Education and you!

[Not-here-anymore]

Yes, I go to uni. I'm studying physics, and I've at least been led to believe it was my own choice. Sure, it took me a while to decide what to do, but that's purely because I'm more than a little indecisive at times. I have no intention of quitting at any point.
Don't think I was pressured into it, if only because of how surprised my parents were when I said physics to them. They seem to work on a general principle of "It's fine if I'm happy doing it", though, so long as I don't end up sponging off them for the rest of time...

 

[zHellas]

I haven't been to college/university yet(I'm a Junior in High School), but I plan on doing Computer Programming or something with Computers and minoring in Psychology, Political Science, Creative Writing, or Business Administration.

Probably Business Administration or something like that as I plan on basically making little applications for iPhones and computers and all that then selling them for like $1.50 each.

 

[DSK-]

I was in uni/college for the last two years doing a Foundation degree in IT for Multimedia. I wanted to continue on in university and top that qualifcation up to a BSc in Computer Science this September - but unfortunately due to various screw ups by uni and college I couldn't do so.

Now I am trying to get in for January, and am waiting on my student loan application results.

I also work part time as a cleaner.

I chose the subject, mainly because it's all I can do now. I realised when it was too late that I wanted to become a web designer (graphics based not code based - if you know what I mean) or graphic designer. I was told that I'd need to do a certain course for it during career guidance sessions. When I actually realised I tried to get into a course that would allow me to learn what I wanted, but I needed an art GCSE and I didn't have the money.

I'm going to do this top-up for the money so I can live a better life than what I have had in the past, help my parents out financially because I doubt my father can support us/the family when my mother recovers from her stroke (plus he is going deaf) and I want to have letters after my name.

Graduated with a BA in History/Political Science earlier this year. Been unemployed and introspective since I got out, and so now am considering going back for a Masters in History. Whee...

As for my experience, I didn't like it. I spent my time in university playing WoW, procrastinating on assignments to the extreme, and probably reading less than 1/10th of the assigned material. All of that and I still walked away with a 3.5 GPA. Translation? University was way too easy for me, and so I got little out of the experience in an academic sense because all I was doing was doing assignments and occasionally learning some interesting stuff. I was so disillusioned by the experience that I didn't bother going to my own graduation ceremony. Meaning... University was so uninteresting and unimportant to me that I did not find a reason to go out and celebrate the fact that I had gotten a degree. It didn't seem special to me at all.

My experience at college and university was the same, Rei. I have my graduation this Saturday, and I really don't feel like going because the grade I think I'm getting (a commendation or something - I think it's a B) which I believe to be a poor grade considering the marks I got and how easy the majority of the work was. I just want to do my courses and get on with the stuff I enjoy and find interesting.

 

[emeraldrafael]

Why is the choice of education always related to money and income? "You should become a doctor and earn a lot of money. you should study Economics and rack up some great end-of-the-year bonusses! Become a lawyer and earn tons of money, just by dressing up strange!"

School loans. They;re expensive especially depending on your major. Plus you ahve to pay those, mortgage, car loans taxes, etc.

For example, lets say you go to school for 4 yrs and hav eto pay 100K. thats with a say 300K house, an 18K car, say you pay 900 a month is taxes, and then you have a food bill of 400 a week. thats a ton of money, so you need a high paying to have hopes of getting out of debt and still having money for yourself (yes, contrary to what people tell you, you should always save money for yourself to spend on things to make you happy. Those that dont are the most miserable people you ever meet in your life).

EDIT: Also, medical and business jobs (accounting, management, things like those), are almost always in demand because people will always get hurt and people will always need and use money or some form of trade. Lawyers are just popular in America because everyone likes to sue other people for what is often their own incompetance. Its just that those jobs are always available (usually in an area close to where you live/want to live) have good average pay (i know accountants make an average of 49K right out of college and can make a high of 79K+ without going for a CPA exam or higher learning. But they can also make a low of 39K so its wahtever really).

 

[Ham_authority95]

Why is the choice of education always related to money and income? "You should become a doctor and earn a lot of money. you should study Economics and rack up some great end-of-the-year bonusses! Become a lawyer and earn tons of money, just by dressing up strange!"

School loans. They;re expensive especially depending on your major. Plus you ahve to pay those, mortgage, car loans taxes, etc.

