College vs. an alternative path · Synthesizer School

Sep '22 in Other

College vs. an alternative path

Ay guys! I've been thinking about this choice of going to college vs. trying to "fast track" my way into the knowledge based economy as a digital nomad/creator/software developer for a while now. I'd love to share some quick thoughts for anyone interested - and if anyone's got any opinions/feedback after, I'd be thrilled to hear em! (..and sorry if it gets a lil long.)

I drafted a whole piece for my newsletter about 3 weeks ago explaining why I wouldn't be going to college - but then proceeded to change my mind like 3 more times..sooo now I'm actually giving it a shot for at least 2 weeks (until the tuition is actually due .. hahah) - I'm calling it a 2 week college experiment.

Before going, I'm thinking of the pros of university as this:

structure for those who need it...and a decent bridge from HS to the real world
constantly surrounded by people your age (i.e a pretty good network, social benefits, etc.)
you fit in, and with a degree you have an increased level of credibility to most companies (as well as the rest of society as a so-called “educated person”)
4 year party...🤷🏼‍♂️

And the cons:

outdated learning model that's based on extrinsic motivators and gradually suppresses independent thinking, creativity, etc. (which you can feel free to argue down below .. especially if you've already gone)
limited freedom to take full control of your learning, seek job opportunities, travel, etc. (aka the stuff I did in my gap year). In other words, you aren't just paying for classes but also THE OPPORTUNITY COST associated with the fact that you could've gained an industry relevant internship that makes minimum wage but still puts you up at a NET POSITIVE of $35+ an hour.
pretty expensive tuition (although I'm pretty lucky to have Canadian tuition) compared to nearly any online program...or the countless free internet gems w/ YouTube, twitter, etc.

So put differently, I'll use a metaphor:

College is like the highway that's supposed to get you from one state to another... Basically everyone takes it and it's known as the "reliable route" but if you're not careful, you might get hit by a big ol traffic jam and question why you didn't go..say...off-roading. Highways also often have fat fee$.

Off roading on the other hand has higher upside. It's got increased uncertainty but can yield a far better path towards financial freedom and a happy life if you a) map out the right plan (with the right work), b) find some great people to ride with, and c) gain the right skills that will allow you to succeed and cruise way past the end of that highway/college route.

I also understand it's not binary, which is why I'm currently planning on taking just 3 university classes and studying JS on the side w/ Udemy (...like a hybrid approach, lol). I'm also seeking out more digital marketing work through upwork and even considering ski instructing in the winter.

So how would one make this off-roading path work? Any fellow off-roaders out there?

Right now I'm literally in the car up to UBC, Canada, and thinking of my approach to college like I'm taking that highway route for 2 weeks - which is currently stuck in a traffic jam - and waiting to decide whether or not I'll wanna take the off ramp. Call it a 2 week college experiment. Maybe I'll realize that college has lots to offer and I'll stay...or maybe not.

Regardless, I'll be seeking off-roading paths on the side and keeping this critical mind open... And for now, it's like I'm listening to some great off-roading podcasts (while on the highway) and calling up some potential off-roaders to see what might get schemed up...

Hopefully this resonates with some of y'all out there! I'd love to hear any of your guys' thoughts - especially if you have any similar experiences or know of any resources that could be helpful :) and thx for reading✌🏼

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