As the years go by, a new trend has become increasingly visible. Young people tend to enroll in work-based training instead of attending universities. But the question is: Are they making the right decision?
Getting a job in today’s world is not an easy task, and with rising insecurities regarding availability for jobs after college, it comes as no surprise that more people chose work-based training instead of college. After all, there are many advantages to enrol in work-based training. First of all, it might be a better financial option. Going through college costs the average individual an incredible amount of money, and with the potential salary benefits not being guaranteed, you might aswell go with the more cost friendly option.
With the internet becoming more ubiquitous across the globe, the universities are no longer the only place to obtain knowledge. Even more obscure knowledge can be found a lot easier through a simple google search, which makes certain parts of the universities function obsolete. Furthermore, you do not have to attend a bunch of classes that are unnecesarry. Except for the diploma, most of the benefits of attending college can be self-taught at a cheaper price. Work-based training, on the other hand, provide concise information without wasting time going on tangents that will be of no use in work life. Work-based training also provides more hands on experience, which can be crucial in applying for jobs.
Despite all of the disatvantages discussed, there are certainly many advantages in going to college. For many, college serves as a “boot camp” for work. You learn many skills that it is hard to put a price on, like living away from home, or dealing with a spectrum of social problems that naturally arise with being exposed to a new enviroment. Furthermore, the degree that you end up with can make you qualified for industries that the work-based training can not. Lastly, college is fun, and attending college is an oppurtunity to create new friendships that can last a lifetime.
So, do the advantages of work based training outweigh the disatvantages? For me, it depends. If you desire a future career in a proffesion that needs an university degree, go to university. Likewise, if you need work-based training for the proffesion you want to work at, choose work-based training. If you are not sure what you want to do with your future, then the decision can become very hard. The bottom line is: your career path decides what you should enroll in, and if you are not sure, do not commit to a decision.