A question to all College Students.

01/07/13 11:01 pm | #1

As a disclaimer I just want to point out that these are my opinions and observations. I'm not trying to discourage anyone from going to college.

The past few months of college have been fun. But that's just it, I haven't really learned anything I don't already know. Now I'm not the smartest person in the world nowhere near it.

I recently accepted a job with high chances of moving up and would be making around $67,000 a year. Not bad for an 18 year old and it's a job where I love what I do. Mind you I'm barely going into my 2nd year in college where I have not learned much. Either, in my opinion, college is a sham or my High School was a good one, and trust me, it wasn't. Or maybe both

Everyone always tells me, "Oh you should stay in college, you'll need it later in life!" I then I look at some of my closer friends with Bachelor's degrees and some even Master's still working in fast food or in stores like Walmart for minimum wage.

My question to you guys is, have you ever in your life found it necessary to use your college degree? Has it ever come in handy? Do you honestly believe you couldn't have done what you're doing without it?

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Re: A question to all College Students.

01/07/13 11:10 pm | #2

Quote by Daniel:

As a disclaimer I just want to point out that these are my opinions and observations. I'm not trying to discourage anyone from going to college.

The past few months of college have been fun. But that's just it, I haven't really learned anything I don't already know. Now I'm not the smartest person in the world nowhere near it.

I recently accepted a job with high chances of moving up and would be making around $67,000 a year. Not bad for an 18 year old and it's a job where I love what I do. Mind you I'm barely going into my 2nd year in college where I have not learned much. Either, in my opinion, college is a sham or my High School was a good one, and trust me, it wasn't. Or maybe both

Everyone always tells me, "Oh you should stay in college, you'll need it later in life!" I then I look at some of my closer friends with Bachelor's degrees and some even Master's still working in fast food or in stores like Walmart for minimum wage.

My question to you guys is, have you ever in your life found it necessary to use your college degree? Has it ever come in handy? Do you honestly believe you couldn't have done what you're doing without it?

Ugh, I could write a book on this subject. All I will say is think very carefully before dropping from college. I can tell you that I made a lot of money when I was 19, and by 23 almost 6 figures a year. The problem? Outside of experience, I had no degree, so after being laid off from said job, it became very hard to find another one. Especially lower paid ones, since I had made more money previously.

As for college being easy, it's likely you had a decent high school. It also depends on what you are studying, because frankly some classes and even degrees are a bit of a joke. This also may be why people who have bachelor's and masters degrees are working menial jobs. It also depends on the person, having a degree doesn't make a good employee.

All I can say is from experience it is MUCH harder to be back in college later in life. I don't want to put words in his mouth but I'm sure Mo can back me up on this one.

The degree I just got should have me set for life for a job, so yeah I can say it's come in handy even though I haven't really used it yet.

I'm sure I could give more helpful advice if I knew what type of job you were taking and your current degree. But that's up to you.

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Re: A question to all College Students.

01/07/13 11:27 pm | #3

To add to Mini; are you taking gen-req courses that are prereqs to your major related classes? My first two years were pretty much a breeze, as they were basically all random electives I needed to have enough credits to take my other courses. I was in classes such as Health, Spanish 1 and 2 (Languages were easy for me, especially since I already knew French), Computer Science (like, excel and word), College Algebra, some dance history course, etc., just so I could gain credits to take my Accounting/Marketing classes.

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Re: A question to all College Students.

01/07/13 11:40 pm | #4

To add to these 2...

I agree, college is a joke. America confuses intelligence and education time and time again, and college has gone from something that the mental elite do to get better jobs to just an accepted next step in the babysitting that is public school. However, since this is something that has just kind of been universally accepted throughout the country, it's a mindset that you basically don't have a choice but subscribe to.

$60k... Hell- any 5 figure income isn't that much. It seems like it when you're 18,19,20... But it's jack shit when you have a wife, kids, house etc. And because it seems like a lot now, you'll think you're ready for the wife, kids, house, etc. before you realize how little it is and go back to school. And them you're stuck maxed out for your job and still not making enough, and no time to go back to school to get a better job.

(Because seriously, go back to school at 28 and get a degree... No problem. Go back to school when you're the head of a household with kids to feed and bills to pay and a wife who needs attention, and so on... and it's a whole other ball game.)

So I'd say stay in school. You said it yourself, a lot of college graduates work at McDonald's and Walmart. That means if something happens, you're competing with college graduates to be a Walmart greeter. For real.

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Re: Re: A question to all College Students.

01/08/13 3:33 am | #5

Quote by kroberts11:

To add to Mini; are you taking gen-req courses that are prereqs to your major related classes? My first two years were pretty much a breeze, as they were basically all random electives I needed to have enough credits to take my other courses. I was in classes such as Health, Spanish 1 and 2 (Languages were easy for me, especially since I already knew French), Computer Science (like, excel and word), College Algebra, some dance history course, etc., just so I could gain credits to take my Accounting/Marketing classes.

Kait just hit the nail on the head. Until recently college was quite easy, I'm a few semesters into 4000 level classes now and I finally feel that my money is being put to good use.