For example, lets say you go to school for 4 yrs and have to pay 100K. thats with a say 300K house, an 18K car, say you pay 900 a month is taxes, and then you have a food bill of 400 a week. thats a ton of money, so you need a high paying to have hopes of getting out of debt and still having money for yourself (yes, contrary to what people tell you, you should always save money for yourself to spend on things to make you happy. Those that dont are the most miserable people you ever meet in your life).

This is assuming that anyone here would get a 300k house and a 18k car before they've even paid their school loans off....(or spend 400 a week on food. What the hell? I live in a family of 4, but we usually spend 200 a week at the most..)

OT: I haven't left highschool yet, but I'm pretty sure that I want to study music and sound-engineering. I could also study business as something to fall back on...

 

[deus-ex-machina]

I think money will make you happy - to an extent. If you choose to live with someone and if you are heterosexual (God I hate elaborating over such points) then have kids... you can't have a sucky job. Believe me. I had my kid while I was still at uni and times were very hard. I almost broke down in a bank because I was refused an 'almost guaranteed' loan because I had gone over my overdraft the day before - and they had delayed the process. When you have mouths to feed, you need to have money. And when you spend all day working, it is nice to have a job which allows you to also buy some things for yourself.

It dawned on me the other day that before I managed to get my head above water, I hadn't bought myself anything in six months. I had lost weight through not being able to convince myself that eating was 'cost efficient' and ha - I found out I couldn't wear a lot of my clothes.

But I'm above that now. I went to Uni, I'm doing a post-grad training year. I have money. I am happy. I am also happy for many other reasons, but knowing I am financially secure is the greatest comfort I can have.

As for the original point? I think a lot of uni courses are pointless. You spend a lot of money to get through it for no reward. Sure, if you know what you're going to do afterwards, that is fine. If you know you're doing the course for your own reward and fun - there can be no qualms. But I do not think anyone should have what course they do chosen for them. I chose to do a course that pays out well because I wanted to - before I even ended up having a child. Thank God.

But at the end of the day, it is your choice. If you are immensely unhappy - don't do it. If you can't afford to do it - you don't have much choice. That person in the OP might have been funded by their parents. If they cut funds, they might have had no choice but to drop out. They can earn money and come back on their own two feet if they are that determined.

Oh - also I'm not saying that Uni = Highest wages. Sir Alan Sugar and Richard Branson are two of the richest British people I know of. Neither of them suceeded in education and I doubt I will ever earn anywhere near as much as they do. But in some cases - ie medicine and law - uni is the only way to go. In some cases, there is no reason why you can't earn a bomb load of money with little education.

It all depends on what you believe your calling is.

 

[SaturdayS]

I have to be extremely motivated to do any kind of long term schooling. Books and class lectures really don't do well for me as I always seem to burn out after about 3 months. Every year in high school I'd be an A+ student up until christmas time then things would get worse and worse and I usually finished finals with a C/D average.

I enjoy learning, after discussing some of my interests with people they usually ask me which University I'm studying at and I'm like: "The BBC?" but the school format just doesn't work with me.

Luckily I haven't needed any real secondary education to live a pretty comfortable life so far. I live in a pretty hick area and people get real excited when you can move some pictures around in photoshop.

 

[TotalyMoo]

I'm going to Uni in 1,5 years. I've been studying Digital Production, which I can describe as the computer nerds wet dream. We do animation, programming, design, 3D and whatever is needed to produce games, CGI and modern movies.

But guess what? I found out that I'm actually really interested in economics and now I'm planning to go to Uni studying just that.

I'd never do it for the money though, I just want to have fun and enjoy my life. I am not and have never been a big spender (always saved my money for later) and even if I have the potential to get way rich working I will never, ever, let it interfere with my real life and happiness.

If anyone did try to convince me otherwise, say my parents, I would not listen. Thank god I live in Sweden and education is for free so I do not have to depend on them for studying!

 

[meticadpa]

I'm applying for university either next year, or the year after, and I'm applying to study medicine. I've not been pressured into it or anything, I've just never wanted to be anything other than a doctor all of my life.

I've spoken with someone from Edinburgh university (a very close uni that's excellent for studying medicine)and they say that if I attain my projected grades this year, then they'll accept me as a medical student at 16-and-a-half-years-old, which would be unusual, but I can't imagine anything I'd rather do.

