| Right now you are probably talking to your friends | | | | Stability |
| about whether to go to college or to meet the world | | | | You may have an offer of a job you can walk into |
| head on and start to earn some money. It's quite a | | | | now. When times get tough your employer may be |
| difficult decision especially if your academic career has | | | | just as happy to lose you. The better your education, |
| been less than sparkling to date. Earning some money | | | | the less likely you are to be unemployed. According to |
| straight away is very tempting, and you may think that | | | | the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average number of |
| your friends are fools to want to spend even more | | | | unemployed people with only high school education |
| time than they have to in school. Before you rush | | | | was three times that of professionally qualified |
| headlong into work, take some time to check out the | | | | workers. |
| benefits that a college degree can bring. | | | | The Time of Your Life |
| Earning Power | | | | You're only young once, and studying while you are |
| You may start earning now and be laughing at your | | | | young is much easier than when you're older with |
| friends without a dime, but you'll likely be earning pretty | | | | financial, family, and time commitments. Ask any |
| much the same in five years time. You could earn on | | | | college graduate, and they'll tell you they made their |
| average up to half as much again as high school | | | | lifelong friends in college. |
| graduates if you decide to study an associate degree. | | | | So can you earn more, you'll be more employable, and |
| (Occupational Outlook Quarterly Fall 1999.) If you | | | | you can part of a unique group of people determined |
| decide to go for bachelor degree level, you could be | | | | to make the best of their lives. |
| earning on average two and half times more. | | | | |