Do you think there is still value in getting a college degree? There are a lot of discussions centered on this topic, so today I am addressing this question and laying out three main reasons for my view.

Recently I have seen a lot of discussions on social media about whether or not there is still value in getting a college degree. From my perspective there is still value in a degree, even if you plan on being an entrepreneur vs. working as an employee for an organization.

Today I will be touching on three benefits that can come from having a college degree:

Networking and life skills
Most jobs require a degree
Insurance policy

In college you cross paths with a lot of people from all over the world and all walks of life. You have a lot of opportunities to have in-depth conversations with other students and professors on a daily basis. These connections and relationships go with you for the rest of your life. The people you interact with may be able to help you get jobs in the future and they can sometimes even become business partners.

College also teaches you basic life skills such as how to communicate, how to write, how to collaborate, how to manage your time and meet deadlines, etc….

Whether you agree with it or not, the fact is most jobs require a degree. According to the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce, 65% of jobs will require education and training beyond high school by the year 2020. Not having a college degree really limits your job opportunities.

Even if you want to go off on your own and become an entrepreneur a college degree is useful because it can act as an insurance policy. What happens if your business doesn’t work out? What happens if you hate being an entrepreneur 2 years in? Having a college degree insures that you have a backup plan.

College is not perfect and there are still a lot of areas that need to be improved, but it is certainly a good starting point to get you started in life. What do you think? Is college important or useless?

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