Why I Am Not Going to College

“What are you going to do now that you’ve graduated?” is a question that the recent high school graduate learns to expect and can come to dread. It’s not the question itself that is the problem so much as the expectations that simmer behind it, the limited selection of ways people anticipate you to answer. These include things like moving out of the house, getting a license, landing a job, and, probably biggest of all, going to college. 

Follow-up questions often harbor that last expectation: “Where do you plan to attend college? Will you do in-person or online classes? Have you chosen a major yet?” After a little while, this line of questioning can feel less like the start of a friendly conversation and more like the commencement of a cross-examination.

I’m not condemning anyone for asking what someone plans on doing after they graduate. It’s a natural question to ask someone at my stage of life. But anyone who has asked me what I planned to do after I graduated will know that my answer is different from what might be expected. 

That’s because I’m not going to college. 

And in today’s post, we’re going to talk about why. 

many paths

First, let me share why I’m writing about this. It’s not because I’m trying to start a debate (although if you disagree and would like to discuss it further in a calm and respectful manner, I’m open to that). It’s not because I’m opposed to all forms of higher education. I am not against books and learning—I’m a writer, after all, and I love to read. And it’s not to condemn those who have chosen differently. I know many people who went to college and have friends who plan to go, and I’m not saying they’re wrong. College can be the right path for some; for example, if you choose a vocation that requires a degree (such as a doctor, lawyer, or ordained pastor), then that decision is made for you.

But just because college is right for some doesn’t mean it’s best for all. There are other paths that are just as valid, if not better. I am one of those who have chosen an alternative route, and part of my reason for sharing my journey is to encourage others that there are other ways to take. Don’t be afraid to forge new paths. 

I like the way Christian entrepreneur Brett Harris puts it:

While that advice was aimed at young writers, it applies to others as well. You have to be willing to stand out from the crowd in your pursuit of God’s plans for you, whatever they might be. And that may or may not include going to college. 

many reasons

While it’s been nearly two years since I graduated high school, I still get the Question from time to time. Occasionally I encounter well-meaning people who think I would be better off spending my time going to college and getting a degree instead of pursuing my passions and digging into my dreams through the other endeavors I’m engaged in. That used to bother me. Whenever people asked, “Are you going to college?” I would say something like “I’m taking online classes” and leave it at that, allowing them to fill in the blanks. Most would assume this meant I was taking online college courses, which was effective for them not to ask further questions. 

And I was okay with that. It’s true, after all. I’m part of an online workshop complete with courses and instructors. But it’s not a college, and I’m not earning a degree, which is a foreign concept to some people. “How could you take classes and not earn a degree at some point?” Well, it’s complicated, and I won’t try to explain it here. What I will say is that getting a degree isn’t what matters most to me. I’d rather have knowledge of the concepts I need to grasp and mastery of the skills I need to have than a piece of paper that gives me status in the eyes of some people.  

As I’ve grown more grounded in my reasons for not going to college, I’ve become less afraid to talk about them. My main reasons can be narrowed down as follows:

• Practical. I can learn the skills I need for life and a career without going to college and earning a degree. There are plenty of other avenues for learning how to get along with others, having conversations with peers, and developing skills in the career path I plan to take (to list just a few of the things that the college experience is supposed to offer). Also, there are multiple benefits of staying at home and not immediately moving out at eighteen. 

• Financial. College is expensive, and since I don’t believe it’s necessary for me, I see no good reason to go into debt for it. College debt has far-reaching effects that could negatively impact myself and others for years to come. I don’t want to drag a large and unnecessary debt into marriage, for instance. Coming into a relationship debt-free matters far more to me than coming into one with a college degree.

• Spiritual. This is by far the most important of the reasons listed. I know of far too many young people whose faith was wrecked on the rocks after going to college. I’m not saying that going to college was the sole reason, but it definitely played a major role. Many (if not most) modern colleges are hotbeds of dangerous ideas masquerading as brilliant insights. Getting a higher education is one thing; having streams of worldly wisdom insidiously fed into your flow of thought is another. Even Christian colleges are not immune to this; if anything, they might be worse because students are much more likely to let their guard down and not take the effort to discern whether what their professors are teaching is true or not. 

In my mind, all of these combined make a powerful case for choosing not to go to college. I understand that others may have just as strong reasons for going, and I’m not condemning them. All I ask is that you keep in mind it is not the only option and respect those who have chosen differently. 

Oh, and one more thing: next time you ask a high school graduate about their plans for the future, maybe don’t ask where they plan on going to college. They just might have another answer in mind.

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1. Brett Harris, “Yes, You Can Make A Living As A Writer: Here’s How,” The Young Writer (blog), https://theyoungwriter.com/yes-you-can-make-a-living-as-a-writer-heres-how/ ↩︎