It’s senior year. Some students anxiously submit their college applications, waiting to receive the email that will decide the fate of the next four years of their lives. Others do not share this anxiety—others are drifting through their last year of education, ingraining every little detail of the last decade into their minds. And when they walk across the stage at the end of the year, gripping their diplomas tight, some look ahead to the beginning of their futures while others mourn the end of theirs.

Today, college is the default path to success. Our education system is tailored to prepare us for applying to an institution that will forge our education, careers, and lives. College has evolved into a societal “requirement” to survive in a world with constantly shifting pressures and expectations. 

However, not everyone decides to follow this path; not everyone can afford to choose the default. Despite society’s pedestal for college, the journey after high school is different for everyone. Instead, millions of individuals wake up the day after graduation with unique versions of how their lives will unfold. 

Several factors play a crucial role in choosing to attend college. It is important to note that financial burdens and lack of proper education are major aspects that influence this decision. They can deter an individual from attending college or prevent one from enjoying the full potential of their college experience. 

Finances are arguably the most important factor when weighing whether college is possible. The average cost of attendance for an on-campus, in-state, public, four-year institution is $27,146 per year or $108,584 over four years. This amount alone is enough to deter an individual from pursuing higher education. Additionally, students who attend college and obtain loans pay an average of $2,636 in interest each year, spending around 20 years paying off loans. Although college students will most likely find jobs after graduating, their higher education experiences are already tainted by financial burdens during and after school. 

Furthermore, the lack of proper education and preparation can be a significant barrier when deciding to go to college. In a 2022 survey, 500 high school graduates answered questions on their readiness to venture off after high school: 75% reported feeling moderately, slightly, or not at all prepared, with 30% not choosing any specific educational or career pathway. It is clear that despite good intentions and grand promises, our general education system has failed to prepare students for life after graduation..  

Although several statistics highlight the causes behind choosing to attend college or not, these numbers do not always capture the full complexity of individual experiences. To gain a deeper understanding of the factors influencing college decisions, it is crucial to examine personal perspectives. In my research on exploring why college may or may not be a probable path, I interviewed two individuals with differing experiences: MU, a current college student at the University of Texas at Austin, and LM, an individual who dropped out of college after spending a year at Texas A&M Kingsville. Their interviews provide insights into motivations, challenges, and societal pressures that can not be fully reflected in numbers.

General Perception and Experience

Q: How do you think society views college education? Do you feel like there is pressure to attend or not attend?

MU: For sure, there’s a lot of pressure to attend college. Once you drop out or decide not to start college right after high school, you’re kind of frowned upon—you’re seen as someone who’s not going to be successful in life or have a good-paying job. The majority of people do expect you to pursue a higher education, whether that’s at a community college or a big university. The moment you don’t attend college, you’re just going to be that kid who lives with their mom or continues the stereotype of staying in a small town. 

LM: I feel like the perception of college has changed. Whereas it used to be the only way you could get a good-paying job, I feel that post-pandemic it skewed to where college is not necessary anymore. So, I do think there is pressure to attend college, but not in the way that it used to be. The pressure is perceived as more “social” than it is. I would say from my experience in the jobs I’ve had after dropping out, I’ve met more people who have 10 years to 20 years of work experience as opposed to an actual degree. I’m not saying education should be undervalued. I’m saying that I feel work experience helps more in the long run.

Q: What were the biggest factors in your decision to either go to college or take a different path?

MU: I always knew I wanted to pursue a higher education. My mom has a master’s degree, my oldest sister also has a master’s degree, and my second oldest sister has her undergraduate degree. So I feel like for me, it was kind of expected for me to go to college. After graduating at the top ten of my class, the community was like, “You know you have to go to college, right?” It’s kind of unheard of to see someone who did well in high school not pursue higher education because it’s kind of seen as “oh, you’re wasting your potential.” So I would say I was expected to go to college; it was something that just fell into place. 

