First of all, what needs to be established is the distinction between higher education and higher education. Blake Boles, author of Better Than College, writes in his book about the distinction between the two. He points out that college is a pathway to higher education that, in essence, is a prescribed path to success, but it does not guarantee higher education. Furthermore, he writes that: “a higher education is, above all, the ability to direct one's life by oneself. Someone who has a higher education can define their own vision of success and pursue it, even in the face of difficulties” (Boles 4). There is a common misconception that college is the path to higher education that leads to success. This is why parents hesitate to accompany their children on a gap year. They worry that their children won't be as productive or responsible for tasks. Contrary to this popular belief, gap years require more or more responsibilities. However, in his book, Blake Boles answers the question of how to pursue higher education without going to college: "Instead of following someone else's curriculum, self-directed learners start by asking themselves what fascinates and motivates them. Their journey begins and ends. -with self-knowledge. Instead of taking classes full-time, self-directed learners set themselves tasks that they find interesting, revealing, and challenging” (Boles 5). The absence of the responsibility of handing in homework and preparing the presentation comes with the responsibility of building one's own program. This leaves time to pursue interesting activities. Instead of relying on professors to tell you how to learn, you should make an effort to network with people in the field that interests you. They should seek mentoring to replace the advice given by a professor. This requires considerable responsibility, which becomes entirely achievable once we understand the value