3 Great Alternatives to College

Does this sound like your plan?

Graduate high school and pick a degree and a college, graduate in four years while gaining experience through internships, volunteering at charities, and joining as many student groups as possible…

No?

Me neither.

Let’s face it, not everyone has enough money to afford the price tag on college, let alone the extra expenses that would cover doing all of these unpaid activities listed above and graduating in four years. Some of us would need to have a job throughout our studies and it could take longer than the “traditional” four years.

And this is hardly a surprise considering that a college degree is more expensive now that it has ever been.

Not only that, but some of us simply may not have the time do this.

And it shouldn’t be the case that in order to get a good job you need a college degree.

There are PLENTY of options out there that require no degree at all and will get you just as much money – possibly even more.

And don’t go anywhere, because we have them listed below to help you find perfect alternatives to college that may interest you.

While going to college may be the right choice if you have a specific profession in mind that you want to do, too many people simply go because they think they have to.

Believe me, you don’t have to.

As long as you have a plan – and let me tell you, any plan that saves you thousands of dollars in loans has all the potential in the world to be a GOOD plan.

And alternatives to college will help you save this money and turn your plan into a “master” plan.

But they will also save you time, allowing you to start your career four to eight years before those attending college. That means you rack up the dough while they keep stacking up debt.

Best of all, they offer you real–world experience – something that colleges seem to lack significantly.

So, here they are, the best alternatives to college that you should know about.

​​Many people go to business or entrepreneurial school because they want to start a business.

But this is all wrong.

Going to business school will only teach you to work in a business for someone else, and entrepreneurial school will teach you valuable things, but will just reinforce for four years that you want to start a business instead of you actually starting a business.

What could you do instead?

Skip college and just start a business.

In today’s technological world, this is easier than ever. There are lots of businesses that you can start today with very little initial funding. Here are a few of them:

I realize that this may not be for everyone, but they do have MANY positions that are suitable for very different people.

And joining the military is simply one of the best alternatives to college out there – and not just because they’ll help you pay to go if you ever want to. Joining the military teaches you valuable skills that will follow you throughout life that will help you filter through your goals, identify how to achieve them, and succeed in doing so.

These skills could provide you a job for when you get done with your service, even without the benefit of having many companies that prefer to hire you over others.

Or, you may just consider making the military your career.

It’s not a bad decision, especially because you get to retire at such a young age if you start early. But here are some other good benefits of joining the military that make this one of the best alternatives to college:

This one may not be glamorous, but it’s appealing because it offers stability and a paycheck every two weeks.

And, if you’re high enough on the latter, paid sick time, benefits, and more.

I’ve been there myself.

I worked many hours at fast food restaurants – for instance, working my way up from “team member” making pizzas to “store manager” making sure food orders are put in on time and schedules are made with everyone’s preferences in mind.

Sure, it was hard work, but so is anything. And yeah, I put in long hours to make the money I needed, but it was worth it when I got that paycheck.

And some of the best memories were made at these places, because the people you work with are right next to you and it’s hard not to break out and have a good time once in a while.

Because at these kinds of jobs, you don’t sit in separate cubicles or offices every day. You’re on your feet, moving and grinding at all times. But some people – like me – prefer this to a normal job where you’re sitting for six to eight hours, only standing when you need to use the bathroom.

So, if you already have established experience at a restaurant or clothing store and think you have what it takes to move up the corporate ladder, it could be one of the best alternatives to college that you could choose.

Having alternatives to college really depends on what you’re willing to bring to the table.

If you’re entrepreneurial and have a determined character to get your business off the ground, then consider starting a business.

If you still have a determined character but aren’t inclined to start your own business – or you simply need some help to get there – the military is always a good option to take.

But, if you’re already working at a job and there’s room for improving your career within, it’s not a bad idea to stay there, work through the lower–end jobs, and get up to the corporate leadership. At almost every restaurant job I worked at, the upper–positions were oftentimes held by people who began as simple dishwashers or team members.

And if you’re trying to avoid the debt that going to college brings, these alternatives to college are great places to start your career journey.

Don’t stop looking at just one! Maybe, in order to start your business idea, you need some start–up money. That would mean you would have to combine an everyday job with your goal to open your business.

So, just be sure you know what your goal is and stick to it!