--- title: "What Should I Do When I Leave High School: Should I Go to College?" description: College is an excellent way to enter a career, but it’s certainly not the only way. This article answers the question, “Should I go to college?” image: https://blog.ontarioeast.ca/hubfs/Imported%20sitepage%20images/hmeEn_ievNrFFg8ZikVcnNX9jMH0z44kwnqAiiZJN-2gN5ae4d_RmMPqmaYwglHJJtBhg4BDWiY8iQwWp_RmvO64KWQaso-_PdZqnF-tKvBUBfG1faJ2SnmAx9KZXG-Ix7k2g3UZ.jpg --- [Skip to main content](https://blog.ontarioeast.ca/what-should-i-do-when-i-leave-high-school-should-i-go-to-college#main) - FAQs - [News](https://ontarioeast.ca/news) - [Events](https://ontarioeast.ca/events) - [Ontario East Municipal Conference](https://ontarioeast.ca/happenings/our-team-partners) - [About Us](https://ontarioeast.ca/about-us/) - Search [![site_main_logo](https://blog.ontarioeast.ca/hubfs/site_main_logo.svg) ![site_main_logo_scrolled](https://blog.ontarioeast.ca/hubfs/site_main_logo_scrolled.svg) ![Ontario East Economic Development logo](https://blog.ontarioeast.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/logo.png?width=245&height=150&name=logo.png) ![Ontario East Economic Development logo](https://blog.ontarioeast.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/logo.png?width=245&height=150&name=logo.png)](https://ontarioeast.ca/) - [Show submenu for Regional Profile Regional Profile](https://ontarioeast.ca/regional-profile/) - [Our Communities](https://ontarioeast.ca/regional-profile/our-communities/) - [Advantages](https://ontarioeast.ca/regional-profile/advantages/) - [Workforce](https://ontarioeast.ca/regional-profile/workforce/) - [Incentives and Funding](https://ontarioeast.ca/regional-profile/incentives-and-funding/) - [Success Stories](https://ontarioeast.ca/success-stories/) - [Available Properties](https://ontarioeast.ca/available-properties/) - [Show submenu for Key Employment Sectors Key Employment Sectors](https://ontarioeast.ca/key-employment-sectors/) - [Advanced Manufacturing](https://ontarioeast.ca/key-employment-sectors/advanced-manufacturing/) - [Food and Beverage](https://ontarioeast.ca/key-employment-sectors/food-and-beverage/) - [Logistics and Transportation](https://ontarioeast.ca/key-employment-sectors/logistics-and-transportation/) - [Other](https://ontarioeast.ca/key-employment-sectors/other/) - [Show submenu for Members Members](https://ontarioeast.ca/members/) - [Member Directory](https://ontarioeast.ca/members/) - [Become a Member](https://ontarioeast.ca/members/become-a-member/) - [Membership Application Form](https://ontarioeast.ca/members/membership-application-form/) - [Regional Marketing Committee](https://ontarioeast.ca/members/regional-marketing-committee/) - [Jobs & RFPs](https://ontarioeast.ca/jobs-rfps/) Open main navigation Menu Close main navigation Menu - Search - Show submenu for Regional Profile Regional Profile - Regional Profile - [Regional Profile](https://ontarioeast.ca/regional-profile/) - [Our Communities](https://ontarioeast.ca/regional-profile/our-communities/) - [Advantages](https://ontarioeast.ca/regional-profile/advantages/) - [Workforce](https://ontarioeast.ca/regional-profile/workforce/) - [Incentives and Funding](https://ontarioeast.ca/regional-profile/incentives-and-funding/) - [Success Stories](https://ontarioeast.ca/success-stories/) - [Available Properties](https://ontarioeast.ca/available-properties/) - Show submenu for Key Employment Sectors Key Employment Sectors - Key Employment Sectors - [Key Employment Sectors](https://ontarioeast.ca/key-employment-sectors/) - [Advanced Manufacturing](https://ontarioeast.ca/key-employment-sectors/advanced-manufacturing/) - [Food and Beverage](https://ontarioeast.ca/key-employment-sectors/food-and-beverage/) - [Logistics and Transportation](https://ontarioeast.ca/key-employment-sectors/logistics-and-transportation/) - [Other](https://ontarioeast.ca/key-employment-sectors/other/) - [FAQs](https://ontarioeast.ca/faqs/) - [News](https://ontarioeast.ca/news/) - [Events](https://ontarioeast.ca/events/) - Show submenu for Members Members - Members - [Members](https://ontarioeast.ca/members/) - [Member Directory](https://ontarioeast.ca/members/) - [Become a Member](https://ontarioeast.ca/members/become-a-member/) - [Membership Application Form](https://ontarioeast.ca/members/membership-application-form/) - [Regional Marketing Committee](https://ontarioeast.ca/members/regional-marketing-committee/) - [Jobs & RFPs](https://ontarioeast.ca/jobs-rfps/) - [Ontario East Municipal Conference](https://oemc.ca/) - [Contact Us](https://ontarioeast.ca/contact-us/) - [Contact Us](https://ontarioeast.ca/contact-us/) [Contact Us](https://ontarioeast.ca/contact-us/) Search ![Canada, Employment Ontario, Government of Ontario logos](https://ontarioeast.