Is college really so important if you know what you're going to do in life?

I want to know if college is rally important for me. I don't want to go to college, but everyone keeps telling me I have to, although I don't need a college education to be a chef. Just because I don't want to go to college doesn't I don't want to go to school, I'd just rather go to a vocational school like the CIA or the French Culinary Institute instead of a regular college that has a cooking program, like Johnson%26amp;Wales. Is it really THAT important to go to college that you have to go even if there are other options for furthering your education?

Is college really so important if you know what you're going to do in life?
Absolutely not. College can give one a good general education and is necessary for a number of careers. However, if you want to be a chef, a culinary school is the place to go. (You can always go to college at another time if the need and desire should arise.)


Happy cooking!
Reply:Nope. If you already know what you want to do, and you don't need college to do it, don't waste your time and money. You can always go to college late if you change your mind.
Reply:You're on the right thinking track there. People who say 'oh you must go to college' only say it cos there's still this stupid prestige thing attached to a college degree. College is a great thing for learning, particularly if you don't know what you want to do yet but its not the only way to learn and its only really necessary if a degree is required for your career path.





By all means, if vocational education is better for your goal, and chef is a good example there, then that is much better than wasting time getting a degree you'll never use, just for the piece of paper
Reply:Yes - you need to go to College.


That's where you can scout around for a Rich Husband and you can do all the cooking you want when you are married.
Reply:Everyone needs career development if they are to get anywhere in life. Career development is a process of self discovery greatly aided by a college education. This is shown by the stats - you will earn 1 million dollars more with a college education that without one.





Although the title might not seem totally relevant check out:


http://books.google.com/books?id=PfepkVP...





Persevere reading it. Highly recommended.





Thanks


Bill
Reply:You'll come to learn how much of a difference a college degree makes in a person's life. It doesnt matter what you get your degree in, but the fact that you went to college earned a degree will shine you in a different light. College and vocational schools are TOTALLY different things. Trust me, after you get a college degree you can go off and do whatever you want.. and you'll feel like a more accomplished person.
Reply:If you're sure what you want to do is be a chef. . . maybe then you would be a lot more effective by just heading to culinary school.


However, you also don't want to regret that you didn't go the normal college route if the cooking thing isn't working out like you thought or you're 40 and it's a lot harder to go back when you feel like you missed out on something. Just weigh your options carefully.