LM: The main factors for me were financial. Once FAFSA had changed the way you’re supposed to do it, it was a no-brainer that I had to quit college—not necessarily because I wanted to, but because it was outside of my control. Also, I feel like a lot of people think college is a money scam because you’re not guaranteed a job. Most of the time, these factors aren’t down to what the person wants, it’s just more of what they’ve been dealt with in life. 

Both responses offered fascinating perspectives, specifically because the responses were similar, yet contradict one another in certain aspects. For instance, whether they chose to attend college or not, both individuals believed their pathway would offer them good jobs, education, and experience. Furthermore, while MU worried about the expectations placed on them by their family and community, LM did not bother pleasing the societal “requirement” of attending college to be successful—instead, their worries lay in barriers such as finances. 

Finances

Q: How has the cost of college influenced your life choices, whether you chose to attend or not?

MU: I feel that finances influenced my decision of where to attend college, not whether I could. I knew costs would be different if I had stayed close to my hometown because I could have stayed with my sister and not have to pay for housing or transportation. But did it influence my decision to come to Austin? Not really. I was scared that I wasn’t going to get a lot of financial aid and my parents would have to pay thousands of dollars every semester. However, I was very fortunate to get good financial aid and scholarships that I needed to cover half of the cost. 

LM: Well, for starters, the cost of college influences what schools you can pick. I wanted to go to Texas A&M College Station but the cost made it not an option. So, my options were narrowed. When I went to Kingsville, it was because they offered me enough to cover college costs without having to pay too much out of pocket. But the costs added up and the help was too little. The cost of college ended up being the primary reason why I dropped out. 

Q: Do you feel like your current path has been financially beneficial, or do you think the alternative might have been better?

MU: I would hope that it does become beneficial in the long run. I hope it was the right decision. I hope it doesn’t lead me into debt.

LM: Well, ever since I left college my situation has been up and down. But, I feel leaving Kingsville was the right decision to not dig myself deeper into a financial hole. My situation is not perfect, but at least I don’t have college expenses anymore.

College student or not, finances continue to plague millions of individuals and have consistently been a barrier to success. However, finances are only one of the several stressors in deciding whether college is an option. 

In addition, academic education and life preparation are critical in being able to pursue higher education or being accepted into work experiences. Today, education and knowledge are valued as indicators of a person’s future success. However, basic education alone cannot help an individual in their journey after high school education. 

Education and Preparation 

Q: Do you think high school adequately prepared you for your current life path? Why or why not?

MU: No. I came from a very low-income high school where a lot of valuable classes were not offered. But I can’t say it hasn’t shaped me as a student. High school shaped me to work harder. It helped me find what works for me. I feel like a lot of the work ethic that I had in high school continued in college. But this wasn’t because of teachers or administration staff. It was just me and my drive. 

LM: No, I would say no. My high school was pretty limited in what it prepared us for, and even then, it didn’t teach us the occurrences of the real world, like taxes. I’ve learned as I’ve gone, but I wasn’t prepared for what I’ve had to go through.

Q: Do you think education, in general, has been the biggest factor in shaping your opportunities?

MU: Yeah, for sure. I feel like it allows you to network and develop skills. Education does influence getting opportunities compared to people who probably only have a high school diploma.

LM: I would say yes, my experiences have educated me. In my new job, I install home appliances and in my old job, I was an electrician’s assistant. What I learned in that job has a lot of overlap with my new one. I didn’t have to have the technicalities explained to me. So I do feel like the education from my real-world experiences has helped me out.

K-12 preparation is crucial in molding the minds of tomorrow, and unfortunately, it has and continues to lack efficacy. College students are burdened due to lacking critical education needed for university-level courses and non-college students rely on trial and error to prepare themselves for the future. Both are at a disadvantage and both deserve better. 

Further, lack of preparation and financial barriers are negatively intertwined and severely impact mental health. Both college and non-college students deal with the struggles of life while simultaneously navigating their future paths. 

Mental Health

Q: How has your path (college or no college) impacted your mental health? What are the biggest stressors in your daily life?

