Costs of College: Making the Best Choices

In this past Sunday’s Pittsburgh Tribune-Review article (link at end), I was interviewed about the impact of the high cost of college on education decision-making. Though I commented on the realities that most can no longer afford to go to college to “find themselves,” I do believe that a life choice should be more than simply a well-paying, in-demand job.  Yes, a person needs to know job market information, but if you are miserable or unsuccessful, that’s really not enough for the long term.  A poor career choice can negatively affect your relationships as well as mental and physical health. There are many education paths and levels that can lead to success and happiness.

Making grounded education and career choices involves FIRST looking at yourself in terms of interests, skills, values and personality and THEN exploring what is out there that relates specifically to you, not the whole world of work.  Career counseling helps individuals do this through insightful conversation, career research, and exercises, including career inventories (which by the way are not meant to ”tell you what you should be” even if you wish they would!).

I love helping high school students through retirees answer the question “what do I want to be when I grow up.”  And if you are thinking of going back to school, it is especially critical to be clear and grounded before investing time and money.

Speaking of money, HERE IS THE LINK TO THE TRIBUNE-REVIEW ARTICLE.  Lots of good data there!