Going to college for the wrong reasons?

[usdmario]

I am a college student finishing up my second year and i still have absolutely no idea what i want to to with my life. this fact got me thinking is it wrong to get a college education just to have a high paying job? because for me it would be a way of saying that you dont trust God to provide you with everything you need in life. i just want to find out what other people think about this.

 

[kage_ar]

A college degree does not guarantee a high paying job.

Get an education for the sake of being educated, learn and use the brain God gave you to accoplish much for HIS kingdom.

 

[RobHom]

One of the first things I learned as a child was: God helps them that help themselves.

I can fairly well assure you that if you go and sit in the middle of the desert in the summer and take no water with you and stay there a couple of days…there’s a very high probability that you will become a statistic and not return.

Unless you “specialize” in a field that has heavy demand for more people…its not all that likely that you will get a high paying job after graduation… Merely possessing a “degree” is not a guarantee of success and wealth…there are numerous degree holders that barely make ends meet.

The greater question that you might consider dwelling upon…is “what can I do in the future to leave the world a better place”?

Do you have any particular set of skills or abilities that you use regularly or work at that give you pleasure or a feeling of achievement? Is there anything you feel strongly about?

There is nothing “sinful” about making a good living, or being rich, the sin comes out of either the love of money or using it improperly… Some wealthy people are very generous and support many charities and foundations that help others…and without those people…many others would suffer or live much more poorly.

 

[buffalo]

No matter your decision, you can be a lifelong learner.

The internet is a huge library that gives you instant access to a wealth of learning.

Distance learning will be more popular in the future.

Commit to learning that will help you fulfill God’s plan for you.

 

[apromisemade]

I pretty much agree with the above posts. I had to wait 8 months before starting school again and am now, technically, a second semester freshmen. It’s been a wild ride for these first couple weeks, but I know this is where I belong because I love learning new things, growing intellectually as a person, discovering things I wouldn’t have thought of other wise, and being in a community of people who are just as anxious to make the world a better place as I am. I am a firm believer in doing the best you can with what God has given you.

 

[PoliSciProf]

There is some good advice here. College isn’t for everyone. However, we ARE a society that is very credential conscious and many jobs which really do not need four years of higher education now are only filled by college grads. This is one of the reasons why college grads make more money and have a lower unemployment rate. I don’t like this credential trend but it is fact.

You will have more than five careers (not jobs) before you retire.

I often ask my advisees think about what they know they DON’T want to do and work from there. I am sure you college has a counseling office with personnel and software to help you think this through.

By the way, there are a number of accredited schools for specific careers like casino work, deep sea diving, mechanic, cooking, massage therapist, etc, etc. Be sure that if you choose this route, your program is accsct certified. accsct.org/

Don’t forget the various building trades (plumbing, carpentry, etc.) and the military as carreer paths.

Finally, never consider education as purely for making money. And, never stop learning and being curious no matter what you do to make a living.

 

[jman507]

I don’t think going to college just to get a high paying job necassarly wrong. If that job fits your strengths and talents, and you have a certain call for it, then by all means do it. If your sole purpose is just to get a high paying job, I don’t know exactly if that is sinful, I would say it is not prudent. Why spend all those resources if it just ends up that you hate the job?

You don’t have to go to college to get an education, and you don’t have to go to college to get a good job. College though will give you are particular education (and each general type of subject will give you another particular education), and it will give you particular skills that may be needed for certain good jobs. It can be a lot of things to a lot of people, and some should go down another avenue completely.

If you don’t know, then start figure out what you like and don’t like; and your stengths and weaknesses. It’s a discerning process, and sometimes it’s easiest to cut away the stuff you know is not right. Then make tentative plans to see how it works.

 

[puzzleannie]

I am a college student finishing up my second year and i still have absolutely no idea what i want to to with my life. this fact got me thinking is it wrong to get a college education just to have a high paying job? because for me it would be a way of saying that you dont trust God to provide you with everything you need in life. i just want to find out what other people think about this.

the purpose of a college education is to become acquainted with the great minds of human history, to share in their discourse, to form and to inform one’s self, to finish the task of adolescence and young adulthood-forming identity and learning the art of friendship. Most of all it is about growing in health intellectually, psychologically, emotionally and spiritually.

There are other roads to this growth, but college is not job training or vocational school, it should be life school.

You are there to discern your vocation, and from that, your career, life work and purpose. I am sure your college provides, because every school does, people trained to assist with that discernment, so I hope you take advantage of that gift.

How does God help us and supply our needs? Scripture tells us, when we are infants and children, he helps us as infants and children require, on food suited to them. When we are adults he treats us as such, and helps us learn to help ourselves and most of all how to help others, because that is how he extends his goodness to them. Learn during this time in college how God wants you to use your talents and gifts to help others. Commonly that is by pursuing a career, for which you will be paid enough to support yourself and your family, nothing wrong with that. If you find this path brings you excess wealth, regard it as another opportunity to extend your gifts to others.