Yes, You Can Make Money Without College

Billions of dollars are spent each year on college. Young people and old people, some with jobs and some looking for jobs, all stream towards the doors of these institutions with dreams in their hearts. What does college do for them? Their goal – a certificate stating that they have the precious “degree” – which is their key to a great income.

Higher education is such an ingrained part of our culture that its hard to imagine life without it. But in truth, all the degree represents is one thing – legitimacy. Why should a prospective employer take the rather minimal risk of hiring an inexperienced young adult without knowing if they are any good at the task they are being entrusted. With the degree, there is the sense of legitimacy for the position. After all, if this person wasn’t any good, how do they have their degree?

Ultimately, its not the degree that gets you the good salary, its the legitimacy that comes along with it. So why bother with the college? Get the legitimacy for the position without the tens of thousands of dollars in tuition and hours of studying. Here’s a few college alternatives that can get you a great degree of legitimacy towards your great job:

1. Open a service oriented business. If you open a roofing business, people assume you must know how to do roofing – after all, if you didn’t know anything you wouldn’t be in business!
2. Apprentice yourself to a professional. There are many service people looking for help. Even if they can’t pay a lot, the training you can get from it is far more valuable than sitting in a classroom while paying for the privilege.
3. Make it your next hobby. Instead of going to cooking school, get some hands on practice by cooking for shul functions, school teas, tzedaka organizations, and simchos. If you are any good, you’ll get lots of buzz, which certainly provides great legitimacy.

The last thing a kollel yungerman going to work needs is to have to sit through years of college until they can get a job. If you realize that all it provides is legitimacy, you can greatly shorten the process by reaching for that legitimacy in easier, more productive ways.

Yes, You Can Make Money Without College

Filed Under: Career Advice

Tags: college • degrees • great income • university