You know that college is not for you, but then what is? This list is just to get you started thinking of the possibilities, in no particular order.

1. Praxis – Business Internship https://discoverpraxis.com “Launch your career at a growing business with the cost or hassle of college. One Year. No degree required.” Praxis is a year long college alternative that starts with a business bootcamp (remote, you can complete while working a job or school, etc.) where you build relevant skills. Then get your skills and interests matched and get placed at a startup business where you are paid but still receive mentorship and guidance. Win-win! Get on their email list, their blog site is GOLD!
   • Read their book Forward Tilt here http:// portal.discoverpraxis.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Forward-Tilt.pdf
   • Listen to their podcasts at https://discoverpraxis.com/pocasts/
2. Start a side hustle. Everyone needs extra money at some point and everyone has skills/talents/labor that someone else desparately needs. This is a soft start to entrepreneurship. You don’t learn about business by studying business theory in a class, you learn it by DOING it. For ideas and some encouragement read Side Hustle and The $100 Startup by Chris Guillebeau. This is a great way to see if something you are interested in is a real future possibility, try things out, don’t be afraid to fail. JUST START!
3. Mentorship. Are you interested in a specific business? A trade, or an area of study? Find someone who is willing to mentor you and/or let you shadow them in exchange for labor, chores, whatever. Professionals, especially aging ones would be more than happy to bestow their hard earned wisdom upon you. This was how young people learned for centuries. There is no need to re-invent the wheel!
4. Large Building Project. Interested in the trades? How about building a tiny house? This would be a great way to learn project management, and you would have a place to live afterwards! Having experience with planning, designing, materials, building codes/laws, electrical, plumbing, heating/coolingsytsems. If you solicit donations and advice from contractors you could complete the project for less than a year of rent. Bonus points for blogging/vlogging about your experience.
5. MIT Challenge. I first read about this on a blog I follow by Scott Young and was fascinated. https://www.scotthyoung.com. For 12 months he decided to learn MIT’s actual 4 year Computer Science curriculum. All the books, all the projects, all the tests. In. one. year. Let that sink in. This was not Psychology or Sociology, this was STEM. The crazy thing is that many of the programs at the top colleges are online for anyone to see, as well as many lectures, notes, tests. All free. Design your own course of study using what is already out there. While you are at it, get on his email list, he is constantly studying the science of learning and better ways to do it.
   • In Scott Young’s words “I’m embarking on this experiment because I want to show that learning does not require acceptance boards and SAT tests, thousands of dollars in debt, or even the 4 year pace most students assume is necessary to learn a subject.” Well said, Mr. Young!
6. Great Books Challenge. For centuries, those who wanted to be “Educated” looked to the great books, also called the “Western Cannon”. The current elite also embark on this classical education. Starting with The Greeks and their great thinkers, moving through Ancient Rome and then the greatest literature, philosophy and science up to Dostoevsky, Tolstoy, Jane Austen and ending with CS Lewis and Tolkien. There are many different versions of what should be in this list, some are listed here. Some ignore medieval literature, but you should never discount the hundred of years that shaped eras that followed. Most of these works are free online at Internet Archive, Project Gutenburg and Open Library as well as in audio form on Librevox.
   • . https://romanroadspress.com/essentials-schedule-owc/https://welltrainedmind.com/a/the-great-books-history-as-literature/
     • Yale Reading list (Ancient Greek only, just for fun): https://classics.yale.edu/sites/default/files/files/downloads/YaleUndergraduateReadingList.pdf
   • https://classicalcurriculum.com/Greatbooks.htm
   • Princeton https://classics.princeton.edu/programs/graduate/reading-lists
   • https://www.openculture.com/2014/01/harold-bloom-creates-a-massive-list-of-works-in-the-western-canon.html
7. Epic volunteer Plan. If you only have a general idea of what you are interested in, draft a letter and/or go in person to various businesses/entities and let them know you are interested in volunteering. The could include coaching a sports team, helping any kind of non-profit organization. Anyone will take free help, but be sure you settle on a written agreement of length of term and what you will be doing. Look to the movie “The One Week Job Project” for inspiration https://www.oneweekjob.com. This was a fascinating journey of taking jobs for one week all over the world. He also wrote a book about his experience “The One-Week Job Project” by Sean Aiken.
8. Travel. It is very possible to go overseas for an extended period while spending much less than a semester in college. You will immerse yourself in the history and cultures of foreign lands while making friends and learning job skills.
   • helpx.net & workaway.info are two good websites
   • WWOOFING, which is working with World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms – You work for room and board in exotic places so you don’t need a work visa.
   • Take the TEFL course and teach English abroad. You will be paid but have great work/teaching experience in another culture.
   • https://www.teachaway.com/teach-english-abroad
   • https://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/best-places-to-teach-esl-overseas/
   • https://www.twowanderingsoles.com/blog/tefl-certification-complete-guide-to-teach-english-abroad
9. Related to #8 Work a summer camp or a Ski Resort season.
   • https://www.usasummercamp.com/
   • https://www.ccusa.com/
10. Legit Research project. Are you considering a degree in science involving research? There is no reason you can’t do a full study on whatever subject interests you. Are you into psychology, sociology? Awesome, the best way to understand the limits of science and the scientific method is to actually perform one. Do a survey of the literature in your interest area, is there a study that needs replication? We have a replication crisis going on so, yes! You don’t even have to design the study, just follow exactly what was done and see if you get the same result. You can learn statistical analysis online, it will go a long way toward your understanding of what really happens behind the science “scene”. Be sure to connect with Professors & scientists in your area and get their assistance. Most of the greats did their experiments at home, your brain still works when not in an institute of higher learning.
11. Get your Pilots license. This is a dream of so many people but the cost (@$15,000) turns so many away. It really is less than a semester at a 4 year college. If that is overwhelming, get a drone licence. The test is similar and it can be used for many applications, law enforcement, wedding videos, real estate and more. Many flying instructors will give a first lesson free. If you are under 18, you can sign up with the EAA Experimental Aviation Association and get the online training for free as well as a free lesson. There is math, physics, navigation and weather involved so think of it as a hands on STEM education!
12. EMT or Paramedic. This either suits your type A thrill seeking self or not. The only way to find out is to do it. The training is reasonable, usually at a junior college and it is great training for other medical fields or to transition into a fire department or police department.
13. Write a book. seriously. There are teenagers writing books of every type, and publishing them online – and selling E-book versions. Crazy. Do you have a passion for Lego building or horsemanship or do you write short stories and want to write a novel? There is literally nothing stopping you from doing so.
    • IDEA: How about writing your life story (your future kids will be forever grateful) and then talking in depth with your parents, family members for their stories. Tie this into what was happening in history at the time. Find out why they chose to live where they do, when did your family come there. After you have tapped all the relatives and family history, hit Ancestry.com and trace your family tree as far back as you can. You will be amazed the perspective you gain on yourself and your place in history. As an adopted person I can tell you with what little information I had, I was able to find out a ton of information – and became adept at research. There is ALWAYS a way.

Here is an amazing list by PRAXIS of 21 college alternatives