Class of 2018! Why go to college?

Hopefully you're thinking about your future...What's next for you after high school? In about 9 months, you'll be a High School Graduate. Time is going to FLY between now and then. Be sure to make time to PLAN FOR YOUR FUTURE! Do your research and have conversations with the people who know you best (and some who don't!) about what your Future will look like. 

It's YOURS! 

Check out the content below from "The Common Application"

Maybe you're the first in your family to go to college. Maybe you're worried about the cost of tuition. Or maybe you're not a fan of homework and exams at the moment. If any of these ring true, you might be wondering, "Is college worth it?" In a word: YES. And here’s why:

College is the most valuable investment you can make in your future – both financially and personally. 

How Going To College Helps You Financially

Let's pretend that there are two versions of you: one with a high school diploma and one with a college degree. Can you guess which version will earn more money? 


Over the course of a lifetime, someone with a college degree will earn $1 million more than someone with a high school diploma.
 As for someone with a graduate degree? Their earning potential will be even higher. 


In the simplest of terms: higher education = greater financial stability. Money isn't everything, of course. But if you want to give yourself the best chance to earn a comfortable salary, a college degree is not optional; it's essential.

How Going To College Helps You Personally

Let's get back to those two versions of you: the one with a high school diploma and the one with a college degree. Can you guess which version will have a broader network of connections?

When you step outside of your comfort zone and onto a college campus, you enter a world filled with fresh faces, diverse backgrounds and various worldviews. In addition to sparking lifelong friendships, a college community broadens your horizons – fostering a period of self-discovery and personal growth.

College is about defying expectations, breaking the mold, and finding yourself. 

You have curiosity. EXPLORE IT.

Whatever intrigues you, college is your opportunity to pursue that interest at a deeper level.

• Enroll in classes and sign up for activities that excite you, without the structured limitations of your high school curriculum.
• Meet people from various backgrounds and cultures who have interests similar to and different from your own. They’ll introduce you to new interests you didn’t know you had.
• Become a part of an enriching campus community and ultimately realize that we live in a globally interconnected world – a concept that will spark your curiosity and stimulate your growth.

You have purpose. BECOME IT.

No matter how uncertain your future seems right now, college will show you that everyone has a role to play in our society, including you.

• Get exposed to a variety of professions and resources to help you discover the career path that matches your interests and motivates you to become the best version of yourself.
• Gain the skills and knowledge to become anything you want to be, while living independently and preparing for your future.
• Make a difference. Meet mentors and fellow student-leaders who compel you to contribute, inspire you to give back, and shape you into a stronger global citizen.

You have potential. EXCEED IT.

College is your key to increasing your economic mobility, unlocking your earnings potential, and shattering preconceived financial expectations.

Whether you dream of owning a home, traveling the world, or starting a family – your goals are attainable, but they require financial stability. Here's how your likelihood of achieving economic success improves with a college degree:

• A high school dropout can expect to earn $973,000 over a lifetime.
• Someone with a high school diploma can expect to earn $1.3 million over a lifetime.
• A worker with some college but no degree earns $1.5 million over a lifetime.
• An Associate’s degree-holder earns $1.7 million over a lifetime.
• A worker with a Bachelor’s degree will earn $2.3 million over a lifetime.
• Graduate degrees provide for even higher earnings. A Master’s degree-holder earns $2.7 million over a lifetime, a Doctoral degree-holder earns $3.3 million over a lifetime, and a Professional degree-holder earns $3.6 million over a lifetime.

Remember: An investment in college is an investment in yourself.