Soon to be dropout wrote:
I'm in my freshman year of college and am ready to drop out. Given the jobs situation in this country, I do not feel that college is worth the expense, and I don't feel comfortable taking out the loans. I'm thinking a trade might be a better option. Does anyone have any advice as to what trades are the most viable? I could see myself fixing cars, fixing computers, or jumping on a commercial fishing boat somewhere. Thoughts?
Dude, I'm all for people learning a trade and doing that instead of college, but NOT for the reason you are giving. College doesn't HAVE to be that expensive. Here in Ohio, let's say you went 2 years to a community college and 2 years at THE Ohio State University.
Columbus State Community College - $3,074.00 x 2 = $6,148
THE Ohio State University - $8,676 x 2 = $17,352
Grand Total for a degree in this way (and you can still do WAY better than this even) = $23,500.
I get that there's also books to buy and time away from a full-time job where you might make some halfway decent money, but you'd start out as a VERY lowly paid apprentice in a trade job, and it would be very easy to make up the money lost with a job you'll get with a college degree (unless you're a social worker or something like that).
College graduates make more, have better insurance, live longer...just on average have better lives.
Read this -
http://usgovinfo.about.com/od/moneymatters/a/edandearnings.htmThe article states lots of figures including:
"In 1999, average annual earnings ranged from $18,900 for high school dropouts to $25,900 for high school graduates, $45,400 for college graduates and $99,300 for the holders of professional degrees (medical doctors, dentists, veterinarians and lawyers)."
So, in 1999, a college graduate made almost $20,000 more than a high school graduate. Safe to bet it's even more now.
You can find a 4-year university for $2,000 a year if you want to (and even lots less than that). You can work part-time while you go to school. You can take 6 years to graduate if you want so that you can make more money along the way.
If it's the WORK you want, do the trade route. If it's MONEY, stay in school. College graduates make more money and the work is easier.