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/ontario-employment-logos.svg) This Employment Ontario project is funded in part by the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario. # What Should I Do When I Leave High School: Should I Go to College? For Ontario East January 21, 2019 ![](https://blog.ontarioeast.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported%20sitepage%20images/hmeEn_ievNrFFg8ZikVcnNX9jMH0z44kwnqAiiZJN-2gN5ae4d_RmMPqmaYwglHJJtBhg4BDWiY8iQwWp_RmvO64KWQaso-_PdZqnF-tKvBUBfG1faJ2SnmAx9KZXG-Ix7k2g3UZ.jpg?width=565&name=hmeEn_ievNrFFg8ZikVcnNX9jMH0z44kwnqAiiZJN-2gN5ae4d_RmMPqmaYwglHJJtBhg4BDWiY8iQwWp_RmvO64KWQaso-_PdZqnF-tKvBUBfG1faJ2SnmAx9KZXG-Ix7k2g3UZ.jpg) Congratulations, your high school days are almost over. You’re probably either excited or feeling anxious about the road ahead or, even more likely, you’re feeling a little bit of both. As someone who grew up during the recession, and who has been a firsthand witness of technology’s rapid acceleration, you know that you can’t necessarily rely on the life path that your parents or teachers grew up with.  In some ways, this can be freeing: [the rules are bending](https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/16/opinion/college-useful-cost-jobs.html). But with this freedom comes uncertainty. And uncertainty is not fun. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by all the well-meaning advice you’re getting from parents, teachers, siblings, friends, guidance counsellors, and just about any other adult imparting career advice upon you, we’d like to help. We’ve been developing this blog series to[offer suggestions](http://ontarioeast.ca/ontario-east-advantage/communities) that can help you make informed decisions about the path you want your life to take after graduating high school. This blog post’s topic is **one very big question:** should I go to college? ## So, Should I Go to College? ![Should I go to college image](https://blog.ontarioeast.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported%20sitepage%20images/Ndfzb5rxRReYCcI5gf4Qlh-Fp0TaZJZXbE65NEt4MXInWgykDVnFMfOhm-Vdmz_Ko_BpwRXc9GZloGhI_VP0BapPwrKGhRzDNWly56HwZtkczwadf2z4fxE2OA2eQYFpZSWIyF4f.jpg?width=300&height=200&name=Ndfzb5rxRReYCcI5gf4Qlh-Fp0TaZJZXbE65NEt4MXInWgykDVnFMfOhm-Vdmz_Ko_BpwRXc9GZloGhI_VP0BapPwrKGhRzDNWly56HwZtkczwadf2z4fxE2OA2eQYFpZSWIyF4f.jpg)For the last generation or so, this would have been a very easy question to answer. The answer would be yes, if you have the grades, definitely go. These days, the answer is a little more complex than a simple yes. Post-secondary education is still an excellent option for life after high school and can lead to [incredible opportunities](http://ontarioeast.ca/success-stories/success-stories-manufacturing). However, that is no longer *always* the case. You’ve probably still been raised on the idea that going to college is the default option after graduating high school. But times have changed. [Student debt can be crippling](https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/as-student-debt-climbs-to-an-average-past-25k-schools-invest-in-battling-the-mental-health-issues-it-causes) if you don’t get a high-paying job after graduation, and it can follow you into your thirties or even longer. A rapidly changing skills market can make it necessary to upskill soon after graduation. Smart colleges are shifting their focus **towards teaching more transferable skills** and [skills development](https://blog.ontarioeast.ca/the-value-of-skills-development-in-manufacturing) that will benefit you no matter how greatly the job market shifts, but even these changes are slow to come in. Post-secondary is still a great option, you might just have to be a little more strategic about the programs you enter. You might have to do a little more research. College programs are generally less expensive and shorter than university degrees, and there may be a greater need for the skills learned there. Engineering technicians, welders, and electrical engineers are [still in high demand](http://ontarioeast.ca/ontario-east-advantage/connecting-talent-opportunities). Prioritize programs that promote skills that are adaptable to future technologies. ## Discovering an Alternative Path It’s understandable that, after all the years you’ve spent in school, you might not be too excited about the prospect of spending another three, four, or more years in post-secondary. The good news is, [you can get a job right after graduation](https://blog.ontarioeast.ca/the-hidden-value-of-manufacturing-jobs-for-millennials) in manufacturing, and it will pay much better than many of the summer jobs most of your friends have had to work to pay the bills. (Hairnets and deep fryer grease, anyone?) For more information on the opportunities to prepare yourself for a career in manufacturing, check out this free infographic. [![New call-to-action](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/4499088/44e78be1-3d0f-4f90-bb0e-e87ca351a621.