Most people today believe that college is a must—if not for the
learning, as the hunting license for a decent job. So they don’t look
too closely at what colleges provide vs. other post-secondary options,
such as apprenticeships or the military.
Many respected entities have tried to warn students about college. For example, the cover story of the August 2016 issue of Consumer Reports was headlined, "I Kind of Ruined My Life by Going to College."
The Great College Degree Scam, in the prestigious Chronicle of Higher education’
reported that 60 percent of the increased number of college graduates
from 1992 to 2008 work on jobs require high school diploma.
In my private practice, I suggest that certain students would be wise
to at least defer college, but the college-is-a-must meme has been too
deeply implanted by high school counselors, the media, and the
very-convinced parents:
“You earn a million dollars more! (A canard—see my article below.) Besides, what
would I tell my friends, that my child, who could have gotten into a
brand-name college isn’t going to college at all, or ‘just’ to a
community college?”
Despite that, as we approach the May 1 deadline, the date most
colleges require prospective students to plunk down their commitment
money, I believe I should take a shot at giving you pause. I do that as my contribution today to PsychologyToday.com.
There are obvious ways to improve your prospects, for example, being
smart, expert, and hardworking, but you already know that. My PsychologyToday.com article today
lists less obvious ways to maximize your prospects.
As today's PsychologyToday.com contribution today, I offer an interview with a 19-year old who is reclusive.
As today's PsychologyToday.com contribution, I offer the latest in a series of profiles on reclusive people.
I've been career and personal coach to over 5,000 clients. And the longer I do it, the
less sure I am that there are clear-enough answers. Of course, it could
simply be that I'm an inadequate counselor.
In any event, as my PsychologyToday.com contribution today, I offer two poems I've written that acknowledge that lack of clarity.
Here is the latest in my PsychologyToday.com short-short stories.
As my PsychologyToday.com article today, I offer another short-short story with psychological and practical implications. This one is about a 65-year-old VP who loses his job and takes a job as a busser.
