This article is aimed toward the person trying to make up their mind whether to go to college right after high school or go to college later in life as a non-traditional student. There are advantages to either scenario. The only path without benefits is never attending college at all.

It is my opinion that we place too much emphasis on going to college right out of high school. I think this works fine for those few students who have their heads screwed on straight at that age. Not many do. I sure didn't. If you want to wait, that's fine. Just make sure you know what you're getting yourself into. If you've already waited, then the same advice applies. In either case, you should attend college - it's just a matter of when.

Take my own educational roller coaster ride as an example.  I am one of the red-haired stepchildren of America's education system. In 1984, I attended one semester of college right after high school, started a second semester, then took a fourteen year spring break. Apparently, it took that long for the adolescence-induced hormone poisoning to wear off. I also strongly caution anyone from taking 18 credits the first semester of college. This leads to instant burnout.

In 1999, I began several years of night school, which is where I am now, to be followed by several years of full time day classes. I returned to college with the goal of a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering. About half way through the lower division coursework, I decided to pursue a two-year degree in business administration first, then follow up with a master's or doctoral degree in mechanical engineering. One, a mere bachelor's degree in engineering awards a pitiful salary. Two, business is what America is all about.

This path, however, may or may not be right for you. Consider:

I have been extremely lucky. After my first attempt at college, I enlisted with the U. S. Air Force, in which I learned a valuable trade: aircraft maintenance. After four years, I was discharged into the real world, possessing a skill for which some companies pay good money. Most people who join the enlisted ranks (not as an officer) are not so lucky. They get stuck guarding pavement, peeling potatoes, or typing memos. These skills do not pay well in the real world.

I have been twice lucky in that after several years of fixing airliners, I was given the opportunity to run a family business. This is what I have done for the last eight years. Even luckier still, I run a very small company - just five employees. This means I get to do many different things - from accounting, to sales, to shipping, to manufacturing, to purchasing... this list goes on and on.

But still, without any college-level education, my options were limited. Most any other company desires a college graduate for any kind of management position. I also found myself hampered by my lack of formal business education. The summer of 2002 finds me just about done with the business degree. The knowledge I've gained has helped tremendously. I understand better why things are done the way they're done in the business world - which means I can make better business decisions - which means our business is more profitable - which means I make more money.

So, if you are one of the lucky people, in that you have an opportunity to learn a valuable skill or run a business without a college degree, then waiting a while before attending college may be the thing for you. If you're already running a business you've probably found that there's some stuff you don't understand. If you're performing a valuable skill or trade, you may have discovered you don't want to do this the rest of your life. Some professions that look glamorous at age twenty lose their luster after a decade or two.

If, however, you have no hope of learning a skill or going into business, consider where never going to college will put you. If you want to deliver boxes or install carpet the rest of your life, then you don't need college at all. Some people find the greatest satisfaction in the most menial tasks. Before you choose that path, make sure you're really one of those people. Most people wouldn't be content with such limited prospects.

If you've eighteen, faced with all the indecisions of adolescence - school, moving out, where to work - just what to do with your life - remember that no one has the answers. Lots of people will give you advice, especially adults. All we can tell you is why we made our decisions the way we did. We can outline the options and some of the consequences for you, but we can't tell you what's right for you. Listen to what other people have to say, especially the adults because they've been in your shoes; but, make your own decision. It's your life, and you are the one who has to live it - good or bad.

If you're thirty- or forty-something, afraid that you won't remember enough to do well in class, don't worry about it. Before you register for your first semester, you'll take a placement test. Whatever your academic skill level happens to be, you'll start in courses appropriate for you. If you're afraid that you won't fit in at college because it's full of younger people, don't worry about it. It's a non-issue because nobody fits in at college. Considering your vastly greater real-world experience compared to that of traditional students, you'll likely find the experience a ton of fun. I certainly do.

Go now or go later, it doesn't matter. Just go sometime. How will you know unless you try?