Should you spend 3 years and a ton of money to go to college, or do self-learning online for a fraction of the time and cost?
After all, it seems like more and more employers don’t even bother looking at the degree, and want experienced skilled people instead.
My answer is to do both. Get a degree if you can afford it, and don’t waste time playing games and other college-stereotype time wasters. However, build your social network, and make friends with high-performing students, especially outside your course. These relationships will grow to be very valuable in the long run.
During study, study properly – you don’t need an A+, but the point here is to train yourself in time management, and train your brain in being able to absorb new information. Most importantly, this teaches you about your own learning style, and you should use Youtube to learn how to learn more effectively. The activity of Learning is something that is most easily done, and trained, in your youth. “Earning” can be done at any stage in life, but Learning requires a young and healthy brain, which you will slowly lose as you age. Fact.
Outside of college, train other skills. Can be via online courses, Youtube, blogs, whatever. Get part-time jobs via Upwork, Fiverr, or direct connections, or even via FB/Linkedin groups, for the experience, not so much for the money. Learn coding or digital marketing or whatever you want, as long as you like it. Also take the time to explore new skills like design, music, sports, wall climbing, geography, geology, etc – both via computer and via physical activities. These things expand the mind and your perspective.
Now is not the time to focus on earning or working. Focus on Learning, Exploring, and Relationships (friends, network, and personal – explore them all). If you happen to be able to earn while learning, sure, no harm. But put your energies and focus in the right things.
As an ex-gamer who spent thousands of hours of gaming in my youth, I can tell you this for sure – mobile games and computer games are 70% a waste of time. It trains many things, yes, but lets not kid ourselves, it’s more for fun than anything else.
This is what I would tell myself if I could send a message 20 years into the past. What advice would you give to the kids of today?
