Is It Time to Chuck College? A Review and Giveaway!
By Natalie, Editress of Visionary Womanhood
Today I’d like to introduce you to a newly released book, Chucking College by Melanie Ellison. You’ll get three things: first you’ll get an overview of what this book has to offer; next I’ll share a few of my favorite college chucking quotes; and finally I’ll tell you how our family has approached the college issue (so far) with our two oldest children – both sons.
Chucking College: Special Features
1. A detailed and documented treatise on WHY one might be motivated to chuck college.
Melanie did a great job at laying out some pretty convincing reasons to chuck college. She has done quite a bit of research on our behalf, and she presents historical facts, statistics, experimental data, real life stories, and just simple, straight forward logic to make her case. The first four chapters focus on:
- The spiritual damage done through false philosophies that malign God and His Word.
- The potential moral damage that can happen when young people live together in dormitories and are exposed to immorality, drunkenness, and other kinds of foolish, sinful behaviors.
- The academic damage that comes when students waste several years of their lives learning things that aren’t even rooted in reality and will have no bearing on their life purpose.
- The financial pit that college throws most students into, leaving them to live out many years of their lives in debt for a degree that often has nothing to do with the life work they ultimately engage in.
2. Real life testimonies highlighted and sprinkled throughout the book.
Her ideas aren’t new, and they aren’t untested. Throughout the book the reader gets to hear all kinds of real life stories of both men and women who have chosen to prepare for their life’s vocation in other ways. Their stories give ideas, inspiration, courage, and hope as they help the reader realize that they are not tied down to the choices others may pressure them to make. There are as many paths to a successful life as there are people to chart them.
3. An alternative educational pathway is presented.
Melanie devotes a chapter to talking about what a quality education was, historically, and what it can be today. And guess what? While an excellent education is important and something to pursue, college is not necessary. And there are people who specialize in education who are starting to realize how outdated and irrelevant college really is in the 21st century, unless one is going into a field like engineering or medicine.
Melanie writes about all kinds if different ways to acquire the knowledge and learn the skills necessary to do what a person dreams of doing. Only the sky is the limit!
4. An alternative entrepreneurial pathway is presented.
Some young people will want to dive right into entrepreneurial ventures right after high school. And why not? This is probably one of the most ideal times to experiment with this type of thing. There is very real potential to get to the end of the first four years after high school with a thriving business and a new home—as opposed to being $80,000 in debt with no job on the horizon.
5. Great list of resources at the end.
Want to learn more? She’s got you covered. And you’ll LOVE the long list of well known, successful people who chucked college.
Some Noteworthy Quotes to Inspire College Chucking
On wise investments:
Biblical apologist and science educator Christopher Ashcraft thinks that “Unfortunately, as Christians we too quickly become of the world and start doing things the way of the secular culture. And that is also the case with education. We have adopted the purposes of education as defined by our society.” Our society encourages young people to attend college in order to gain worldly knowledge, indulge in immoral experimentation, and eventually acquire material wealth as a result of having a degree. But the wisest man in the world told us, “There is no wisdom or understanding or counsel against the Lord.” (Proverbs 21:30) Any education that runs in contrary channels to the Lord’s highest pathways is not worth our investment of time, thought, and money.
On the university vs. Psalm 1:
It is very revealing to apply Psalm 1 to the university setting in order to discover what God thinks of participating in college. Think about a typical college student as you read it and consider whether or not she is the one this passage refers to as blessed:
Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, or stand in the way of sinners, or sit in the seat of mockers.
Are you surprised at how opposite this is to the life of college students? College offers the counsel of wicked professors who earnestly desire students to adhere to their liberal teaching; the unavoidable necessity of standing in the way of immoral acquaintances – sinners, really; and finding oneself sitting in the seat of mockers, constantly having to hear the speech of those who do not fear the Creator.
On degrees vs. skill:
When we really think it over, a degree may not be necessary to equip us for each of our life purposes. Many college graduates discover (after the fact) that a degree was not a prerequisite for their success….
Skill is what is most sought-after – a well-performed audition will land a musician a job in a symphony orchestra, while a degree in music performance alone will not guarantee the position. Or, for the would-be English major, a well-written essay with a resume listing all the instances where her works have been published carries more weight in a job application than a college degree with no work experience accompanying it.
