Don't go to college (if you're in college, drop out)

[dyskordian]

I unload trailers at a warehouse and I work next to many people with college degrees. I went to college for a semester, that I'm still attempting to pay for two years later. I received good grades, but stuff in my life kept me from going back at the time.

I had already purchased my books for the next semester but wasn't able to attend that semester. I looked into going back this year and found out that all the books had been changed. They are telling me that second year college studies, algebra and English, change so much in two years that new $90+ books are REQUIRED...

I agree with the its all a scam argument. One hundred years ago graduating High School actually meant something, now that just about everyone does it, now it means nothing. An expensive piece of paper stating you are now so far in debt that you may never climb back out is now becoming the average. So the only two answers are to either not buy into the scam at all or stay with the scam even longer, accruing even more debt, and getting a better piece of paper.

 

[AngloDoom]

My advice? Move countries.

Get a job teaching English in Japan, Korea, or China.

You'll pay off your debt in no time, and you'll make a salary that shits all over that crap you're making now.

Seriously ... why stay in the country if it's fucking you?

Aand you have my attention, good sir.

May I ask where you heard about the success of teaching English abroad? I'm hoping to do a TEFL course some point once I've save up a good deal of money, so I was wondering if you have any person experience on the matter?

OT:

I can see why the OP is getting rather jaded after not finding a job after university/college. A lot of people I know now are finding jobs as a result of friends or family which outshine the jobs they were hoping to get with their degrees and many are looking back on the whole experience with regret. I think the problem is less that universities are inherently bad, but that people are rushed into them the moment they leave compulsory education, and not everyone knows what they want to do and where for the rest of their lives. Thankfully I'm in the position where going to university actually helped me uncover what it is I want to do, but for some people I know they feel they've signed a contract to do something they don't enjoy for the rest of their lives.

Sad, sad times, amigos.

 

[zelda2fanboy]

Done.

What's the step 2?

Apply for random jobs nonstop, like I am. You've probably got a better chance than me.

 

[DoomyMcDoom]

As a guy who's in a position of a little different nature, I'm a highschool dropout, I'm going to finish my highschool education soon, so it's not a big issue for me overall. But when it comes to finding jobs where I am people with all sorts of degrees are fighitng over jobs at gas stations, or the local big box stores... I have a job at a gas station, of course I'm also a charismatic guy, I'm great with people, I won the job over people more "qualified" than me simply because I present myself well, and ANY boss I've had in the past will tell you I work hard and I'm good with people... that's all it takes, a cheerful attitude and people skills... you should GO TO locations, and talk to the staff... conversation with people who work places especially department managers or people related to the retailer/owner can get you a job above others, also directly handing your resume to the manager and having a quick friendly and positive conversation with them works wonders... if you just want a better job, try what I've suggested. It's worked for me so far...

Also take into account, success is not measured in how much crap you have, or how much money you have, but how you feel about yourself, I see success as enjoying life as much as I can, I'm playing an instrument again, buddies of mine and I might be starting a band for shits and giggles, play a few gigs here and there, if we get good cool, if not we had FUN.

If you love yourself, and have a positively charged self immage, you will be seen as a winner, people want to be around winners, they want to hire winners, they give winners raises...
Think about it man, I know for a fact that I went from having trouble with women, and having an impossible time even finding a job, to having no problems with my dating life, and having jobs practically throw themselves at me when I need/want them.

I know positive self talk sounds like some stupid mumbo jumbo and doesn't seem logical but programming youself internally allows you to show other people a different person than you show when you're depressed and negative, people only see the person you reveal through your actions, your body language and your speech, not what you have deep inside. So rather than looking at life and thinking "I wish I was like that." or "I wish I could get a better job" start thiking "Man I'm awesome." and "I'm getting a better job." Be the person you want to be, and stop merely wishing you had a better life...

/end text wall.

 

[Irridium]

Everyone these days is told to go to college. Go to college, get an education, you don't want to work at one of those fast-food places do you?

And so the kids go to college, get degrees, and find out that they can't get jobs. That all the "go to college and get a good job" stuff they were fed as kids was a big fat lie. So they complain, and form a big ol' protest group about it.

They are then called entitled asses for thinking college would get them a good job. And told to work in the very places they were told they wouldn't have to work if they went to college.

In short, we've been raising kids to believe that college is the ticket to a good job. Then when they get out we pull a full 180 and tell them to take the shitty jobs.

