This is actually kind of revolutionary to consider alternatives to college. But we would have to agree over the fact that the education has become quite like a machine working and we have been studying the same thing since years. And since all the companies ask for experienced employees, why not to pursue a course which belongs to your passion and can yield you a job too?
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Top 10 Alternatives to College
The section hence is comprised of the 10 options which can be considered as the college alternative. I know this sounds quite risky and weird but there are other things to pursue which can be completed in a lesser amount of time and yield results too. It can be termed as having a practical life more than the theoretical one.
1. Exploration
Exploration or basically traveling is what comes first in mind when people ask that what to do instead of college. I mean come on, there is no way the books can let you know about the practical knowledge without you getting out of your comfort zone and doing something exceptional.
But of course, traveling is going to be a lucrative thing but you can manage it somehow. You can enjoy some services in exchange of favors like stay at a lodge instead of hotel which is cheaper.
Or you can eat at a road-side café in exchange of some work rather than dining in some fancy hotel. And while you are still wondering that how to pay for everything else, you can rather start a traveling blog or a YouTube channel too. In this way, you will be earning while simultaneously exploring around the globe or your nation itself.
2. Entry Level Job
An entry level job is something which brings a lot of experience in one’s life. There is no denial in the fact that you find a better job when you complete your college but this is going to take 4 years at least. Along with this, the expenses of studying in a college is touching the sky now.
I think this is the best alternative to college as there are companies offering jobs to high school graduates and hence you can apply for one.
So, by the time your friends will complete their college and opt for some other jobs or higher studies, you would have a career which is financially sound and stable. If nothing, this is surely going to bring you a lot of experience which is quite beneficial for starting your own business or switching to other jobs.
For entry level jobs, you must check an article on 10+ Best Online Jobs for Students to Earn Money from Home.
3. Volunteering
Now of course, you guys must be thinking that who would want to volunteer for programs rather than attending college? But trust me, volunteering for works like cleaning drive, rescue operations, rehab programs is such a life changing experience that you will totally forget about the rest of things.
Sometimes finding yourself is the most important thing rather than enrolling into things you have no idea where will lead you to.
You might find it forced or super awkward at first but it will introduce you to a totally different world that you have always seen but never been a part of. It will give you the time to think over what you actually want to do in life and will help you in taking sound and better decisions too.
4. Vocational School
So, most of you people must have heard of vocational school or trade school as they popularly known as. I think this one is the other options besides college which can be perceived without even upsetting your parents at all. You can find a wide variety of skill being taught in such kind of schools.
In fact, according to the stats the average salary of someone who has attended a vocational school is only a bit less than someone who is a college graduate.
So, without even putting your money on fire, you can actually learn a lot of skills like welding, plumbing, masonry, photography, metal work and a lot more like these ones. I personally believe that it is way sensible to get yourself into such schools rather than into colleges.
5. Serve Your Nation
If you have no zeal towards studying further then the best thing you can do with yourself is to serve the nation you are living in. Getting into the military training is the best thing you can think of doing if you do not want to enroll in a college.
I mean of course, there would be few or most probably no one thinking of doing this in your high school but you can be the one for sure.
Now of course, talking in terms of the practical aspects, you get a salary which is quite amazing and of course great security of your job too. The cost of living would be equal to almost none as everything comes under your allowances plus you get free health for not only you but your entire family too.
6. Become an Entrepreneur
An entrepreneur might sound a fancy word to you so let’s just say that if you think college isn’t for me then you can start a business of your own. Come on, jobs are not for everyone and some people just cannot tolerate a boss governing them all the time.
So, you can rather come up with your own idea of a start-up and implement it while you are still young and very much energetic towards making a difference in life.
In fact, most of the popular entrepreneurs are either college dropouts or never even attended college. But of course, this profession has its own struggles and ups and downs but if you can pass the initial stage then you can surely succeed with your hard work and perseverance.
7. Attend Community Colleges
Dedicating 4 years of your adult life into colleges can be a big deal and if you are not able to do so then you should better think about joining community colleges. The fees is much cheaper plus you can also find some community colleges which has no expenses at all.
Also, attending a community college keeps you closer with home which makes you transition period very smooth and nice.
Community colleges also gives you enough time to think about the choices you want to make in life. You can develop an interest at this time and start thinking about pursuing it further. This gives you a better chance to understand yourself and your expectations from this life.
8. Become an Artist
There are people who are tired of saying that I don’t want to go to college and I think their parents should not force them into it too. The best thing such high school graduates can do is to pursue their career as an artist.
There are tons of options available on the internet to polish your skills and even find a job too. An artist is not necessarily be about drawing and sketching only but can be about writing, acting and more.
You can get yourself a freelance or full-time job through this profession very easily and this will only polish your skills further to a professional level. Being a musician, painter or sculpture just needs passion and nothing else.
9. Free Online Classes
As an adult you must be completely familiar with the perks of internet in your life and you need to use the same for yourself too. Internet provides you the option to attend online classes and most of them are available for completely free.
In fact, even if they charge certain amount then too it is way lesser than your actual college fees so basically it is a win-win situation for you.
From music, drama, painting, sketching to coding, web development, website making and more, there are all sorts of classes available on internet. And you can also get your certificate through it which can be used while applying for a job.
10. Freelancing
You must have heard of people pursuing freelancing as their medium of earning a nice amount so that they can pay for various things while attending college. But do you even know that freelancing can become your mainstream career too?
There are people making great income through this medium of employment and it does not even include waking up early or going to an office and becoming robots.
In fact, freelancing is by far the best college alternatives in this list. There are plenty of options available online like writing, coding, blogging, website development, teaching and a lot more. You just need to find a passion and start finding for the suitable jobs for it. You can find various freelancing sites to get started with. I have written an article about freelance writing jobs for beginners.
Conclusion
The key behind finding things which can replace the education we receive in colleges is to focus on your hobbies and what interests you the best. Instead of studying 10 different things you can rather focus on just one which not only increases your accuracy in it but efficiency too. As a result you are more likely to get yourself stable and settled at an early age.
