Should You Go To College?

[rebel]

As someone in my masters degree program, I feel a sense of regret, like I should be doing something else. Should you go to college or not?

 

[Floowandereez nuts]

I think there's still value in certain undergrad degrees and professional degrees, a degree in mechanical engineering is certainly more beneficial than a degree in exercise science.
There is a certain trap in these post-grad degrees, I know a guy with a phd in philosophy and he's nearly 40 and still trying to get a professor job, bet he wishes he could get that 20 years of his life back.

 

[PunkinMan]

I didnt go because I didnt want to be paying it off the rest of my life but now I have to work the rest of my life, simple as.

 

[Colloid]

It really depends on the particular work you're shooting for and how deep the program goes in teaching you. Just taking the classes isn't enough. To compare the two extremes:

African American studies bachelor's where you treat college like adult daycare and do only the bare minimum classes? Complete waste since it both only opens up generic bachelor's jobs and you don't get any meaningful work experience in the meantime. Good luck with that debt.

Biochemistry bachelor's where you aggressively push to work in a drug discovery lab as an undergraduate underling in between classes? Fantastic investment since the subsequent pharmaceutical research jobs or graduate programs will all require that bachelor's at the minimum. Also you're generally paid well enough to easily knock out your loans in 5-7yrs if you leave reasonably within your means.

 

[Irish Turtle]

Is it proven that college grads make moer than non college grads by a lot. As long as you study something productive you should be fine.

 

[August Levasseur]

If you want to, sure

 

[YHWH's Strongest Soldier]

Depends on how much debt you're going into for it and your potential income after graduation. If your debt is minimal and you finish your studies in a timely manner, of course it's worth it. Being a student gives you incredible networking opportunities and access to (paid) internship programs that are simply unavailable to people not in education. Most importantly, do not just blindly follow classes and as long as you keep an acceptable GPA for your country's standards, any more effort put into it is wasted. Participate in extracurriculars such as organization of student and sport clubs, and seek employment. Two years of even part-time work look good on your CV provided they're in your field. A master's degree was definitely worth it in most cases that I've seen.

 

[Divine right to rule]

Depends on what you are studying and if you are an American.

 

[User names must be unique]

Only for STEM almost everything else is just a pointless vanity degree for hobbies.

 

[Wild at Heart]

Is it worth? :

• STEM : Yes. Research the academic requirements for the field you want to go into. Go on LinkedIn and look at professionals in the field with the jobs you desire, look at their credentials and academic achievements. Follow their example and get hired. STEMfolks are not the most social, so a little networking and charisma will go a long way.
  
  
• Business/Finance : Maybe. Network, Network, Network. Join clubs or business fraternities. Take the classes pretty seriously (they are easy) , but make friends and meet people who seem bright and ambitious. Reach out to professionals, go to job fairs, make as many moves as possible in your 4 years. You have a lot of momentum. I've had family members get 6 figure jobs out of college just because their frat brother knew a guy.
  
  
• Art/Humanities : Probably Not. Be a rich kid with rich parents who know people in the industry already, or be an amazing prodigy who can go to a designated art school and be sponsored before you graduate. If none of that happens, change course and do something more realistic. IMO if you only have a passing ( > 85 % ) dedication to art, get a stable job and develop your arts on the side.
  
  
• CompSci/Tech: IMO, at this point in time, do not pursue. The field is extremely bloated. Companies are wising up to outsourcing and diversity hires who will take 60 percent of the salary you want. Tech jobs have been getting dumped like crazy every few quarters. If you have amazing coding skills and can distinguish yourself above millions of other students, perhaps. Otherwise learning to code freelance and just taking jobs yourself would be better. Is it worth it to waste the time and money at college?

So if this discourages you, look into TRADE SCHOOLS. Middle Class Boomers turn their nose up at the trades, but the world is going upside-down, tech workers are a dime a dozen, and no kid wants to be a plumber or electrician. If you feel that your time would be wasted in college, or you don't feel drawn to academics, pursue a trade school. You can even find jobs that will hire you, train you, and help pay for your trade school. So you are getting paid to complete your apprenticeship and go to school at the same time. Tradesman want to fast track workers because their jobs are in high demand. In 15 years all of the old tradesman will be gone and there will be a huge vacuum and DEMAND for work. Every town and home needs a plumber, electrician, carpenter, mason, HVAC, etc. Get ahead of the curve and it will pay out like crazy. Also having a skill with your hands will get you work anywhere in the world.

 

[Colloid]

Every town and home needs a plumber, electrician, carpenter, mason, HVAC, etc. Get ahead of the curve and it will pay out like crazy.

The giant * here is that trades pay well because they tear up your body way faster and are more hazardous than other technical work. Invest wisely and have an exit plan ready sooner than usual in case an incident prematurely shelves your trades career.

 

[I AM RETARDED!]

I'm going to say no, I wasted my time on degree for trade that I can't even break into in my area. Just apply for jobs you want and see if they'll train or build experience outside of college.

 

[Cirrhosis_of_Liver]

No, I shouldn't go to college.