Is College Right For You?

Even though our company is called College Matters, we’re very aware and accepting that every student has a unique background and a different purpose for continuing their education. Some students are set on living and learning on a campus for four years. Others might look into trade school and enter the workforce shortly after high school. Many students do a two-year associate degree (AA) at a community college before transitioning elsewhere to get their bachelor’s degree (BA or BS). There are many ways to better yourself!

Before making any choices, take some time to think about what you’d like to get out of your education and how the different pathways can help you accomplish those goals. To help you start to reflect, Khan Academy founder Sal Kahn recently hosted an excellent discussion with three recent college graduates on his web series, Homeroom with Sal. They talked about how they got to where they are in their careers and the role college played along the way. The common theme: there are lots of opportunities out there and ways to get to where you want to go. It’s a wonderful conversation from start to finish. We included the two-part discussion below.

Ask the Consultant: Gap Year

Q: I've been thinking about taking a gap year. What kinds of things do students do?

A: While many students choose a structured gap year program that offers travel, service, and adventure, there are other options -- many at a far lower cost!

Apprentice: Undecided about your college major? Your future career goals? Your gap year can be a great time to explore a variety of areas. It can also be a wonderful time to gain a skill. Carpentry, glass blowing, filmmaking, fashion design... you may not have this opportunity again! 

Intern: Working for a business or a non-profit agency can help inform your direction for the future as well. Don't be afraid to go out of your comfort zone a bit and try something different. Sometimes learning what you don't enjoy can be as illuminating as learning what you do. Besides, you might surprise yourself! 

Study: Many college-bound high school seniors graduate wishing that they had more time to explore electives and other academic areas of interest. If that is you, your gap year can be a great time to learn a new language, discover the joys of web design, or try your hand at blogging. However, if you have deferred your college acceptance for a year, as most students taking a gap year do, you will need to read the fine print of the deferral agreement. Most colleges prohibit you from taking credit-granting courses during your year off. 

Travel: Seeing the world, immersing yourself in a new culture, remains the most popular gap year plan. “To my mind, the greatest reward and luxury of travel is to be able to experience everyday things as if for the first time, to be in a position in which almost nothing is so familiar it is taken for granted.” — American-British writer Bill Bryson

Volunteer: Whether it is a formal volunteer program like City Year, The Student Conservation Association or Habitat for Humanity or pitching in to help a group in your community, volunteering can nourish the mind and the soul.

Work: Want to start putting some cash away for your college years? Get a job! 

Ask the Consultant

Q: My high school senior applied to colleges late and did not receive any scholarships to attend. Should he consider taking a gap year and applying again as a freshman or go to community college and transfer?

A: Taking a gap year can be a wonderful way to re-energize, focus interests, and gain maturity. Some students travel the world during their year off, but I'm guessing that if you are looking for scholarship money for college, an expensive program won't be in the cards. Other students save money for college by working or bolster their resumes with internships or service opportunities. It's also not too late to retake standardized testing if you think that higher scores might translate into more merit money. 

There are pros and cons to each option!

On the other hand, attending community college can be a great route for the student that wants to stay on the academic track and gain credits at a much lower cost than at a four-year institution. But do your homework! Some universities will only accept a community college transfer after they have completed the equivalent of two years of coursework. Others don't offer merit money to transfers. And always make sure that you are taking courses that are likely to transfer to a full bachelor's degree!