Is college necessary in the age of AI?

“Is college worth it?”
It’s one of the most important - and misunderstood - questions a parent or student can ask today.

Here’s the honest answer: it depends.

College isn’t inherently bad. But in the world we now live in - where AI is accelerating change faster than schools can keep up — it is no longer the full solution. A degree alone won’t prepare a student for a world that values adaptability, momentum, and initiative over memorized knowledge.

Let’s unpack why.

The Traditional Value of College

For decades, college has offered three core benefits:

1. A credential that signals competency to employers

2. A structured environment for personal and intellectual growth

3. A built-in network of peers, professors, and alumni

And for certain fields — medicine, law, academia — college is still non-negotiable.

But for the vast majority of students, especially those entering business, technology, creative industries, or entrepreneurship, these three benefits can now be gained elsewhere, often faster and more affordably.

Why College Alone Is No Longer Enough

The world has changed. The rules of success have changed. But college has stayed mostly the same.

Here’s what students are up against:

• AI tools can now generate essays, solve equations, and write code

• Job markets value execution and initiative more than GPA

• Online learning offers instant access to world-class skills and teachers

• Freelance and project-based work is exploding

• Many universities still prioritize outdated models of education — lectures, busywork, rigid schedules

And the worst part?
Most colleges still don’t teach students how to manage ambiguity, take initiative, or build real-world momentum.

In short: they’re not teaching agency — and without that, knowledge alone doesn’t translate into value.

What Students Actually Need (In Addition to or Instead of College)

Whether a student chooses college or not, the path forward must include more than just classes and credits.

They need to learn how to take initiative.

Not just do assignments — but launch ideas, pitch themselves, and problem-solve in messy, real-life environments.

They need exposure to builders and real work.

College too often shields students from the real world. But the most valuable learning happens through doing — internships, freelance work, entrepreneurial projects, shadowing mentors.

They need coaching that builds identity and drive.

Tutoring helps with grades. But high-agency coaching develops something deeper: mindset, confidence, and the ability to lead oneself — even when the path is unclear.

They need a network that grows with them.

You don’t need a $150K degree to build a strong network. You need access to people who are doing ambitious work and who believe in momentum over pedigree.

So… Is College Worth It?

Here’s the nuanced take:

• College can still be valuable — especially if you go in with clarity, purpose, and supplement it with high-agency experiences.

• But college isn’t a strategy. It’s a tool — one of many. And it needs to be paired with coaching, exploration, and intentional growth.

• In today’s world, what matters most is how a student moves through life — how they respond to challenges, initiate ideas, and create value.

College might give you the map. But it won’t give you the drive to move.
That’s what high-agency coaching is for.

Final Thought

If you’re a parent or student asking, “Do we really need college?” — the better question is:

Are we building the skills, mindset, and network required to thrive — with or without it?

That’s what we do.
And we’d love to help.

The Ultimate Guide to Developing High Agency