Colleges focus on academics and test scores. However, there is a vast world and opportunities for young people to explore outside of a traditional college degree.
Sometimes the best way to get into an industry is to find a mentor. Mentors are people that have been in the career field for a while and have plenty to learn from.
In some instances, tuition is free and paid for by the respective governments. While technically, this one is going to college, it is not necessarily pursuing a degree.
While not a direct career path, spending some time traveling after high school can help expand your worldview and help you focus on what direction you want to take.
You could go straight into business. When you think of starting a business, your mind might think about tech companies with ideas that will disrupt an industry or change the way we approach life altogether.
Youtube is the second largest search engine on the internet. It is a vast platform with people searching for information on various topics. You can start a youtube channel to monetize this search for information.