10 Themes for Why People Go To College

I don’t necessarily agree with all of these reasons, but an honest answer, based on 30 years working in colleges, leads me to share these 20 reasons. They are not in any particular order although I will say the last few are not some of the better reasons for going to college.

Money

1. To get a good job/career that pays better than I would make if I didn’t go to college.
2. To open the door for many jobs that require a degree to be hired, if not a requirement for advancement.

Relationships

1. To build and grow friendships with others who become a support network that help with job transitions and other major life challenges.
2. To be mentored by some faculty &/or staff who know how to best challenge and support me to become my best self

Identity

1. To have self-confidence that I have what it takes to earn a college degree.
2. To always be comfortable in social settings where discussions of where we went to college comes up.

Explore Safely

1. To try out various areas of interest and discover which ones bring me the most joy and future promise
2. To practice leadership in student organizations where mistakes are allowed, if not expected.

Learning

1. To become a better person by being exposed to knowledge that develops my ability to think better, communicate more effectively, and make a positive impact on the world.
2. To focus on going deep on a few major topics that I am excited to learn more about and maybe spend my life working on.

Freedom

1. To be more likely to function independently and not be dependent on some people for money, satisfaction, security, etc.
2. To be more likely to have a job/career that I enjoy doing because I was able to build credibility in that work because of my studies.

Long term Benefits

1. People with a college degree live longer than those without
2. People with a college degree are generally happier than those without

Generational Wealth

1. To show my children (or students), now or when I have them, what is important for them to do to care for themselves and their loved ones
2. To continue a family legacy that has allowed generations of relatives before me to set me up for this opportunity

Pleasing Others/Self

1. To make my parents, family and others happy that I earned a degree.
2. To have fun before I have to go into the work world and become a real adult

Lack of Good Alternatives

1. If I don’t go, I have to get a full-time job and get on the treadmill of life
2. I have no idea what to do, so maybe this will help?