And then people wonder why these college graduates these days seem so entitled.

 

[Shadu]

And without a college degree, there is no hope of getting a good job in something you like.

Yes, it sucks you couldn't find a job, but that doesn't mean it was a waste of time. I'm in college, and I don't regret it. The area I'm looking to go into requires a degree, and I'd be laughed right out of the door without one.

Consequently, it's more about networking and who you know. It's also a bit of luck.

I happen to have an interview for a job that is well over minimum wage lined up for my Spring Break and with any luck, I'll have a job when I graduate. I wouldn't have been looked at without a degree.

I'm sorry you had a bad time of it, but that is not a good enough reason to not have a degree of some sort. Good luck to you finding a better job though.

Edit: Okay, well, if you like working retail or something like that, then all power to you. I happen to want to move past that eventually.

 

[ResonanceSD]

Everyone these days is told to go to college. Go to college, get an education, you don't want to work at one of those fast-food places do you?

And so the kids go to college, get degrees, and find out that they can't get jobs. That all the "go to college and get a good job" stuff they were fed as kids was a big fat lie. So they complain, and form a big ol' protest group about it.

They are then called entitled asses for thinking college would get them a good job. And told to work in the very places they were told they wouldn't have to work if they went to college.

In short, we've been raising kids to believe that college is the ticket to a good job. Then when they get out we pull a full 180 and tell them to take the shitty jobs.

And then people wonder why these college graduates these days seem so entitled.

I think that's the general content of this article.

http://www.cracked.com/blog/5-ways-we-ruined-occupy-wall-street-generation/

Which OP should probably read as well.

 

[Scars Unseen]

I've never even gotten an interview. Even if I were "randomly tossing poorly-made resumes at random companies on Monster," wouldn't I have heard from somebody at some point?

No. That is possibly the second worst method of job hunting possible(by sitting on ass and complaining about not having a job, you are engaging in the one that tops it). Casting a wide net does nothing for you. Why? Because that means your resume is too generalized, and you are just one of hundreds of people being beaten to the punch by people that actually take the time to show that they have done the research to show not only that they are a good fit for the company, but that the company is a good fit for them.

For every single job you apply for, you should be tweaking your resume to ensure that both content and the order in which it is presented is tailored to the company's requirements. An introduction letter should accompany it. And it goes without saying that if you aren't networking, you aren't really job hunting. Talk to people. Do volunteer work. Sounds like hard work? It is! But if you want to have a career instead of a sob story, you have to put in the hours.

Or you could just complain on the internet.

 

[Irridium]

if you're in college, drop out

Done.

What's the step 2?

Well, step three is profit.

 

[Frostbite3789]

Don't care. I want my $11,000 back. I don't see why someone else should get scammed just because society says so.

Scammed? Lol. It isn't a scam. Picking what was possibly the wrong degree and not being able to get a job doesn't make it a scam. They didn't sell you a job, they sold you education. Don't start some self-entitled whining about how it was a scam because you didn't get a job.

I'm not sure where you live, but higher education in the United States...is really kind of a scam.

From books to the cost of classes, to the loans you have to take to make it through unless your family is wealthy.

All for a chance to make more money. It's like gambling. But with your life.

 

[hashinta]

I have a better idea. Don't go to university in america. flee to canada or come on down to australia. even our version of community college is better i hear (TAFE for those of you who want to look it up)

 

[TakerFoxx]

I've been making minimum wage for the last three and a half ears working in a retail store. I only get about 20 hours a week. I owe $11,000 on my college loan (pretty low by most standards) for my bachelors of science degree in Business Administration. I've applied for dozens and dozens of jobs across two major cities over the last two years.

I recently applied to work at the local Pepsi warehouse which paid $13 an hour. At my workplace, I overheard someone mentioning that their friend got a job there. This friend never graduated high school. So yeah, don't bother going to school. Waste of your time and money. There's no defense of it. The only way I have the shit job I have now is because my dad worked there and complained to my old boss enough to hire me.

Well, let's see. I've been in college for...about six or seven years now. I go to a State University and before that I spent a couple years at a community college for gen ed. I plan to graduate with a bachelor's this semester, after which I will pursue a degree in tech writing. In the meantime, I'm working part time as a pizza delivery driver which, while not at all glamorous, pays surprisingly well. And...