I also have to say that I too felt that I was wasting my time in college my freshman and half my sophomore year but it was a hell of a lot of fun. If you still feel that your school isn't right for you look at what you want to do with your life and where you want to be in the near future, there's a damn good possibility your college isn't very good (especially if your at a community college, several of those are just jokes - not meaning to offend the CC grads of XBA). It could also be possible your just taking the wrong classes.

If you really feel that way though don't post of forums like this but go talk to one of your school counselors. It sounds like you already made a decision though and to be honest I'm damn jealous you get to do what you love and get paid for it but as Kat said 60k really isn't that much money when you start having to provide for yourself and a family.

And the all important kicker, it never hurts to have an education, it could very well be the difference maker in you getting hired over someone else later down the line. Don't think about now but about the future.

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Re: A question to all College Students.

01/08/13 11:11 am | #6

Allow me to offer a different view; go out and work right now and get your edumacashun later.

I started college at 22 after a 4 year hitch with the USN and found that it wasn't for me. Well, that's only partially true. I hadn't really calmed down yet, or I wasn't ready yet. Take your pick.

Now, at 45, yes, I am back in school. Could I have learned all of the stuff I have learned in college so far in the real world? Yep. Would I? Probably not. There is a grade tied to my gathering of knowledge, so yes, I am going to learn it.

I have owned 4 businesses over the past 20 years and I have always made a good income. Unfortunately, the past 2 administrations have made the economy a bumpy ride for small business owners.

My wife now makes the money - she's a computer programmer, and I take care of the kids. Basically we have switched roles while I go back to college.

In the end, you can always go back. I will be 53 when I am done with school.

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12/31/69 7:00 pm | #7

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Re: A question to all College Students.

08/03/13 5:23 am | #8

I agree with many of the points that have already been presented here. there are definitely some good ones!

I will say this.. Although you may not FEEL like you are benefiting from your education thus far, to finish up at least a four year degree will benefit you leaps and bounds over the alternative. Regardless of whether you actually learn something, having that diploma in the end can be the deciding factor when it comes down to getting a job...

Think of it this way.. Two applicants submit resumes for the same company, and for the same position. Both applicants have the same qualifications and experience, the only difference being one has a four year degree and the other doesn't.. Now while having that four year degree doesn't neccesarily make you "more" qualified in reality, in the companies eyes, it does. In most cases like these, that company wold hire the college grad.

Now i cold go on for days about this, but i reckon what I'm trying to say is that marketability is essential, and the other thing a degree can do is help you.

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Re: Re: A question to all College Students.

08/03/13 5:33 am | #9

Quote by Kat:

To add to these 2...

I agree, college is a joke. America confuses intelligence and education time and time again, and college has gone from something that the mental elite do to get better jobs to just an accepted next step in the babysitting that is public school. However, since this is something that has just kind of been universally accepted throughout the country, it's a mindset that you basically don't have a choice but subscribe to.

$60k... Hell- any 5 figure income isn't that much. It seems like it when you're 18,19,20... But it's jack shit when you have a wife, kids, house etc. And because it seems like a lot now, you'll think you're ready for the wife, kids, house, etc. before you realize how little it is and go back to school. And them you're stuck maxed out for your job and still not making enough, and no time to go back to school to get a better job.

(Because seriously, go back to school at 28 and get a degree... No problem. Go back to school when you're the head of a household with kids to feed and bills to pay and a wife who needs attention, and so on... and it's a whole other ball game.)

So I'd say stay in school. You said it yourself, a lot of college graduates work at McDonald's and Walmart. That means if something happens, you're competing with college graduates to be a Walmart greeter. For real.

I COMPLETELY agree here.. One thing I have noticed though is that a lot of high school grads will go into college thinking that any degree will do. However, this is where knowing (or at least having an idea of) what you want to do career-wise will benefit you. That way you can tailor your college experience so that you come out with the knowledge and documentation that will help to propel you into a good paying career of your choosing. That way you really don't get stuck working at Walmart or Mickie D's while having a degree.

And like she said.. Finish now, or else you just might never finish at all :/

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Re: A question to all College Students.

08/03/13 2:05 pm | #10

I've had two completely different majors that require different types of thinking, and I haven't had an issue with college being difficult at all. I've taken the more advanced classes before the classes that are required to get in, and it wasn't an issue. I could also probably go from a 3.6 student to a 4.0 if I actually studied and did the work assigned.

College degree nowadays is what a highschool degree was 20-30 years ago. Yeah you can make your money now, but whenever you decide you've outgrown that job, or if you get laid off, you'll be going against people with college degree's to get the job. Yeah you will have work experience, but a lot of jobs are requiring a degree just to get an interview! (Abercrombie requires you to have a college degree to manage one of their stores lolwut.)

Why not work and go to school part time, either with night classes or online courses? That way you'll have a job and working towards school at the same time.

I would also recommend going to Grad school, I feel like personally that's where I'll finally get challenged to do better, maybe the same will be for you.

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Re: A question to all College Students.

08/03/13 2:08 pm | #11

Work experience still trumps everything around here. But that is slowly changing. You have to think about the next 15 years.

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12/31/69 7:00 pm | #12

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