Most students go to college these days because it "seems like the right thing to do after high school". Some students are not college material, some are not interested in college and some cannot afford to go to college but most of them gave into peer and family pressure and enrolled in a college all the same.

Some of them graduated, some of them dropped out.

For the students who are certain that college is what they want to do, congratulations. However, for the souls who are filled with doubts and uncertainty, we have a question for you: Why are you going to college?

While you are trying to force an answer out of your brain, we’ll like to share a few reasons of why you should not go to college:

1.) It Does Not Prepare You for The Real World

What was it that our parents tell us over and over again? "Study hard, get good grades, get into a college, graduate and you’ll get a good job and get married and live happily ever after."

Really?

Life never promises any of us a rose garden. It doesn’t tell us that if you get straight A’s you will get a high paying job with fancy title, unbeatable perks, benefits and bonus and live a happy and prosperous life. It is filled with misery, disappointment, mistakes and frustrations and all the A’s you scored will not help you when you fall.

However, your ability to face your failure and rise from every fall will.

Now. Does college teach you how to handle failure?

2.) Job Opportunities

Theoretically, graduating from college should help you obtain suitable employment. Nonetheless, an annual study carried out by consulting firm Accenture states that only 67% of graduates have received jobs in their chosen fields.

Initially, the purpose of higher education was to create employees that make use of their intellect. It changed in 1970's when the college system successfully promulgated a whole generation into believing that college would provide high-level job opportunities. In the early stages, college graduates were actually getting high-level jobs. This encouraged more people to get a college degree and what happens when there is a high demand in the market?

A higher supply at compromised quality, of course. And so the tragedy unfolds.

3.) Job Readiness

Unless you are studying accounting, medicine, law, or computer science, your degree is not really worthy. According to Accenture, 80% of graduates assume that they will be trained on-the-job by the first employer. Unfortunately, more than 50% of graduates did not receive any training from their first employer.

The next question is : what should you do if you are not going to college?

1.) Educate Yourself

College is not the only place where you can obtain education. Internet is not just a platform for entertainment and social media but it also works as a school. Think of Youtube and Lynda.com. You can learn web development, marketing, business, photography, film making, design, video editing and basically anything under the sun.

As the American author and humorist Mark Twain said, don’t let schooling interfere with your education.

2.) Build a Business

Thanks to Internet, almost anyone can be an Internet-trepreneur. Those savings from part time jobs can be your start up cost, and with books and commitment, you can build a business online and start building your web traffic.

Sell cupcakes from Sabah? Be a costume maker in Jakarta? Provide party catering in Singapore?

Your choice.

3.) Build a Brand

Maybe you are passionate about fashion, anime, music, cooking, or anything else for that matter. If so, you might want to consider building your own brand as blogger or vlogger.

4.) Go to a Vocational School

Not everyone wants a white-collar job. There are roughly 3 million labor jobs available. 90% of them don't require a college degree, and many of them pay more than white-collar jobs.

All that is required is a skill, which, sadly, is something a college does not provide you with.

Or, alternatively, you might want to consider going to UnCollege, a gap year that equips you with useful skills and helps you build your personal portfolio.