From the time students are in middle school they’ve already been bombarded by overwhelming thoughts of college and what career field they want to pursue in the future.  

      What you’re going to do in the future to support yourself is the steppingstone to the way you live your life but is college as crucial as it’s made out to be? 

      For many young adults, college is a decision that is already made for them, either by their parents or pressure from society. For some, going to college is an arrangement that has been set up for them their entire lives. Parents often open savings accounts dedicated to their child’s higher education before they’re able to walk. 

      Unfortunately, the expectation for most students is to ‘reach for the stars’ and continue on with school whether that is or isn’t something they genuinely want.  

      In fact, as reported by the College Atlas ‘”70% of Americans will study at a 4-year college, but less than 2/3 will graduate with a degree.” 

      The staggering statistics on college dropouts doesn’t stop there. According to College Atlas ‘56% of students who start at a four-year college dropout by year 6’ and ‘1/3 of college freshmen will drop out after their first year.’ 

      Not only does dropping out indicate college not being the right fit for most people, but major changes are all too common and familiar. 

      Changing your major shows that you’re learning what would best suit you in the workforce which is a positive thing.  

      However, changing majors often leads to taking courses over the summer or carrying a heavier course load while you are in school. All those activities cost money and can add to the stress of completing a college degree. 

      Even after all these studies the pressures remain stronger than ever. It’s clear that rushing to get your life in order before you even know what you want is not what is in the best interest for everyone. 

       Dropout rates also explain why mental illnesses are so prevalent on college campuses. 

      The epidemic of mental illnesses in college students are astonishing. However, the idea that college students are only mentally ill due to substance abuse, homesickness, or stress is only scratching the surface. 

      Many 18-23-year olds are unsure about jumping into a 4 year-university immediately after high school; and committing to another four years of intense schooling, in a specific field you intend on working in is a huge deal. 

      If someone isn’t fully dedicated to this next chapter in their life it will make them miserable.  

     This then leads to the ‘39% of students in college experiencing a significant mental health issue’ according to Active Minds. This statistic only refers to students who have been officially diagnosed with a mental illness. 

     The National Alliance on Mental Illness demonstrates that ‘50% of students have reported their mental health to be below average or poor’ 

      The heart-breaking truth is that all this pent-up stress and different mental disorders often leads to suicide. Emory Cares for You indicates that there are more than 1,000 suicides on college campuses each year making suicide the second leading cause of death in college aged students. 

  These students are either too hesitant to receive help or just haven’t accurately sited their symptoms to their doctor. 

  College is a very serious decision to be made and shouldn’t be taken lightly. Instead of students immediately stressing over which school they should go to, we should be focusing on if going to college right after high school is the right thing to do in the first place.