What Makes College Worth It

By Anthony Russomanno
The Princeton Review

I started college to get a good job in order to build my financial worth. I found a major for the next four years (actually two since I entered college undecided) and tried to stay on track to finish. There are many reasons why you should go to college, besides just getting a job. 

You’re not just investing in a college education. You’re investing in you. And you owe it to yourself (and whoever is footing your tuition bill) to take advantage of every opportunity available to you. 

College is meant to be one of the best times of our lives. It’s a transition period that delivers essential life lessons upon us — like how to successfully move away from adolescence (or your parents).

Though this is probably the only time in our lives when we can justify missing class just because you went on a road trip (not that I’m necessarily advocating this), it’s good to remember that there is more to college than sheer irresponsibility. This is a venue that enables self-expression and self-discovery; this is a time that you can learn about yourself before you are stuck with all of the responsibilities of true adulthood.

Grow Your Self Worth To Gain More Net Worth

This is what I advocate. Don’t base your self-worth on external sources—like what others think or even your academic outcomes. Instead, focus on internal source such as adhering to moral standards. Pick something larger than yourself such as what you can create or contribute to others. What really matters in college is who meets whom, and when. It’s the people, not the programs that make a difference. Sure take your grades seriously but not too seriously. There’s a 0% chance you’ll learn everything you need to know in classrooms. You’ll need to find and create your own lessons. So, when Friday night rolls around, pack up your books, head out of the library, and have some fun, as an individual assignment or exam won’t significantly impact you in the long run. Think perspective.

So what is this all about?  It’s about YOU and your experiences. I break it down into 5 areas:

1. Relationships
2. Curiosity for Learning and Overall Happiness
3. "Succeeding" Professionally
4. Challenging Your Beliefs – Becoming the real YOU
5. Finding Your Passion - what really gets you excited about working

Maximize Your Opportunities

To really make college worth the real or figurative cost is to take advantage of everything a school has to offer. How might you go about getting the most bang for your tuition buck?

Build Solid Relationships

Try to get to know a lot of people your first year, when everyone is looking for friends. Most students don’t make their friends in classes.  It helps to join a large high-contact activity, like a sports team or choir, where people see each other at least twice a week. It only takes two or three close friends and one or two great professors to have a fulfilling college experience.

• As a freshman, live in one of the dorms with the long hallways, multiple roommates and communal bathroom, where you’ll have to bump into a lot of different people every day.
• In choosing classes, pick the teacher over the topic. Contact with one great professor may send you in a new direction.
• Join a club. You can even create your own! Campus activities offer real-world experience in things like event planning and management, exposure to new and unique fields, and the application of classroom lessons, not to mention plenty of social time with people who share your interests.
• Study in groups. One of the best ways to understand complex course material is for students to do their homework independently and then to study in small groups of four or five once or twice a week.

Embrace Your Differences

Doing what everyone else does will not mean success. You have to do things differently. In fact, doing what the most other people are doing means that you’re competing with more people for grades, scores, and jobs. If you choose a more niche major or area of interest, you’re a bigger fish in a smaller pond.

Carpe Diem

I am sure many of you heard this – Seize The Day.  Here are suggestions for growing your self-worth through this mantra.

• Mix It Up: Take a mix of courses. Students are often advised to get their requirements out of the way first and then take the classes they need to complete their major, saving the fun elective for senior year. A better way to begin is to take a mix that includes some required courses and others that pique your interests and stimulate your imagination.Do as much as you can to get out of the conventional classes and study some weird or interesting stuff.
• Take classes outside of your major. College is the time to discover that your interests may not be as steadfast as they seem — make the most of the classes that your school offers, even if they fall outside of your discipline.
• Talk to people you never would've encountered or talked to outside of college. This is not high school anymore, where you are confined to your "clique." Get to know people from all walks of life, from different cultures and parts of the world, with different lifestyles and viewpoints. This is the "real world", and you will be doing that in the workplace.

Network & Build Your Skills

College is a great place to network with both instructors, and other students. You might be surprised at some of the doors that can be opened by people you’ve met in college.

• Take advantage of volunteer opportunities.  Volunteer opportunities are always the best place to start when looking to get involved in your new university. A great way to meet potential employers, polish skills, and have fun with classmates.
• Go get an applicable part-time job, and start impressing people with your work ethic, maturity, and eagerness to learn ASAP. This is what pays off most.
• Get out and learn about the community around your campus. Know your demographic and explore it a bit. You may see new restaurants or hotels going up, encounter new neighborhoods that would be great to experience a bit of the local culture. All of this will help you be successful when leaving school, or even help you have a little more fun while you are here. The college bar doesn’t count.

And I Will Leave You With…

• You will be happier and more successful the longer you work on what makes you happy and keeps you interested, so find that area as soon as possible.
• Only work for people who you respect and who respect you, and take the care to help you grow and learn. They may not be easy to find, but it’s worth it. Don’t settle on this. When you find one, work your face off for them to earn their respect, and earn more opportunities. This is the greatest investment of time and effort you can make.
• Ask for what you want. Jobs, opportunities, introductions… just ask for it. Nothing bad can come of this.
• Read, listen, and do things outside of what’s required of you for classes. Let curiosity guide you as much as you can, so you’re always passionate about what you’re learning about.
• Trust your gut. When in doubt, call your parents.

And, once you’ve met all of those requirements, go ahead and graduate.

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