In a great majority of cases, possessing skills can carry one farther than having earned a degree. Proverbs 22:29 does not mention the need for a university degree, but rather states, “Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before obscure men.”
Our Family’s View of College and Why We’ve Chucked it Thus Far With No Regrets
Our oldest son will be 20 this year. He finished up his high school requirements when he was 16. He started taking CLEP tests when he was 14 and spent his Jr. and Sr. years taking college courses in an area he was interested in at a local tech college. He started his own media and video design business, Dual Digital (check out his multimedia and VFX reel), when he was 18, and he works full time in our home doing free lance design for individuals and larger companies.
He shares an office in our home with his 17-year-old brother, who is almost finished with his high school requirements and will be taking audio production classes in a local tech college that is well known for this program in Minnesota. (High school students can go to college for free in our state during their Jr. and Sr. high years. Very few students take advantage of this opportunity though—because it is “no fun.”)
They look forward to potentially working together on projects for clients. Neither one has any intentions of sinking money into school at this point. They both read books and do research online when they want to know about something or find out how to do something. Sam just flew down to Florida and bought his first car with cash. He is saving to buy a house.
So is chucking college weird? Maybe. Is chucking college for everyone? Maybe not. But it’s working for us, and we plan to take it one child at a time.
Would you like to win a copy of Chucking College? Here’s how to enter the giveaway:
UPDATE: Congratulations Jennifer! You are the drawing winner!
1. Leave a comment letting us know what YOU think about the idea of chucking college.
2. Tweet the giveaway (use the share buttons at the bottom of the post.) Make sure you leave a comment letting us know you did! (Each comment counts as an entry!)
3. Share the giveaway on Facebook and leave a comment.
4. Pin this post to a Pinterest board and leave a comment.
For those of you who can’t wait til the giveaway finishes to get your hands on this helpful resource, go ahead and order the book from www.chuckingcollege.com. The author has agreed to fully refund your order if you end up being the winner of this giveaway. It’s the best of both worlds—you receive the book now, and you can still enter to have it free!
Thanks for participating!
Tags: book review, college, education, giveaway
I think the decision about college depends on what area a person wants to work in once they graduate from high school. Realizing that college costs an extravagant amount of money these days, it may not be worth the debt just to get a piece of paper that says you have a degree. Also, I think one might want to consider the ramifications of attending college, such as the indoctrination from professors, being around those who have the party mentality, etc. What it ultimately comes down to is what does God want a person to do with his/her life. If it requires going to college and God has called that person to that particular vocation (whatever it is), then God will be with them as they go through college.
I like the points this author makes. I’ve not been convinced of the necessity of a college degree since my husband and I got ours. I didn’t use mine at all, so to me it was a waste of money. My husband’s degree hasn’t specifically helped him, though having a degree may have gotten him a couple of jobs that otherwise he wouldn’t have. It’s hard to say in that regard. But, financially, I am certain that the money we both spent to get our degrees could have been used more wisely. We both endured ungodly lectures and professors trying to change our worldview. Fortunately for us, we were grounded in our faith, growing, and involved with a campus ministry. The Lord was gracious to protect us and make us aware of the lies we were being taught. This book would make a good read!
I pinned this post: http://pinterest.com/EricainMinn/homeschooling-high-school/
My kids are only 12 and 8. But I personally love the idea of chucking college. Especially for my daughter. I only attended college for about a year and a half before getting married. I have never regretted my decision. After working close in ministry with three other women who all went to college and then were full time stay at home moms, I can truly say I don’t desire for my daughter to spend time in college. My husband didn’t go to college either, he did 4 years military service. The Lord has blessed us over the last 18 years of marriage without any college degrees. Of course there have been hard time, but not sure if a degree would have made them non-existent.
I am not making a blanket statement saying college is not necessary but want people to truly pray and ask if it “is” necessary. Like you said there are jobs like medical and engineering, that require a degree. But with prayer and some creative thinking, I think college chucking is more possible than most people think.
I also pinned this.
My hubby and I were talking about this over the weekend (and lots before that, really). I’ve determined that I’m more afraid my children WILL go to college than that they won’t. If they need a degree, then I will make sure they’re so busy working their way through to do it debt-free that they don’t have much time to get to know the mockers too well.
