Plan B: If Not College Than What?

Someone asked my opinion about what they should tell their child who didn’t want to go to college. Now if you asked my 17 year-old self, fresh out of high school and excited to go to college, I would’ve told this woman ‘make her go’. But ironically she asked me while I’ll was on studentloans.gov applying to consolidate my loans and checking out the new Public Service loan forgiveness program. I asked her "if her child didn’t want to go to college, what was her plan b"? The mother said her child wants to be a cosmetologist, but like some mothers, she didn’t want her to regret not going to college or try to go back when she’s older. I convinced the mother to at least let her visit some cosmetology schools like Empire Beauty School and Jean Madeline. I am all for following your dreams; what is the point in wasting years and money on something you’re not passionate about? And if she fails, at least she tried!

Don't get me wrong, I lovveeedd college. All the knowledge I obtained, friends I gained, cool professors, and let's not forget the parties! However, when all the fun was over, it was so hard to find a job. My mom was looking at me like ‘ok I supported and encouraged you throughout school, listened to you complain when you were stressed out, and kept pushing you to finish’. So she expected me to find a job as soon as I walked across the stage on graduation day; however, it took me 6 months to land an ok job. And by that time, Sallie Mae was calling our phones off the hook asking for outlandish payments. I just wish I could have done things differently.

One, I would've went to a college where the most money and scholarships were offered to me. Two, when those refund checks came in, instead of balling out in the bookstore buying expensive books, school shirts and hoodies; I would've saved majority of it. Three, I would've started out as undecided, because yes I was the student who changed her major three times and had to stay an extra year. I was even more salty when I couldn't get another Pell Grant. That's the reason I had to hit up Sallie Mae in the first place for a loan so I'd be able to finish school.

I just wish someone would have educated us more so we wouldn't be in such debt. We could've went to a community college for two years and then transferred. We could've taken out the proper amount of loans, if needed. And when the grace period was over, if you didn't have it, you could have deferred your loans until you had enough money to pay them instead of messing up your credit.

Then there are alternatives schools. I know plenty of people without college degrees who are making good money. If you’re interested in Nursing, try out a CNA or LPN program. If you’re interested in construction, how about becoming an electrician? And we all know technology jobs are where the big bucks are so check out ITT Tech. I just want to apologize to anyone who I looked down on, who didn’t go to college. Because if I knew, what I know now, maybe, just maybe, I would’ve taken a different route!