Do you really have to go to university?

It's not really a question of "should you" or not, it really depends on what you want to do.

Like, if you want to work in a technical or scientific field, yeah it's pretty much mandatory, but there are tons of people who do really well without a university degree by training themselves through other paths - apprenticeships, short courses, entrepreneurship.

Personally I went through university and it opened doors for me, but I've got friends who make good money without ever setting foot in a university. I'd say it's mostly about seeing if it matches your goals and not just following the road everyone takes by default.

Don't let yourself be talked into thinking college is THE magical solution - plenty of people graduate from university completely lost because they followed a program without really knowing why.

The thing nobody mentions enough is the cost and the debt it can leave you with - you can't just think "diploma = job," you've also gotta check if the field you're interested in actually pays well and really needs that piece of paper.

Before you jump in, try talking to people who work in whatever you're after, and test out other paths (apprenticeships, bootcamps, hands-on experience) because sometimes it's way more worth it.

There's something nobody really mentions: you shouldn't go to university just because it's "the logical next step" after high school.

I've seen too many people end up at 25 with huge debt and zero passion for what they studied, when they could've started an apprenticeship, done a short training program, or even launched their own thing right away. The real question is more like "do I actually need this specific degree for the job I really want?", not just "is everyone doing it?".

If you don't know yet what you want, take the time to figure it out before you saddle yourself with four years of debt.

Do you already have an idea of what you want to do, or are you asking in general?

I'm gonna be straight with you - university doesn't work for everyone at the same point in their life. Some jobs really do require a degree (doctor, engineer, lawyer), but tons of other fields couldn't care less. What the other answers forget to mention is there's a huge difference between choosing college because you actually know what you want versus going "because that's what you do after high school." The first option can change your life, the second one costs you money and gives you nothing.

Here's some advice that's kind of random: before you sign up, force yourself to spend two months working something simple (doesn't matter what - summer job, freelance gig, anything). You'll figure out pretty fast whether you can be happy learning by doing or if you actually need formal structure to get better. It costs nothing and it gives you real perspective. Plenty of people find out they learn better by practicing, others realize they really need that classroom framework. And honestly, when you get to university after having a real job, you know why you're there.