Is getting a Degree worth it?

[packerd_00]

trade school

[franklee168]

Okay that makes more sense. I needed to understand the living expenses to understand how you made that much.
Sounds like you worked hard, good work brother.

Sales and service is where a lot of us drop outs end up. We work a boat load of hours but the paycheck doesn't lie on payday. Been on the service side for 28 years now and live comfortably because of it.

[mpaschal34]

Screw the degree. The real money is being a male escort. Especially if you like rich men.

[THam12]

trade school

Good idea right now. That's where jobs are. Got milions if dumbfukk business grads looking for jobs. Less supply for trades, that's why there's been an uptick in trade schools right now

[THam12]

Sales and service is where a lot of us drop outs end up. We work a boat load of hours but the paycheck doesn't lie on payday. Been on the service side for 28 years now and live comfortably because of it.

Yessir. All it takes is hard work and any job can become very lucrative

[jjgold]

The work hard thing does work regardless of college

Americans do not like to work though..young america

[stealthyburrito]

Totally worth it. I studied stupid shit and people only really care that I graduated from an upper echelon school. At minimum that paper indicates you can think critically and analyze at a moderate level.

lucky enough to have my father pass his gi bill benefits to me so very minimal debt that's almost paid off. I'm not making 6figures but I'm 25 and if I feel like traveling I have that option without being financially stunted.

now if we're talking law degrees, there's where it's not worth it

[SamsNCharge99]

Sales and service is where a lot of us drop outs end up. We work a boat load of hours but the paycheck doesn't lie on payday. Been on the service side for 28 years now and live comfortably because of it.

that's for sure. 70+ hours a week, working weekends, bell to bell, work past closing ect. But it does pay off in the end.

I feel bad for the salesman that work the hours and make 40-50k a year, sucks for them haha

[The Kraken]

For me it's been the best financial investment of my life

I went to school and got an ASSOCIATES degree in nursing about 10 years ago, and have pulled in over 6 figures at least 5 out of the 10 years I've been a nurse

Now I'm in a department where I can work as much or as little as I want, and can hit that six figure mark without killing myself.

I never had student loans due to grants and scholarships, but if I had, I could have paid them back within 6 months.

I've since gone back and received my bachelors in nursing, plus my original degree in Chemistry, and I get $1.25/hr more for having a bachelors in nursing and nothing for the Chemistry degree

Associates degree in nursing one of the best value degrees out there

Plus, I won't even tell you the stories about nursing school study groups. No one would believe me anyways

[Dirty Sanchez]

Just wondered what some of you that do not currently have one think about it. Are you happy with your job(s) or do you wish you had gotten an education?


inb4 saloon

I can probably give you some real perspective on this...I just finished my fourth degree...My Associate's was years ago, and Bachelor's was from a state school in Pennsylvania, I waited a few years before going after my Master's which I got from OU (Oklahoma) and I said that was it because I figured I didn't need anymore. Once I got into teaching part of the "career development" path had a fork in the road and you wanted to make it farther up the ladder they helped pay for your Phd...so I just recently finished it...but it is really painful...and a grind. I would say it all depends on what you're goals are, as well as the vision of the company you're working for

[pavyracer]

Of course a degree is helpful. The 6 years I spend in college were the best of my life partying all the time and occasionally going to class to sober up.

[TheMoneyShot]

all depends on the job and field like everyone else is saying. Going for a generic degree is useless, like business so broad and can mean so many things.

Add on the crazy student loans you will likely occur and not make even close to the money you should make in order to pay them off.

I'm living that life. I'm 25 and dropped out of college and still have student loans, not as much as some but still have some. However, i was motivated unlike most and knew I wasn't going to live at home and be a bum. I started selling cars in 2012 and 8 months ago became the youngest manager in the company going into finance. I have no degree to show for it but I have a 6 figure job and own a home at 25 from hard work and determination. It sounds cliche but its how I did it.

I know so many kids my age, a little older, or even younger still living at home, have dead end jobs and nothing to show from their degree. It only means something if you go for a specific purpose and continue to pursue that career.

