COLLEGE? YES? N0?  

 

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Colleges are out of reach for many, and the ROI (return on investment) for some is just not there.  Are you interested in repairing motorcycles and running your own shop?  Maybe you've already developed a successful app and would prefer a coding boot camp. That is fine too.  

 

There is nothing wrong with choosing a different path. If you need loans to attend university and don't want to go overseas to save the money, find another solution. Create a plan - a good one that covers all possibilities.  If college is not something you can or want to do, then so be it.  The internet is a gold mine; use it to design and plan your future. 

 

We've all heard stories. Young people traveling versus paying tuition or starting a new business instead. There is a plan for everyone. If you would like to meet and discuss solutions, contact tracey@getreadyu.com. It is your life; make things happen for yourself.  As Seth Godin has said, "No one is going to pick you. Pick yourself."

 

What might you do instead?

 

• Take a gap year.  This is your year to decide what you want to do. You don't have to travel the world to find a quality experience. Travel is good, but there is much you can do in your own backyard.  And yes, there is quite a bit of research to support the gap year concept. Europeans have done this for decades. 

 

• As mentioned on the homepage, there are many ways to "get ready." What about an entrepreneurship program in Silicon Valley?  For a fraction of what most universities charge per year, experience a rigorous program that takes you through every step of the entrepreneurial process. It's run by one of the most successful venture capitalists in the country - and you present your idea(s) to a panel of VCs at the end of your experience. Instead of paying hundreds of thousands in tuition at a traditional university, if your idea is good enough, you might walk away with money to start your own business.  

 

• What about leadership programs with national or international partnerships? Gather with others who lead non-profits, companies, and governments.  Share ideas.  Learn from those who are already "in the trenches."  

 

• What about a series of internships in various locations across the country or the globe? Spending a few years working for multiple companies or communities will give you hours and hours of first-hand experience.

 

• Coding might be of interest. There are many ways to learn this skill without pursuing a computer science degree. Computer science programs are great, but you have to pay for courses that may or may not be relevant.  Learn through alternative programs (online courses or coding bootcamps) and add a certification in business communication or project management. 

 

• Maybe you love gaming and animation.  These are popular skills, so there are many options. Any demonstrable skill can skip multiple steps/levels if there is proof of expertise.

 

• Maybe you want to help others.  The non-profit sector is now the third largest employer in the US.  People like you should be able to attend school for free, but regrettably, this seldom happens. There are programs, certifications, and volunteer options to build your resume. This group continues to develop various paths, so alternatives are available.   

 

• Art.  There are programs online and in person - all across the globe.  There is nothing like "doing" if you want to create for a living. Ask yourself what you would prefer - spending $50,000-$100,000 on a college degree, or traveling Europe and attending some of the best workshops in the world? Art, like many other disciplines (music, coding, writing, etc.) is a demonstrable skill. The proof is in your product, so if you have an expertise and know how to self-promote, you have an income.

 

• Green construction? Yep. There are programs for that too: solar panel installation, aerated concrete block construction, new ways to insulate homes, etc.  It's all there. 

 

• Graphic design?  There are reasonably priced programs like Austin's Austin Creative Department which prepare you for the world of design/graphic art. There are similar programs elsewhere as well. The call is yours.

 

• Maybe you enjoy comic book creation or drawing. There are programs for that too, and they teach you entrepreneurship, accounting, etc.  

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• What about certifications or MOOCs offered through professional associations and educational organizations?  Look at LinkedIn profiles and see what certifications are of value (or required) within certain fields.

 

• Take writing courses online for free. Write and/or self-publish books.  

 

• What do Master Sommeliers do? Read about it here.  Trailer for the documentary, Somm

 

• FREE online college is one answer.  At University of the People, you only pay when you complete tests; the fee is minimal. If you have to work, can't afford college, and have the discipline to complete an online degree - there are affordably priced options (especially overseas). AVOID for-profit online. Always check to confirm a program is an accredited, non-profit college or university. The for-profit online sector is not held in high regard by employers unless you can demonstrate your skills (coding, for example). 

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• ​Apprenticeships anyone? Check out the US Government's site

 

• MBA? What if you have an undergraduate degree and want to gain/build skills employers actually value? Consider something like Seth Godin's altMBA. Check him out.  Or Josh Kaufmann has an interesting site which questions the content in MBA programs and whether that same content can be learned from 99 books used in programs around the globe. Once again, University of the People has an accredited MBA program, which costs approximately $2,500.

 

As you can see, there are many options. Skills like motorcycle repair, welding, plumbing, and other traditional trades are solid options (and difficult for a robot/computer to do!). Don't let the college branding scare you. Start strategizing. If you would like help to develop your plan, feel free to contact Tracey (tracey@getreadyu.com). There are more options than you might think. Many more. 

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Great book (or documentaries) if this interests you:

 

• Hacking Your Education: Ditch the Lectures, Save Tens of Thousands, and Learn More Than Your Peers Ever Will, by Dale J. Stephens

• The Art of Self-Directed Learning: 23 Tips for Giving Yourself an Unconventional Education, by Blake Boles

• The College Conspiracy, this documentary is worth watching and will help you understand why it's best to choose the best fit vs "brand" (and before that - determine what you know you want to study so you finish!)

• Excellent Sheep, great book from a professor at Yale who was shocked to find so little critical thinking in his classroom. 

 

 

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