Since neither of us went to college for more than a couple of semesters, and yet here we are with respectable, productive, God-fearing lives, we don’t see what’s so scandalous about the idea of not going to college. Many do, though. Some of my most frequent comments come from people who are just scared to death that my children won’t be what they deem to be educated. Phooey, I say. And again, I say phooey. (Because saying it twice just sounds more Biblical.) One of my husband’s favorite things to do at work is let people oooh and ahhhh over his brains and then let them know that he didn’t even finish high school. Just a measly little GED. It’s a hoot!
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I think this idea is very interesting. Unless my children want to go into a field that really requires a degree I would wholeheartedly support them getting training outside of a college. I know the experience was not good for my faith.
Thanks for the opportunity to win this book!
I think ‘chucking college’ is an intriguing idea. While there are MANY careers that require a formal education, I’m interested in reading about alternatives.
I think people should seriously consider chucking college as one of their choices. It is an interesting idea. Our culture is constantly pushing us to get a degree instead of an education. Although a degree can be helpful at times, it is often unnecessary. An education, on the other hand, will be beneficial not only for ourselves but for future generations as well. A degree stops at some point, but an education never ends.
I pinned it. I hope many people become interested and start thinking about chucking college.
I greatly appreciate the biblical aspects mentioned in this review. My husband and I grieved over the pit earning a college degree left us both in when we began our life together. We do not want that for our children, but being able to read from those who have gone a different route, one that didn’t result in a financial or unemployment “pit,” would be of great value and most beneficial.
Thank you sharing about the book and the opportunity to win a copy.
Kindest greetings.
This sounds like an awesome book! I personally have chucked college in order to be a stay-at-home daughter and I am learning at home. For me, it was a far better thing to learn at home- I could learn so much more and learn what I want to learn, and I don’t accumulate a huge debt to carry with me for years to come. I do believe that college is for some people, but not all. There are other options out there
Thanks for hosting this giveaway!
I pinned this to Pinterest
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I shared on my Facebook page, too.
Libby @ A Noble Calling recently posted…What Does a Godly Woman Look Like? /// Part 3
I felt the Lord leading me to not finish college. I only had 3 semesters left, but I was getting married and desired to be a full-time wife/mom. We have seen what a blessing this has been to our family. I was all “career women/independent girl” before quitting, but now I feel so content staying home. The Lord has blessed us so much in this, and we’ve been able to pay off those student loans! Now I don’t feel the pressure of getting a job especially because I don’t have the degree.
I definitely believe college should be chucked, and I would love to read the book!
I have posted on FB
I think chucking college is a good idea.
I have tweeted
I have pinned
I think that anytime we think outside of the box and hold to God’s truths is a WIN, WIN! This particular book has been on my Amazon wishlist for some time now. Hope I win!
College isn’t for everyone.
Personally, we won’t encourage our children to attend college unless they have a compelling reason, such as a career that requires a college degree. And even in those cases, we’d encourage accelerated distance learning as much as possible. However, we will probably have our children, especially boys, take CLEP tests in high school for many classes. Then they have the foundation in place if they do decide to pursue a college degree. Also, I grew up in a state where you had to have a college degree to homeschool a high-schooler, so the concern that one day a college degree might be deemed necessary lurks in the back of my mind. So, I wouldn’t mind my children having a year or two’s worth of credits already in the bank for little additional effort or money.
I’ve “chucked” college thus far, myself! I’m self-studying to become a midwife; spending my time learning different skills as the Lord sets in my path; selling used books online, blessing other home school families with curriculum and literature; and ultimately saving money for the future!
I had about five people encouraging me to go to college, and they all had a career to recommend that was “guarantee a job and stability for the future” and that I would “earn more than if I hadn’t gone to college.”
I find it funny that now they all have recognized and admitted in one way or another that either 1) College was a waste of time for them. 2) They will go to the grave with their debt. 3) Don’t necessarily earn more money than those who hadn’t gone to college.
Two of the career recommendations, by the way, have shown to not be in demand now, and didn’t actually promise all of the benefits shared with me before.
I’m following the Lord’s lead. I am definitely not perfect and have made plenty of mistakes on this journey. Nor do I look down or laugh at those who have gone to college.
I appreciate resources like this book because it gives another side of the story; a different perspective. An important one that should be shared!
https://mobile.twitter.com/m0r1ahj0rd4n/status/369935644719456256
https://www.facebook.com/WrittenForOurLearning/posts/315046625306632
http://pinterest.com/pin/249246160600462106/
Our young adults are doing similar things to what yours have done.