MU: Being pre-med is not easy, like from the very beginning. The more classes you’re taking, the harder they’re getting. And it does wear you down. Another thing is comparing yourself to other people and feeling you’re not doing enough. And you start questioning, “Do I want to do this?” It causes a lot of stress. I’ve crashed out so many times just thinking I’m not doing enough. Unfortunately, it’s just the pressures that come with higher education. It’s all complicated and complex and competitive and you just have to deal with it.

LM: My current path, as of this moment, has negatively impacted my mental health. College was good for the first semester, but after they changed the FAFSA, it deteriorated my mental health because I was worrying if I was going to be able to continue college. I felt immense pressure since I was a first-generation college student. At some point, I stopped trying to succeed and no longer attended classes. Once I left college, it eased only a little. But in my old job in Louisiana, I was still far away from everyone, and I didn’t have a support system. I was afraid of what would happen if I stayed and what would happen if I left. And now that I’ve been back to my hometown, it’s been better. But I would still say there are many times when my mental health takes a dip due to finances and thinking about the future. 

Q: Do you think mental health support is lacking for people on your path? If so, what resources would be helpful?

MU: Yes and no. The university has mental health services, but they don’t care. Some of my professors are hypocrites. They’re like, “Oh, the key to success is good mental health,” but then they say, “If you’re not doing good, it’s because you’re not focused enough. You have too many distractions.” But what if I am not distracted, and I just need time outside of classes to improve my mental health? Mental health services are there because they’re obligated to be there, not because they’re helpful. 

LM: No, I would say that there’s a lack of awareness of how important mental health is. Also, resources are not readily available or affordable to the public. I wish I could go out and seek therapy, but I know that it’s really expensive. And I know that’s what stops most people in similar situations from actually looking for help. 

While both MU and LM struggle with mental health, their challenges differ. MU’s stress stems from the demands of a pre-med track, while LM faces financial instability and uncertainty. Both find mental health support lacking—MU sees university services as performative, while LM struggles with inaccessibility and cost. 

There is a stark cry for help from both college and non-college individuals in the area of mental health. Millions suffer due to harsh expectations, lack of resources, and societal pressures. Your education path, unfortunately, does not save you from mental health struggles. This is a barrier whose causes and effects must be prioritized to help both parties succeed in life. 

Future Outlook 

Q: Do you feel like your current path is preparing you for long-term success, or do you ever reconsider your decision?

MU: I don’t think I’ve ever reconsidered college. Yes, it’s hard, but I know I can handle it. I’ll complain. I’ll cry about it, and I’ll stress myself for hours. But I know, at the end of the day, I’m going to be okay. But I do feel that the standards are changing, and people are expecting more. Standards are constantly changing, and we’re just doing what the other person was doing. So, I do hope college leads me down a good path. 

LM: I wouldn’t say my current path is setting me up for success yet. But I feel like I am on the correct path, as far as my choices have gone. I’m doing something right if I’m still here is the best way I can put it.

Q: What advice would you give to someone currently deciding between going to college or taking a different route?

MU: I would say, if you have a passion for learning and what you’re gonna learn, go to college! But, don’t do it just because your friend is doing it or your parents are telling you to do it. I know with parents it’s kind of tricky because they’re paying for it. If you know what you want to do, and you’re determined to do it—that drive is going to lead you far. So, if you have the passion, go for it. If you don’t, then don’t waste the effort.

LM: I would say, play it safe. If you’re not sure you want to go to college, use community college as a gateway. Maybe get your basics for a year or two, and if you find that it’s not for yourself, take a different life path. If I could go back, that’s how I would do it. 

The experiences of MU and LM highlight the complexities of post-high school life. While college can be a gateway to opportunity, it is not always accessible or necessary for success. Financial burdens and inadequate preparation often dictate a person’s path more than personal choice. Yet, whether one chooses college or not, the journey is shaped by resilience, adaptability, and the pursuit of stability.

Therefore, the real question isn’t just “college or not?” but rather, how can we guarantee that every path—college or not—leads to a fulfilling and sustainable future?