going through some kind of college application process. It is simply the thing to do. Practically every senior I know is announcing their choices, acceptances, and awards to various Universities, and parents are singing praises with them. But sometimes I wonder, is it all worth it?

Unlike my proud peers, my experience of wanting to go to college (more specifically, a snobby University) has been a topic of shame within my house. Why can't I just do as all my siblings had done before and go get my basics done at community college, and then, if I really have to, transfer to a university in town. Why must I go to college if all I want to do is start a career within the Fine Arts department? Time and time again, I am bombarded with questions and comments concerning my life choices, and it's stressful to say the least. So I put the question out there: why does the up and coming generation, which includes myself, feel a need to attend a prestigious university, when you could get by with less? After all, community college, as Dave Ramsey would say along with my father, is the logical choice to save money and graduate debt free (insert infomercial and guitar band here)!

Speaking first from my own personal observations, despite what the bad quality commercials would have you believe, community college is not where it's at. All my siblings before me went to San Antonio College for their first two years, and from what they've told me, it was not a fun experience  Credits were misplaced, the system was unorganized, people were inconsiderate, and the campus is a bit run down. This was not a place you go for an experience; this is where you go to get through and survive. People will tell me that I'm being pretentious, but it is true what they say: you do get what you pay for. Granted, I believe that community college would be wise if one simply felt a need to go to college without a clue as to what they wanted to do in life. Then that would be a good test to see which subject you felt inclined towards before writing a hefty check. But if you know what you want to major in, and can point to a career waiting for you on the other side, I would say to strive for what would be most helpful towards that goal (shoot for the moon, as they say).

The fact is, society is no longer taking people's word for it; they look for a degree, not a independent self made wild card. The Bachelor degree is the new determining factor with a lot of companies, and the Masters degree is rapidly rising up to take the cake. One of my friends told me how her brother, who is graduating with a technical writing bachelors degree, was denied a position because another candidate (who wasn't necessarily more qualified as far as talent was concerned) had a masters degree. It's all a game about who can one-up who, and money is apparently not an object for people as loans are taken out without a second thought.

On the subject on loans, I would like to say that I'm not a supporter of them. Who would be? It's not a fun process to have to endure, so why do it unless you had to? And therein lies the punch line: have to. I believe that one should exhaust all other means of financial aid  before turning to loans, but the idea that one won't take out any loans to attend college is one of ignorance. The reality is that universities are getting more and more expensive as the years progress, and America is getting poorer and poorer. While it's an unfortunate position to be in however, I think that in the long run, taking out a loan wouldn't be the end of the world. The statistics are on our side as one who earns a degree compared to those who don't earns a much larger paycheck.

Another answer as to why I would choose to get out of the house and go to a university is for the experiences and connections I would gain on the way. For practical minded people, this would be a completely foreign concept. Experience? Pah! All you need to do is get in, get your degree, and get out. I disagree, which is why I encounter so much opposition. I could've gone to public school if I wanted; that certainly would've been the logical choice as it's cheaper with more resources. However, I wouldn't trade my high school years at the small private school I've attended since Kindergarten for anything. And being committed to a school all four years is the best way to make relationships, connections, and really establish yourself, which would be beneficial to your future as well.

Advice?

Stay determined. If there's one thing I've learned, it's that you should always stick to your convictions. I'm tempted to waver as I consider all the possible failures that could occur myself, but if we questioned ourselves about everything, we wouldn't get anything done. Someone once told me that the obstacles on the way just make the success at the end that much sweeter. Stay strong; if it's meant to happen, it will definitely happen, no matter what anyone will tell you.

Really get to know your University--get personal. One of the determining factors of which University I chose was based on how much personal attention the staff was willing to provide. I mean, I would be paying an arm and a leg to go there, so the service should be good. For instance, I knew that the college which kept transferring me to automated voice messages and then calling back during school hours was most likely not going to be the best fit. Its helps to know that you'll be replied to swiftly when you're turning in important, time-sensitive items such as a financial aid appeal for instance. How will you know? Believe me, you'll know.

Scholarships...? I place a question mark on the end of this because this is a piece of advice that all will give you, but, if you're a white American, it is often worthless. I've applied to many a scholarship with no luck as of yet, but that doesn't mean I'm going to stop trying. This gives you something to do to sort of keep you going. Sure, rejection letters are no fun, but it's helpful to have a driving force to keep your mind occupied and motivated.

Prayer. It is important to keep God in the picture instead of attempting to figure it all out on your own. The decision making process is an excellent opportunity to grow in your relationship with God. Believe me, He has a better idea for what's best for your life than you will ever have.

These are the random rantings of one without sleep, so take it as you will. I won't force my ideals, as that would be the opposite of what I would hope to accomplish, but still--if nothing else, it is something to think about.