1. I don't owe a dime, on account of having refused to take out loans. Instead, I got by on grants when I could and paid for it out of my own pocket when I couldn't.

2. The degree I'm pursuing (English, with a creative writing emphasis) does not have a high hire rate, but seeing how I'm only going after that one for the the actual classes it offers (And believe me, I don't regret the things I've learned in them one bit), I don't see that being a problem. The tech writing program, however, does come with an internship program, which will be all kinds of useful for getting the connections I need.

3. I joined the Anime Club my first semester here, had a blast and applied to be an officer. I am now president and enjoy doing what I can to improve it any way possible. I've made many friends along the way, came across some awesome shows that I would have not heard of otherwise and learned a lot about leadership and management.

So in conclusion, I'm not in debt, I am passionate about what I'm studying, I've made a lot of friends without going anywhere near the frat/party scene and I've learned a lot of stuff that I would have not otherwise. So yeah, definitely not a waste of time for me.

Sorry to hear that you had a bad experience, but seeing how you pursued a degree that you aren't passionate about and has a low hire rate, that might be the root cause of the problem.

 

[zelda2fanboy]

No. That is possibly the second worst method of job hunting possible(by sitting on ass and complaining about not having a job, you are engaging in the one that tops it). Casting a wide net does nothing for you. Why? Because that means your resume is too generalized, and you are just one of hundreds of people being beaten to the punch by people that actually take the time to show that they have done the research to show not only that they are a good fit for the company, but that the company is a good fit for them.

For every single job you apply for, you should be tweaking your resume to ensure that both content and the order in which it is presented is tailored to the company's requirements. An introduction letter should accompany it. And it goes without saying that if you aren't networking, you aren't really job hunting. Talk to people. Do volunteer work. Sounds like hard work? It is! But if you want to have a career instead of a sob story, you have to put in the hours.

Or you could just complain on the internet.

Is this the method through which you got your current job? Constantly tweaking and messing with your resumé so they'll pay attention to it? I know a guy who does that and has a masters degree. Has yet to do him any good. I truly doubt any of these employers have even opened the text file or glanced at my application. It's all automated. Apply, delete, apply, delete. If you know someone on the inside who can hassle HR, then they'll look at your application.

Not everyone is special. Most people aren't. I didn't go to college because I thought I was special. I went to college because I had no useful skills and nothing noteworthy to offer the world. After completing college, I obviously still don't. I've tried and I've tried and I've tried and after months of trying, I post here because I'm pissed off and frustrated. It's better than the alternatives, I assure you. I almost wanted to walk into that warehouse today, find HR, and just scream at them.

 

[z121231211]

Don't care. I want my $11,000 back. I don't see why someone else should get scammed just because society says so.

$11,000? That's like a semester at an inexpensive college or a year of community college. If your degree took only that long to get then I'm sure it'd be hard to get a job.

 

[burhanr]

How the fuck can you not get a friend in college?

I was a complete antisocial back in school, to the point where my school teachers are concerned and ask for a meeting with my parents. But I got lots of friends in college, including one who hook me up with a website design job.

Also, after reading a bit, am I right to think that you applied for a job after graduating college? That's a huge mistake man. My cousin finishes a Master's Degree in Business with flying colours, and she does not get a job during her studying years because she's lazy and her parents are traditional Asians that would like her to continue their business or something. Can't even get a job in fast food. I don't think employers are fond of resumes that describes no work experiences during college years.

I'm pretty sure there are lots of people saying "it's you, mate" already, but yeah, it's you mate. Life is hard.

Haven't got laid though, and I am graduating in one year. .

 

[zelda2fanboy]

$11,000? That's like a semester at an inexpensive college or a year of community college. If your degree took only that long to get then I'm sure it'd be hard to get a job.

It's a four year degree. Mommy and daddy paid for half and I got a full scholarship to community college. And I still feel like I got fucked.

 

[odanhammer]

I have 35,000 worth of debt based around going to college. Currently have a job paying very little. However i suggest going to school and getting that education.
Although you couldn't find a job in your field , i challenge you to actually apply to more then 2 cities worth of places. I could very easily get a job in my field (aviation) if i chose to either give up 100 hours a week plus of my life , or learn chinese and move there.
Neither one is an option i wanted. However this topic seems like trolling.
And if your not trolling , i suggest getting some serious help.

 

[OtherSideofSky]

bachelors of science degree in Business Administration.

Well, that's your problem right there.