Is writing an essay about why college isn’t worth it a bad idea for applications?
I’ve been brainstorming essay topics, and one idea that keeps popping up in my head is about questioning if college is really worth it for everyone. I have some strong opinions based on my family’s experience—my older brother went to college but ended up with a job he could have gotten without a degree, and my cousin went into a trade and is doing super well.
Would it be a huge red flag to write an essay about this, or maybe frame it as questioning the traditional path but saying how I want to use college differently? I’m genuinely curious if anyone has tried something similar (and if it backfired) because I don’t want to risk my chances by seeming like I don’t actually want to be in school. But I also feel like honesty about my college doubts could make my essay stand out.
Anyone have advice or stories to share?
Would it be a huge red flag to write an essay about this, or maybe frame it as questioning the traditional path but saying how I want to use college differently? I’m genuinely curious if anyone has tried something similar (and if it backfired) because I don’t want to risk my chances by seeming like I don’t actually want to be in school. But I also feel like honesty about my college doubts could make my essay stand out.
Anyone have advice or stories to share?
6 months ago
•
57 views
Lydia Schooler
• 6 months ago
Advisor
This is a really thoughtful question, and you're right to think it through carefully. Writing an application essay that questions the value of college can be a double-edged sword. On one hand, honesty and critical thinking are qualities admissions committees value, and exploring unconventional paths can set your essay apart. However, you also need to be strategic—remember, you're applying because you want to attend that college, and your essay should ultimately make a case for why you belong there.
If you want to approach this topic, consider framing it less as an essay about "why college isn't worth it" and more as a critical reflection on how college fits into your unique life experience and goals. For example, you could briefly acknowledge your family's experiences—maybe your brother's less-rewarding college outcome and your cousin's success in a trade—and discuss how those stories made you interrogate what you want from higher education. Then, shift the focus toward why, after that reflection, YOU have decided college is the right path for you, but for your own personalized reasons.
Demonstrate that you’ve thought deeply about what college can provide beyond just a degree: maybe connections in a field you’re passionate about, access to certain research, or a community of like-minded peers. For instance, you might say something like, "Watching my brother and cousin take such different routes made me realize that the value of college isn't one-size-fits-all. For me, the resources in X University's entrepreneurship center will help me launch a social impact project I wouldn't have the means to do elsewhere."
Admissions readers want to see that you’re intentional, that you’ve weighed your options, and that you have a vision for how college will be transformative for you personally. Questioning the traditional path—IF you bring it around to a sincere, well-defined reason for wanting to go to college—can show maturity and self-awareness.
The risk comes if you sound like you’re reluctantly applying, or if you never explain how attending college fits your goals. If you aren’t clear about why you’ve chosen college, the committee might doubt your motivation.
In summary: It can be a creative and genuine topic, but the essay MUST ultimately answer, "Why college, and why now, for you personally?" That way, your honesty makes your application stronger—not weaker.
If you want to approach this topic, consider framing it less as an essay about "why college isn't worth it" and more as a critical reflection on how college fits into your unique life experience and goals. For example, you could briefly acknowledge your family's experiences—maybe your brother's less-rewarding college outcome and your cousin's success in a trade—and discuss how those stories made you interrogate what you want from higher education. Then, shift the focus toward why, after that reflection, YOU have decided college is the right path for you, but for your own personalized reasons.
Demonstrate that you’ve thought deeply about what college can provide beyond just a degree: maybe connections in a field you’re passionate about, access to certain research, or a community of like-minded peers. For instance, you might say something like, "Watching my brother and cousin take such different routes made me realize that the value of college isn't one-size-fits-all. For me, the resources in X University's entrepreneurship center will help me launch a social impact project I wouldn't have the means to do elsewhere."
Admissions readers want to see that you’re intentional, that you’ve weighed your options, and that you have a vision for how college will be transformative for you personally. Questioning the traditional path—IF you bring it around to a sincere, well-defined reason for wanting to go to college—can show maturity and self-awareness.
The risk comes if you sound like you’re reluctantly applying, or if you never explain how attending college fits your goals. If you aren’t clear about why you’ve chosen college, the committee might doubt your motivation.
In summary: It can be a creative and genuine topic, but the essay MUST ultimately answer, "Why college, and why now, for you personally?" That way, your honesty makes your application stronger—not weaker.
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