Intro

I've been out of school for a good while, but I still know what's up because I mentor a lot of younger guys in HS. Mostly Juniors and Seniors, but all the principles still stand. You guys have your whole lives ahead of you. Even if you fuck up now it's not the end of the world by any means, but having a good start now can be the springboard to a great life. I want you guys to understand your options.

Body

School isn't a place for smart people. I don't say this to copy Rick from Rick and Morty. I mean it. It's a dungeon that keeps you sitting for hours on end moving at a pathetically slow pace till your soul slowly leaves your body. I did well in HS, but I hated it. When your in HS, it feels like everything is just college prep. Prepare for the PSAT then the SAT then some other dumb standardized exam. Now you have to play a sport, and do volunteer work, and do stuff for the NHS, and you have a gf who you think your in love with.

It's easy for people to make fun of HS guys saying none of that stuff matters, but HS is probably the busiest part of most people's lives. You get up early to be in school from 745-3pm and then you have to go to practice for basketball or track or whatever, then you have to go home and still do hw and even college apps. It's not easy.

What I want you guys to know is that there are a lot of options for you guys to pick from once you graduate HS or get your GED. Going to college isn't your only choice and it doesn't mean your dumb if you choose not to go.

I would argue that it's stupid to go to college if you have no plan and let yourself get into 6 figures of debt for no reason. You don't have to do the traditional route. A lot of people who don't do that path are still extremely successful. I'm going to lay out some other options and the benefits/negatives so you guys know what's going on. I really encourage some of the older guys here to give their input as well because I obviously don't know all the options and I will definitely miss some big stuff.

The military

  • Advantage- I did the Army after college, but doing a 3 year contract with the airforce, coast guard, or any branch is a great move. By the time you're done you'll be 21. You'll have cash. You'll have a veterans preference (this is crucial if you're white and therefore have no other preferences), you'll have the G.I. Bill to pay for all of college, and you'll have discipline when you go in, and you'll know what you want. There are tons of other benefits as well but you get the point.

  • Disadvantage- This is highly contextual depending on your job and where you go, but you could be miserable and you can't leave. You get deployed to a shitty area. You could be sent out to combat. You could die. You might get roped into reenlisting.

Trade school-When I say trade schools I mean carpentry, welding, plumbing, and other skilled trades that you need to get certified and trained in.

  • Advantages- These are cheaper and shorter than college, and you are basically guaranteed work, and a great pay. You will more than likely make 6 figures by your mid 20s and after a period of time you'll be a master at the craft and worth even more. A crane operator can make 400,000 a year. That's better than a lot of doctors, and he didn't need 8 years of schooling and bullshit.

  • Disadvantages- It's not as fun or glamorous as college and it lacks the prestige of other positions that pay less. This is superficial, but true. Who do you think is more respected in today's society? A plumber or a lawyer?

Merchant Marine Academy- I'm including dock related work here as well

  • Advantages- There is an enormous demand for these workers from Americans. Baltimore is about to open another port and they are hurting for these guys. Jobs in this field pay a ton. I don't know all the details, but I encourage research

  • Disadvantage- Same as other skilled trade

Community College-

  • Advantages- It's cheaper than regular college and you can get 2 years of general electives done before moving on up

  • Disadvantages- I hate to be mean with this stuff, but frankly a lot of losers go to CC. You'll be surrounded by losers and procrastinators and they might rub off on you if you let them

Bonus- Obscure specific college majors such as package engineering. Actuarial Sciences. 5 year Biology Lab Certifications, and if others are known list them below.

*Advantages- You are essentially guaranteed work in a high paying field that most others do not even think about doing. Being an actuary is basically getting a math degree and passing the examinations to become an actual actuary. You can even work as an actuarial assistant which pays well and they will pay you to just study. A package engineer has an over 90% hiring rate out of college in several schools and obviously has engineer pay. Same with the lab science thing. Also you get to go to college and get the college experience.

*Disadvantage- Same as the College in general. Price and stupid liberal garbage.

Again if you know more than comment. A lot of guys in HS are in their senior year. They're applying for college and some are freaking out. Know your options. There's more than one right answer in life. You don't have to copy your friends.

Conclusion

You have tons of options so don't fall into the same trap as everyone else. Don't get me wrong college is awesome especially if you have a scholarship. You're on your own and you're surrounded by young sexy girls. Don't rush into dumb decisions especially one that'll enslave you to debt.