Nowadays, everyone believes that college is the normal next step after high school. Instead of seeing higher education for what it really is, most high school students just fall in line. They take their college entrance exam, apply to a few colleges and get dropped off at their dorm in August, never thinking about the actual opportunity being given to them.
As far as being prepared for college, most students don’t do what they need to do to make sure they get the most out of their four years on campus. In fact, one of the biggest complaints made by current college students and graduates is, “I just wasn’t ready for it.”
How do you get ready for college? There’s a lot of planning and thought that goes into; mostly related to choosing a career path and finding ways to finance it. As for signs that you aren’t ready for college, below are four of the most common.
1. You can’t decide on a career path: There’s a difference between not trying to decide on a career path and trying and not being able to narrow one down. If you have taken all the career tests available and read every book and pamphlet you can find, but you still can’t make a decision, you aren’t ready for college. Don’t let this upset you. It usually means you just need more time to think things through. After high school graduation, go get a job and continue to do more career research until you have found your path.
2. You didn’t really want to apply, but your parents insisted: Parents want the best for their children, and many have saved for years to send their kids to college. If you find that the college application process feels forced upon you, don’t proceed. Reevaluate your reasons for wanting to go to college. If none of them involve you and your career goals, tell your parents that you need more time to consider college before moving forward.
3. You’re only interested because your friends are doing it: Were you even thinking about applying to college before your friends told you they were? Peer pressure makes teenagers do all kinds of things, both good and bad. Even though going to college is not a bad thing, it can be a bad decision if you aren’t ready. As with the preceding sign, always reconsider the true reasons behind your decision to go to college before you apply.
4. You secretly wish to take a break from school: Some high school seniors know that they want to get a college degree, but only after they’ve taken a year or two off from school. Unfortunately, pressures from family, friends and society make them feel bad about wanting to do this, so they just go off to college, unprepared and unfulfilled. If you would rather find a job after high graduation and wait for college, do it. Don’t let anyone else make this decision for you, especially if you haven’t narrowed down what you want to study in school.
If there’s anything that should stop you from entering a university before you are prepared, it is the reality that college isn’t free. Full-ride scholarships are very rare. Even if you receive some financial help, most students graduate with student loan debt. Before putting yourself in that situation, be sure that you know that college will help you reach your career goals and that you will be able to find a good job after graduation to pay back your debt.