Just wanted to add to this post.

I know a guy who's been selling cars for the last 8 years for Chevrolet. On staff... they have 14 full time sales associates. He's married has 4 kids... guys note on his home is around $3,000 a month. His wife doesn't work. Guy is averaging 1.2 sold cars a day his sales career. Think about that for a second. Averaging 1.2 that's crazy!

I know he has to be making $100,000 + a year. Sad part of the story... it just shows you how MARKED UP new cars are. It's sickening.

[daneblazer]

Often employers want it because it shows you have dedication & commitment. I have two and don't really use either...but probably wouldn't be where I am without them.

that said, i also know guys with no degree and worked their way to the top.

[Renegades]

I work for an investment bank and you could never even get in the door without a degree, even for an admin role. That being said, 95% of what I learned in college does not apply to my role. Everything was learned on the job.

[Jeep_Life 42]

It's just as good as a high school diploma now...everyone has one, it's all about who you know!

[MUHerd37]

I just graduated with a degree in finance. Not sure what the fukk I'm supposed to do with it tho. Want a masters but I can't go another 2 years and the cost of it all.

[teaserpleaser]

You make 6 figures are a car lot as a newly hired manager?
Do you live in an expensive area?

You can make a lot of money selling cars if you're motivated ... Especially used cars I had a killer finance guy that got m everybody to buy a alarm, extended warranty, Window tint. It's pretty good money especially when you get word of mouth customers from your other customers. The hours suck though ... Suck balls.

[opie1988]

Often employers want it because it shows you have dedication & commitment. I have two and don't really use either...but probably wouldn't be where I am without them.

Unless it's a very specialized degree, I'd say that's about 80% of it.

When I was a freshman, I had a longtime sociology prof tell me the first 2 years of college were for nothing more than to weed out the weaker students. He said only 1 out of 3 would still be there to graduate. It's difficult, and not for everyone.

[JIBBBY]

Well... In my eyes (I have two bachelors degrees as i double majored in school) its worth it JUST because employers these day think it is.
Anymore a degree basically just means that someone is able to learn efficiently in a certain field.

There are many jobs which I don't think a degree is worth the time or money. Simply start at bottom and work your ass off and prove you can learn and take on responsibility and your employer won't give a shit if you have a piece of paper or not.

Many specialized positions, they seem absolutely worth it. Like doctor (of any type), lawyer, etc.

Prolonged Schooling and multiple degrees are great for looking for the BEST payable jobs available for sure and for beating out the competition in general..... Starting your own business and being your own boss is golden though.. Job security starts and ends with you and you alone.. Too bad they don't teach you that in college... Like I said, a college degree is great for basic learning and resume bonus points..

Own the hospital and don't be the doctor working in the hospital in other words.. It's deep I know and a challenge.. I gotta keep it real though... Think pennies and you get pennies, think dollars and you get dollars...

[imadegen]

as mentioned previously a trade school is an awesome idea. most trade schools are two years. some top electricians and HVAC technicians can make 100k+

[nyplayer33]

Too costly education...no unless u r gonna be nurse lawyer dr...no jobs

[Ralphie Halves]

Yeah, I'm not super bullish on degrees. All depends on what you want though. I worked with a lot of people in the hospitality industry in Vegas who had degrees from some really good schools (Cornell, Stanford, CIT, Virginia just off the top of my head). It's a different game now, tuition is so pricey that they want to pay it off ASAP, and a high-end industry job is the quickest way to do that.

I flunked out of a crappy redneck college, and I'm hoping to be out of the work force entirely by 2017. About 90% of my income comes from outside of my "real" job, and I could probably let it go, but I'm being a pussy and want that safety net there one more year.

TMS - The main reason people want to hire those with a degree is in case something goes wrong. It's risk management. They don't want an employee to hurt the company, get fired, and have the higher-ups (who are usually old) to say "Why the F did you hire somebody without a degree!!!"

