Attending college isn’t right for everyone, so how do you know if going to college is right for you? On today’s episode of Be Better, Donald talks with English professor and long-time college admissions counselor, Dr. Allen Grove, about the pros and cons of higher education.

What should I know before I pursue higher education?

• Ask yourself what type of career you want to pursue - is it a career that requires going to college? Depending on what you want to pursue, a trade school might make more sense. There are also certificate programs for some types of careers.
• The students who aren’t succeeding in college are often struggling with motivation and curiosity. If they don’t understand why they are in college it is hard to get motivated to do their coursework, because they don’t see the point of it.
• Think about what skills you want to develop, and why you want a degree.

What are ways Allen helps students identify their purpose?

• Many students don’t know what they want to do. The majority of college students change their majors.
• Allen recommends going to career services during your first year of college. A lot of students have never heard of many of the careers and majors that their school offers.
• A liberal arts degree is a great option as you start to identify what you want to focus on.
• Many students are chasing a certain degree because of the potential salary, but this ends up leading down a path they don’t enjoy.

Other pros of a college education

• You are learning how to learn.
• Leaving home and living on your own.
• Allen has seen that in some ways it's more valuable to learn how to live on your own than some of the coursework.
• College helps you to build a network.

What should you look for in a university?

• Not all universities are created equal.
• If a college is struggling to meet enrollment goals, they may not have the resources to meet your needs.
• Apply to more than one school and shop around for your financial aid. Financial aid varies greatly from school to school.

Is the debt worth it?

• People who get a 4-year degree earn on average 1.2 million dollars more in their lifetime than those who do not. Put your debt into perspective.
• If you shop around and are savvy with your choice, the financial burden doesn’t have to be bad.
• There are around 40 schools that have loan-free financial aid.
• If you are a high-achieving student and you apply to a smaller college you can receive significant merit aid.
• Community college is always a great option.

One piece of advice from Allen

• Make sure you know why you want to go to college, and that the schools you are looking at offer what you want.
• Pay attention to money.

Be Better Episode Resources:

• Connect with Allen Grove on LinkedIn.
• Follow our host, Donald Kelly, on Instagram and Tik Tok.
• Like, subscribe, and listen to the Be Better podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and anywhere else podcasts can be found.

You can help build a better world.

Help Better Homes and Gardens fight homelessness across the world by donating at bhgre.com/newstory. With a goal to raise $100,000 by the end of 2022, your contributions will go directly to supporting those affected and helping build a world with homes for everyone.

This episode is brought to you in part by Better Homes and Gardens® Real Estate.

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