College degree not worth cost?

[MessiahDecoy123]

 

[RoughNTumble]

Having a career path is more important than college itself.

My ex graduated from Drexel with Honors and a Biology degree and makes $10 dollars an hour at Nordstrom's.

I didn't go to school a day in my life, got a GED when I turned 18 and immediately got a managerial position making over $10 an hour. I now make way more than that jut through internal promotions, and once I get my degree, I'll be able to multiply my current salary by even more (potentially, I could make upwards of $300,000 a year pretty easily if my job performance warrants it).

The difference between those two is career path. At 18, I immediately got myself a career path, and - even though college is a requirement - I was more able to suceed than someone who was all about school from 5-21.

The other thing I think is overvalued is the quality of college you go to. In reality, I don't think most employers give a **** about where you went or what your major was, they care more about who you are as an individual, and them being able to say they only hire college graduates.

So, it would really be much smarter to go to a small school, rack up 30 grand in debt and get a good job, then it would be to go to a big name school, rack up 100-200 grand in debt, and still only be able to get the same job.

Damn, what kind of retail are you in? I gotta get some of that tbqh

 

[SentinelMind]

Best advice I can give for college freshman or high school students considering college:


1.
Take a career aptitude test. There are several online. Right now. Figure out what type of career you're interested in, research it, google. Don't wait to take that sophomore class to realize you hate the subject. Don't wait for professors to guide you. Guide your own career search now! Figure out if its something you can commit to.
Then commit! Don't change your major every other year...I know people who did that. If you have friends who do that, stay far away from them. Their fickleness will infect you.


2. Choose a cheap public school. I went to a private school and while I got a great experience, good contacts, and some good development and I have a great job now, I sometimes wonder if the debt I accumulated in process is worth it. I have about 10K left which I should pay off in 2 years. In long run, you can still get good jobs at cheaper (and sometimes easier) schools. I had turned down full scholarship to in-state school and sometimes I wonder what my life would have been like taking that easier road. Maybe slightly less opportunity but less debt too.

3. Choose a major that will give you hard skills. Drop all this classics, anthropology, liberal arts, communication degrees. Yes, some can succeed with those degrees, but you better be a superb, outgoing, hard-working, networking type student who teachers, parents, etc notice. If you're average (Take a honest look at yourself) and don't have a huge network of rich people at your disposal, don't think outliers and geniuses and prodigies will predict average outcome for those who succeed in those degrees. Take math, computer science, engineering, biology, chemistry, statistics, finance (hard rigorous finance), or economics. Get a degree that will teach you a hard skill that will set you apart from the pack. Then, on top of that, you can choose to pick up soft skills from extracurricular activities. You don't need a English degree to read shakespeare or study it on your own free time. Getting liberal arts degrees is so risky nowadays, ...if you want to do it, be prepared for the huge risk and being another number, another face in the crowd.


4. Consider getting certified outside of classroom if you want to work for corporate america or specialized level of government. Get Microsoft or Oracle certification if you want to work with computers. If you want to do data management in health, there are data coding certifications. Want to sell insurance...there is series 7. I took actuarial exams. You can take part 1 of CFA exam if you like investment finance. Look hard, there's some certification that the career you want or may even need. Get started on them and get ahead of the pack. You don't want HR screening you out because you lack some exam.


http://professional.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304821304577436172660988042.html?mg=reno64-wsj

5. Internships. Get an internship anywhere as quickly as possible during your summers. Even if its volunteer opportunity. Any is better than none.

6. Network with classmates, friends, professors, and former employers. Be on good terms as many people as possible. Use sites like linkedin or store their contact information in your Outlook, yahoo, or google profile. Say hi to people you haven't spoken to in a while.

7. If you use facebook and social media, create a positive impression on the internet. Take down those drunken pics of you making out with so and so. Employers do look at facebook profiles, whether you like it or not.

 

[The Guard]

Take math, computer science, engineering, biology, chemistry, statistics, finance (hard rigorous finance), or economics. Get a degree that will teach you a hard skill that will set you apart from the pack.

Except for the pack that's interested in the same job you are, with the same hard skills.

 

[thechangingman]

I would think that it really depends on the contacts you make when you're either IN college or fresh out.
If you have a good line towards a job in research, then that hypothetical biology degree is going to be worth it, just from the entry level knowledge standpoint.
If, you know no one in field and are going to be submitting resumes via e-mail? don't bother you might get lucky but ....not in this job market.

 

[SentinelMind]

Except for the pack that's interested in the same job you are, with the same hard skills.

and that where the rest of my post comes in

that pack that's similar to you will be way smaller than if you chose a liberal arts degree. That point was geared towards those who wanted an advantage in corporate / government jobs, not those who were already committed to engineering/science field.