[Ralphie Halves]

Too costly education...no unless u r gonna be nurse lawyer dr...no jobs

There's some truth to this. There are thousands of American jobs out there unfilled right now because of no skilled labor -- people that have learned the particular trade, or have done it before somewhere else.

Outside of that, degrees are not a golden ticket to any job you want in that field. Not anymore.

[The Kraken]

Ralphie are you an attorney?

[Ralphie Halves]

Ralphie are you an attorney?

No. I don't hate myself enough. (sorry Donker)

[frostno98]

If it's in Engineering, Nursing, Teaching, or Business management, since those jobs will always be in demand.

One thing you should absolutely not do is not get a degree from Devry, University of Phoenix, or any of them garbage online colleges. Most employees laugh at people with those degrees since online learning is a joke. Make sure it is from a four year University that at least has a football program. I think Business Management is the way to go. Just look at career builders, there's so many competitive paying jobs in that field that you can relocate virtually anywhere in the US.

[CanuckG]

It's just as good as a high school diploma now...everyone has one, it's all about who you know!

Agree with the bolded. 60% of the reason I got my job with the govt is because the HR coordinator is my dad's friends wife. Having a degree got my foot in the door, but her connection helped me bypass 50 other applicants.

[daneblazer]

It's not about the grades you make, but the hands you shake

its not about the diploma you hang, but who you bang

[CanuckG]

If it's in Engineering, Nursing, Teaching, or Business management, since those jobs will always be in demand.

One thing you should absolutely not do is not get a degree from Devry, University of Phoenix, or any of them garbage online colleges. Most employees laugh at people with those degrees since online learning is a joke. Make sure it is from a four year University that at least has a football program. I think Business Management is the way to go. Just look at career builders, there's so many competitive paying jobs in that field that you can relocate virtually anywhere in the US.

All my engineering buddies are having a hard time finding work.

[Jeep_Life 42]

Agree with the bolded. 60% of the reason I got my job with the govt is because the HR coordinator is my dad's friends wife. Having a degree got my foot in the door, but her connection helped me bypass 50 other applicants.

exactly what I mean!

[frostno98]

I just graduated with a degree in finance. Not sure what the fukk I'm supposed to do with it tho. Want a masters but I can't go another 2 years and the cost of it all.

Why can't you just be a Manager somewhere making 50-70k? Since most of the upper-division Finance classes are probably similar to someone getting a Business Management degree.

[spro23]

only if its a STEM degree.

[JIBBBY]

Yeah, I'm not super bullish on degrees. All depends on what you want though. I worked with a lot of people in the hospitality industry in Vegas who had degrees from some really good schools (Cornell, Stanford, CIT, Virginia just off the top of my head). It's a different game now, tuition is so pricey that they want to pay it off ASAP, and a high-end industry job is the quickest way to do that.

I flunked out of a crappy redneck college, and I'm hoping to be out of the work force entirely by 2017. About 90% of my income comes from outside of my "real" job, and I could probably let it go, but I'm being a pussy and want that safety net there one more year.

TMS - The main reason people want to hire those with a degree is in case something goes wrong. It's risk management. They don't want an employee to hurt the company, get fired, and have the higher-ups (who are usually old) to say "Why the F did you hire somebody without a degree!!!"

I do know some Ivy leaguers that are very successful in business.. Now specified degrees from top schools can work and do work.. That happens only because the Ivy league schools only recruit the smartest coming out of high school..

If you are smart to begin with and excelling then run with it I say Build on your talents always...

[KingJD31]

Most companies in any trade will be willing to train you if you know how to use a screwdriver, lots of demand

as mentioned previously a trade school is an awesome idea. most trade schools are two years. some top electricians and HVAC technicians can make 100k+

[Ralphie Halves]

All my engineering buddies are having a hard time finding work.

I have one friend that does too. Got an engineering degree from Vandy. Is the GM of an Italian restaurant in Vegas now. Couldn't find work where he wanted ten years ago. Won't go back. Likes what he does.