College degree not worth cost?

[MENTALLECT]

There have been some articles written recently asking if a college degree was worth the money? I find it curious these articles were all written by individuals who had college degrees. I will caution anyone who takes out 100k in student loans to study English Literature at Harvard to be mindful of the Return on Investment, but do you think a college degree is worth the rising cost of tuition?

 

[Spider-Who?]

Depends on how you gauge it's worth.

 

[StrainedEyes]

It depends what you're going for and what you want to do once you graduate. I foolishly went to an expensive college in NYC and got a BFA in illustration... which has resulted in nothing but an insane amount of student loan debt.

 

[katie_girl09]

It really depends on the circumstances. A BA in English Literature from Harvard might be worth it if, for example, you are dead set on being a tenured university professor at a prestigious university. One thing that I realized upon graduation: when it comes to the majority of entry level positions, it doesn't matter what your degree is in - they just want you to have one.

 

[Hobgoblin]

It depends what you're going for and what you want to do once you graduate. I foolishly went to an expensive college in NYC and got a BFA in illustration... which has resulted in nothing but an insane amount of student loan debt.

This.

I have a bachelors in History, which has gotten me nowhere. I didnt really know what I wanted to do after college, but I knew I liked history. (What 18 year old kid knows what they want to do for the rest of their lives?) Now I know that a bachelors in that subject doesnt mean much, so I'm going for my masters. I have a better idea what I want to do now, so I think it will work out. While the bachelors itself isnt that great, it did get me looking in the right direction, in terms of what I want to do.

Besides, they say that only 5% of college grads are unemployed despite the bad economy, so I'd say its worth it.

 

[Thundercrack85]

I'd say part of the problem is that going to college has become the universal goal. First day of elementary school, they tell you it's all about getting there.

It makes sense. Obviously people want the best for their kids, and for them to be as educated as they can be. But relatively few people do anything with the degree they get. If they even get it.

 

[Lighthouse]

This.

I have a bachelors in History, which has gotten me nowhere. I didnt really know what I wanted to do after college, but I knew I liked history. (What 18 year old kid knows what they want to do for the rest of their lives?) Now I know that a bachelors in that subject doesnt mean much, so I'm going for my masters. I have a better idea what I want to do now, so I think it will work out. While the bachelors itself isnt that great, it did get me looking in the right direction, in terms of what I want to do.

Besides, they say that only 5% of college grads are unemployed despite the bad economy, so I'd say its worth it.

Are they employed because they got a degree, or are they employed because they are waiting at restaurants, or working at Walmart and McDonalds?

 

[Thundercrack85]

Here's a fun statistic for you, 85% of college graduates move back in with their parents after they graduate.

85%! And that's graduates, not drop outs (maybe their parents wouldn't take them back?).

 

[Hobgoblin]

Are they employed because they got a degree, or are they employed because they are waiting at restaurants, or working at Walmart and McDonalds?

I wonder that myself. In my case, its because I work in retail.

 

[terry78]

I have some college coursework under my belt, but didn't finish up. I plan on going back to get the bachelor's via online courses at Purdue just because I hate leaving **** undone. Though I am a system administrator at a somewhat reputable data storage corporation right now, that is beside the point.

 

[Yurka]

I got my Bachelors in Marketing in 2010, and after I graduated I got a job in sales for which I didn't need a college degree, simply because the market was that bad. Now I'm going back to grad school, so we'll see how that pans out

 

[zanos]

It depends on the degree, but considering the wide variety of majors that will likely never result in a job, I would have to say no. I'm always shocked whenever I hear a girl say she's majoring in psychology. This is what you're paying thousands of dollars for? College is nothing but a scam for the majority of kids who don't even have a major picked out by the time they get there.

 

[PyroChamber]

I wonder that myself. In my case, its because I work in retail.

Same here.

I've come to realize that you can't really do much with a degree in art.

 

[MessiahDecoy123]

I wish there was a statistic of how many people went to college and spent thousands without a degree or got a degree but remained in debt for decades.

It's essential to be realistic. Look for careers that will always be in demand that you mind doing for the rest of your life. And don't bite off more than you can chew. Pick something you can be very successful in. If you're average at math, leave those engineering classes alone.

 

[hopefuldreamer]

I feel like it's been worth it for me, but it's a little early to tell. I'll have a better idea when I've been in the city looking for work for a while.

I did my degree in Journalism, and it was a very well rounded and practical course that involved a lot of work experience and direct experience of conducting interviews and using equipment, rather than an academic based media studies degree.

Unfortunately it was not an NCTJ accredited course. And a lot of positions in journalism specifically ask for an NCTJ qualification.

But I'd rather have done it that not have done it. The experiences I had on the course were incredible.

 

[Bruce Banner]

It really depends on the circumstances. A BA in English Literature from Harvard might be worth it if, for example, you are dead set on being a tenured university professor at a prestigious university. One thing that I realized upon graduation: when it comes to the majority of entry level positions, it doesn't matter what your degree is in - they just want you to have one.

Totally what I'm aiming for, I'm uncertain about wanting to be tenured, being in one place for so long would bore me to death. The goal has always been to try for the whole dream of being a writer/novelist. But, teaching English Lit abroad to make ends meet while I work on that goal.

 

[Midnyte_Sun]

The only degrees that you are guaranteed in making some decent money are in Biology, Applied Sciences (engineering, medical), Chemistry, Physics, Business, Education, Computer Science, & Information systems. Fine arts, psychology, literature, communication...good luck.

 

[Erzengel]

Degree in Civil Engineering, got my Professional License a few years later. Definitely worth what I paid in tuition.

 

[Midnyte_Sun]

Civil engineering and electrical are both great careers.

 

[Pink Ranger]

Of course, everybody here is mainly talking about ROI from the first 5 years of your life after graduation. And yes, if you only measure that, then any degree other than applied sciences, law, engineering or business is going to look pretty bad, because you'll likely end up with a job that somebody without a degree could likely get.

But look past those 5 years. A degree (in virtually anything) will increase your likelihood of promotion. Of becoming a manager or higher. Of being able to not just do your day-to-day work, but to analyze problems, identify improvements and communicate them to your benefit. Of being able to switch out of one career path to another when some industries go bad and others take their place. I think everybody here has to realize your major isn't your life.

 

[Midnyte_Sun]

I have a friend who got a master's in psychology and now runs a bank. How's that for flexibility lol.

 

[Pink Ranger]

I have a friend who got a master's in psychology and now runs a bank. How's that for flexibility lol.

That's exactly what I'm saying. Your friend ended up not becoming a psychologist, but his or her education helped to attain a fairly decent return.

 

[Art Damage]

I just graduated Webster Univesity with a B.A. in Advertising & Marketing Communications. Hope it all pays off in the long run.

 

[Raiden]

I'd say that, if you want to go for a degree, don't major in something that doesn't have any job potential and be saddled with loans for nothing. I went for my interest (Psychology), and I discovered that I had a hard time getting a job after I graduated. Right now I'm working in administration. If I could do it all over again, I'd do some research to see what kind of careers that the employers are looking for right now, so I can make sure my degree will worth something later on. Of course, back when I was studying we didn't have such useful tools as Google to help us with answers, like students nowadays have. Kids don't realize how lucky they are right now.

 

[terry78]

Dr. Hibbert: Well, you can always fall back on your degree in....COMMUNICATIONS?!! OH DEAR LORD!!!

Foreign place kicker: I know, I know...is phony major!