From the very first day of high school, students are pressured about what they’ll be doing after they graduate. Both Marshall and FCPS offer plenty of support for finding the right college, figuring out how to pay for college, and writing the perfect essay to get into college. Parents pressure their kids for years about grades and test scores, all with the goal of getting them into a good college.
Of course, all of this preparation and help is valuable. But one message that gets obscured in the college frenzy is that college is not necessarily the right choice for every student, and it doesn’t need to follow directly after high school.
While a college degree is an admirable goal, not everyone needs or wants one. It’s certainly not crucial that students are accepted into traditional 4-year schools with sky-high tuition prices and stressful admissions processes.There’s no shame in going to community college or working part-time while earning a degree. You don’t need to go to the Ivy League to become a happy or successful person.
Another overlooked option is taking a year or two off between high school and college. There are lots of gap year programs that allow students to travel abroad and learn a language. Some organizations offer cohesive gap-year programs, but you can also travel by yourself, especially if you have relatives or friends abroad. You can also get a job and save up for college, or even just take some time off to be yourself and relax after the stress of high school. A gap year doesn’t have to be a picture-perfect resume-filler.
It’s not like every message students get is bad; an elite, 4-year college may truly be the best option for some people. And Marshall’s career center offers a multitude of opportunities to learn about and apply for internships, gap year programs, and other nontraditional options. But too often, college prep pushes one “right” path to success: a high GPA in high school, and then 4 years at the best college a student can get into. Parents, teachers, and administrators should all remember that there are many definitions of success and even more ways to get there.