 

[Amethyst Wind]

I'm applying for university either next year, or the year after, and I'm applying to study medicine. I've not been pressured into it or anything, I've just never wanted to be anything other than a doctor all of my life.

I've spoken with someone from Edinburgh university (a very close uni that's excellent for studying medicine)and they say that if I attain my projected grades this year, then they'll accept me as a medical student at 16-and-a-half-years-old, which would be unusual, but I can't imagine anything I'd rather do.

Chocolate taster with exceptional dental coverage?

 

[EeveeElectro]

Maybe it's because it was quite rare for their parents, and people their age to go to Uni all those years ago, and they found a job fine without the need to go.
I left sixth form in May and have no desire to go to University.

 

[Lord Monocle Von Banworthy]

Education is not some sort of free means of expression for your unique and beautiful snowflakitude. It's career training. The end. Learn to do something that needs doing and then go out and do it. Anything else is pure selfishness.

When your bills are paid and society is compensated for suffering your existence in it you can pursue your dreams or interests or whatever with a clear conscience.

 

[tavelkyosoba]

Whoever's footing the bill gets to decide. If you don't like it, make sure YOU'RE footing the bill.

You can't say you couldn't pursue what you wanted because of money, you pursued exactly what you wanted...an easy ride through school.


I've been in school for 6 years, earned an associates in arts, changed majors twice and spent the last 2 years working on a bachelors in mechanical engineering...all while working 5 hours a night, every night, at UPS.


I paid for it all myself with hard earned wages, company tuition assistance, and student loans.


On top of all that, I had to get married and move out of my parents' house because I didn't study what they wanted me to.

I wouldn't have it any other way.


If you want something, you make it happen. If nothing happens, that's exactly what you wanted. There are NO excuses.

 

[Artina89]

Went to uni straight after 6th form and initially studied Chemistry, but changed to Biochemistry and Biological chemistry (I got bored of just studying Chemistry all the time) and am currently in my final year to get my BSc

 

[tavelkyosoba]

Ask

So I started to try to repair my failed studies, something which the system isn't very well adapted to and is a lot harder to do that I thought it was. It's not really a one-strike-and-you're-out deal, but it's not too far from it.

You'd be surprised at how many people are doing that. Ask around and you're sure to find some new friends.

 

[binvjoh]

I live in Sweden where education is free, so I can't relate to the cost aspect. I'm currently a first year in the Swedish equivalent of high school and I chose my direction entierly by myself (I study a combined course called Social Studies/Media). My parents have been nothing but supporting and I'm confident that they would never force me in a particular direction I wasn't comfortable with.

 

[teisjm]

Well, if it's true that theres no future in it, and by no future, i don't mean that you'll get a nice job with a low pay, but that you won't be able to find a job that has anything to do with what you spend 3/5 years studying, then i think it's fair to consider whether it wouldn't be better, to study something different, where you'll actually end up with a job you like (high or low paid) instead of having a fancy education which does you no godo as you go home from work every day sick and tired of flipping burgers.
It is important to think about where your education leads to.
But i don't think there's shitloads of educations with no chance for a job in the end around, caus eit would be a waste of money, and people don't like to waste money (except on shiny stuff)

 

[Exia91]

And English is a fantastic degree to get jobs with (it's what I'm doing), I thought that I would be basically unemployable, but since starting the graduate job hunt early this month I've found that employers don't want people with specialised degrees and vocational programmes, they want people who have a broad range of experiences and are malleable, which English shows I can be.

Besides, there's lot of drinking and chicks (or guys if you're a girl or gay), what's not to love?

I'm glad to hear that about English students. I always wondered what would happen after I finish my BA English Language and Culture, still got a long way, but I'm getting there for sure. So far the best years of my life are at University.
I couldn't agree more on the second part as well, I mean..c'mon! what's not to love!

I will be going to some sort of post-secondary institution. Likely a film program, if I don't lose that desire by the end of this year, that is.

So, higher education, but not University? Could you Elaborate please? Where you from?

-snipety-

I don't frequent these forums enough to know that about you. Yet you leave me astounded. Both your experiences on school, and the fact you're an autodidact. I hope you'll make it.

Damn you OP, for dragging me back into reality! D:

I'm terribly sorry, I hope I can make up to you by wishing you good luck with your Exams!?