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/4499088/44e78be1-3d0f-4f90-bb0e-e87ca351a621) *External links are provided as informational resources only and are not necessarily endorsed by Ontario East.* **References:** [https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/16/opinion/college-useful-cost-jobs.html](https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/16/opinion/college-useful-cost-jobs.html) [https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/as-student-debt-climbs-to-an-average-past-25k-schools-invest-in-battling-the-mental-health-issues-it-causes](https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/as-student-debt-climbs-to-an-average-past-25k-schools-invest-in-battling-the-mental-health-issues-it-causes) ![Ontario East](https://blog.ontarioeast.ca/hubfs/Ontario%20Website%202021/Mask%20Group%20(11).png) ## Ontario East [For job seekers](https://blog.ontarioeast.ca/tag/for-job-seekers) - [![linkedin-1](https://blog.ontarioeast.ca/hubfs/linkedin-1.svg) Post](https://www.linkedin.com/company/ontarioeast/) - [![square-x-twitter](https://blog.ontarioeast.ca/hubfs/square-x-twitter.svg) Post](https://x.com/OntarioEast) - [![facebook](https://blog.ontarioeast.ca/hubfs/facebook.svg) Share](https://www.facebook.com/Ontario.East/) - [![envelope-solid](https://blog.ontarioeast.ca/hubfs/envelope-solid.svg) Email](mailto:info@ontarioeast.ca) ## You Might Also Be Interested In ### [![](https://blog.ontarioeast.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported%20sitepage%20images/AvMDM2Zqtw_WgAVkqF8K3P3QrCArCqy_0G6HUWeueJyq9LdAC_8AfsEe4bEgKdRsPZVEXrwcYv_O5zsjRO11HxRCmnsJBYicMadOe9zV1QUFPITGk49GXb2jWLJtTg9bjeSdSdDP.jpg?height=485&name=AvMDM2Zqtw_WgAVkqF8K3P3QrCArCqy_0G6HUWeueJyq9LdAC_8AfsEe4bEgKdRsPZVEXrwcYv_O5zsjRO11HxRCmnsJBYicMadOe9zV1QUFPITGk49GXb2jWLJtTg9bjeSdSdDP.jpg) January 16, 2019 What Should I Do When I Leave High School: Should I Go to University? Read Now For job seekers](https://blog.ontarioeast.ca/what-should-i-do-when-i-leave-high-school-should-i-go-to-university) ### [![](https://blog.ontarioeast.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported%20sitepage%20images/ETmVyxpar-burxttj_nir6es7U5JFyL0EYJNME6MbwOz44v4pzr4ehsELY0vEijKwwkpAQKA23f4GBhhBq5AnQJHKGyVJilNAZyNLydr-wgEaSAugDf9vBFU3j8QIRlHpR86R8wm.jpg?height=485&name=ETmVyxpar-burxttj_nir6es7U5JFyL0EYJNME6MbwOz44v4pzr4ehsELY0vEijKwwkpAQKA23f4GBhhBq5AnQJHKGyVJilNAZyNLydr-wgEaSAugDf9vBFU3j8QIRlHpR86R8wm.jpg) January 07, 2019 What Should I Do When I Leave High School: Should I Travel? Read Now For job seekers](https://blog.ontarioeast.ca/what-should-i-do-when-i-leave-high-school-should-i-travel) ![](https://ontarioeast.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Mask-Group-4.svg) ## Subscribe to our eNewsletter ###### CONTACT US (613) 634-8569 623 Fortune Crescent, Suite 100 Kingston, ON K7P 0L5 [Email Us](mailto:info@ontarioeast.ca) ###### LINKS [Regional Profile](https://ontarioeast.ca/regional-profile/) [Available Properties](https://ontarioeast.ca/available-properties/) [Key Employment Sectors](https://ontarioeast.ca/key-employment-sectors/) [FAQs](https://ontarioeast.ca/faqs/) [News](https://ontarioeast.ca/news/) [Jobs & RFPs](https://ontarioeast.ca/jobs-rfps/) [Members](https://ontarioeast.ca/members/) [About Us](https://ontarioeast.ca/about-us/) [Events](https://ontarioeast.ca/events/) [Ontario East Municipal Conference](https://ontarioeast.ca/ontario-east-municipal-conference/) [Contact Us](https://ontarioeast.ca/contact-us/) ###### ZoomProspector [Admin Access Login](https://auth.zoomprospector.com/Account/Login?returnUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fadmin.zoomprospector.com%2FAccount%2FLoginCallback%3FreturnUrl%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fadmin.zoomprospector.com%252F) © Ontario East Economic Development, 2026 Acme Co, Inc. All Rights Reserved. [Terms and Privacy Policy](https://ontarioeast.ca/terms-and-privacy-policy/) ![Canada, Employment Ontario, Government of Ontario logos](https://ontarioeast.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/ontario-employment-logos.svg)