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Phyllis Sather recently posted…CrossReads Book Blast: Found Adrift by Pauline Creeden
Can’t wait to read the book! I have zero interest in having my kids be a slave to Sallie Mae:-(
If my kids want to be doctors, nurses, vets, therapists, pastors, and other occupations that require intensive study then I will definitely encourage college! Sometimes being accountable to a person vs. learning on your own can really push you.
If they want to do jobs one can learn during an apprenticeship vs. college then I will encourage that instead. Community colleges are a wonderful (and cheaper) option as well! They live at home and still go to school.
I, personally, LOVED college and learned so much about many things (what a fun thing to be able to take classes raging from a lot of history classes, weaving artistry, early childhood education, and nursing). The professors and fellow students challenged me in many areas. Yes, a lot of them held differing religious views, but I was given a strong foundation and stayed firm, and I learned a lot too. I went to community colleges and qualified for scholarships and whatnot, so I had maybe $2,000 in debt and it was easy to pay off. Once I became a mother of a special needs son, I was especially thankful for my background education in early childhood and nursing!!! I really do use much of my education everyday!
With my children, I will let them know it’s an option if they want to pursue a passion/calling that calls for it, but I won’t shove it down their throats and make it the “end all, be all”.
raisingcropsandbabies recently posted…The “M” Word
While I agree that colleges can have a huge impact on a child’s spiritual and moral values I also think that going to college is necessary for some career options and that it cannot be ruled out. Though I do feel that the state colleges should be avoided and that private colleges would be the better option if a child chooses to go.
I completely agree that college is not for everyone. Voddie Baucham Jr. has a lot to day about this topic as well…he spoke at our local homeschool conference last year and made a great point by reading a list of actual majors from universities that were so ridiculous they made everyone laugh! And they cost the same as a “real” degree in engineering or accounting!! I myself spent 12 YEARS in school post high school (bachelors, masters, and doctorate) only to work for one year and then God began blessing us with babies and then called us to homeschool! We will definitely be examining higher education with a careful eye asking God for His wisdom in this decision.
I am hoping and praying my kids become entrepreneurs and don’t necessarily need a college degree, unless they decide to exercise a profession that requires license or certification. However, I know that today there are people doing jobs that they are not certified to do tem, but the company does not care to comply with the federal and state laws, because these people have a “college degree”. So it’s a mess! I went to college and so did my husband but I think with the technology available in every home today, one really don’t need to get into debt or go very far to learn whatever they need to succeed. Great article!
Sign me up for the book! Didn’t tweet or facebook or pin, but I left a comment.
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Unless God is calling you into a vocation that requires certification, doctor, lawyer, etc, I don’t think college is probably necessary. Most of the required training and education can be gained without a college degree.
I think college is optional .
I would only recommend traditional college for a few career fields that really require it (architecture, engineering, medical, etc.). For most other fields there are now better options available. Options that are better financilally and better for spiritual growth.
I posted this on Pinterest.
My college experience did not cost me a lot of money, but I do think that it had detrimental effects on my life especially in terms of cultivating a lifestyle of self-centeredness rather than serving others.
After both graduating from college (and neither one of us using our degrees), we’ve seen how it was largely a waste of time and money and spiritual growth. College is overrated. This is said by someone who likes books and learning and schoolish sorts of things. Where was I exposed to a plethora of worldliness? Bible college.
I personally have chucked college in the world’s way so I can be a stay-at-home-daughter, help my family, and study under the Titus 2 mother the Lord has given me. I think we could find better ways of studying than spending thousands of dollars and many years of our youth in colleges. I hope to continue to study in different ways while I’m home so I can be prepared for whatever the Lord has in store for my life. Thank you so much for hosting this giveaway and for proclaiming true womanhood to a needy world.
I posted on pinterest
I posted to Facebook.
It is so amazing how God’s ways are so much better. When we give up the things of this world, we find God’s ways cheaper financially and much more profitable. Once we die to ourselves (and oh how hard that is, and oh so many times it has to be done), it just gets so much better! Thank you Melanie Ellison for making it so clear that there is a so much better way for many of us (and I do understand that college may be God’s way for some). Thank you!