By The Princeton Review
Do you have to finish your college degree to be successful? I don’t think it’s fair to say that you must have a college degree to be successful. There are plenty of people without college degrees who are doing just fine – Bill Gates comes to mind! Still, for the majority of us, completing a college degree will be very impactful.
Prerequisites
Perhaps you remember that you couldn’t sign up for Trigonometry until you finished Geometry or English 2 before you completed English 1 to use a more obvious example. For many employers, a college degree is seen as a prerequisite. Without a completed degree, you are shutting out a lot of potential jobs and careers. In today’s job market especially, you will have a tough time getting an interview much less an offer without your college degree.
Show me the money
The statistics don’t lie. College grads make more than those without a degree. In fact, college graduates will earn $300,000 more over their lifetime than a non-college grad. That’s some real money! College graduates start off at a higher wage, so your earning potential is built off of that higher base. You have a nice opportunity to parlay that as you continue working your way up the ranks.
I don’t want to get ahead of ourselves, but here’s something that takes into consideration both prerequisites and show me the money – grad school. If you want to get an MBA or perhaps pursue some other graduate degree, you will need to complete you college degree before you can apply. There are exceptions, yes, but most advanced degrees require a Bachelor’s degree. Those with a Masters earn more than those with just a college degree and you can add about $180,000 to your lifetime earnings with a Masters.
Experience
Don’t discount the experience you get by completing your degree. You will learn how to set goals, work with others on projects, and research needed resources to complete your assignments. This is valuable experience that will pay off both in life and when you go to look for a job.
Accomplishment
Also don’t forget about the tremendous sense of accomplishment you will receive when you stand at graduation. You will have accomplished a lofty goal and don’t let anyone tell you that a college degree is no big deal. Why do you think those employers are paying more money for a college grad? Remember that an unfinished degree could lead someone to perceive that you are unmotivated or that you lack follow through. Whether that’s true or fair doesn’t matter. Don’t let them think that about you. Get back in class and I’ll see you at graduation!
For more resources from The Princeton Review, visit their website: http://www.princetonreview.com/