Is college even worth it at this point in time?

[axlryder]

So I'm 21 right now. I have an absolutely useless associates degree I got to get my humanities out of the way without paying for uni. I work a 12 dollar an hour job as a pharmacy tech. I've got about 20,000 dollars between my retirement and savings account. I'm on track to save about 60-75 thousand dollars in the next 4 years (accounting for rent and bills). At that point I would be 25 and I could potentially own my own home with money to spare. My other option: go to college and get a bachelors degree with the money. However, I have to wonder if it's even worth it. So many of my friends who have degrees are working similar jobs to my own, but are saddled with several tens of thousands of dollars in debt (at least). A few of my bosses who are well into their thirties (also possessing degrees) seem to be in a very similar financial position to my own (and they're still paying off their student loans). It seems like the necessity for college to have a good life has been indoctrinated into us since a young age, but I really don't even see why. I can still afford the things I enjoy. What else is there really? Why take such a huge financial risk in such an unstable economy? It also seems that most higher paying jobs I could get a degree for come with a lot less job security. Also, while my current job can be stressful, it's fairly easy and the hours are flexible, so I'm not concerned about burning myself out. I honestly don't see the point in making more money than I do now, anyway. What's more, the internet being what it is, it seems like financial opportunities are rather plentiful if one just chooses to pursue them, regardless of your education. Finally, I'd find that if the economy did collapse, I'd much rather have a home that I own than a definitely useless degree. Have any of you been in a similar position? Do you have any particular insights to share. For me, I'm starting to think I'll skip college and just save money.

Also, I do have a gf who also works a job similar to my own and is okay with the idea of me working the job I have for an indefinite period of time (as it's financially viable). However, I realize a lot of woman don't feel this way. it's just sort of a harsh reality I'll have to deal with if we break up and I continue down my current path.

 

[axlryder]

The common problem I'm seeing from everybody complaining online is that everybody seems to be taking college programs that never really had a strong graduation to employment relationship in the first place.

Wooo a degree in fine arts, where are all the jobs for guys like me who understand arts and stuff? The problem isn't that college is a poor investment of time and resources, it's that people don't know HOW to invest their time and resources. I'm not trying to mock people like you or anything, but why not train for something you know there will always be lots of jobs for? Medicine is often a safe bet unless you choose some very obscure field, demand for health care is hardly depended on the economy.

My fine arts degree was purely designed to get the humanities out of the way so that I can transfer to a college and not have to pay out the ass for rudimentary courses I could get anywhere. I chose fine arts because it's something I enjoy, not because I intended it to be a viable means of employment down the road. I'm not so naive/stupid. In reality, I'd probably major in computer science with a minor in animation. Though, potentially I'd go for industrial engineering. The reality is that most associates degrees are fairly useless unless they're specialized for a specific job (none of which held my interest particularly well). I suppose I didn't really indicate that before, but there you go. Money simply became an issue after getting all the necessary courses at my community college, as I have no one to co-sign my loans and thus I'm in the position that I'm in. Also, the points in my original comment about most higher paying jobs still stand. I don't really care to go into healthcare because it does burn you out between the workload, long hours and emotional stress. In reality, there are hardly any "safe" fields for me to go into right now in terms of both security and finding something that I wouldn't loath. Like I said, it's a gamble (unlike my current position). You also kind of didn't answer my question.

 

[isometry]

Don't focus on the current economy when deciding to go to college, as long as you can pay the bills. The reason is that the economy always goes up and down, recession and expansion. Just because we're still in a kind of recession, you'll be working for the next 40 years so there will be plenty of different economic conditions during that time.

As for college graduates without jobs, many of them didn't realize they needed to work harder until it was too late. Doing the bare minimum just to get a grade is not what college should be about. People who cram for exams the night before are missing the whole point, they should be developing knowledge and skills if they want a job after graduating.

One more thing to consider: it's easier to go to college when you are young. The next few years are critical in that regard, by your late twenties it's harder to go back to school (for most people, not everyone of course, but try talking to people of that age about it). Pretty much anything you do to improve your life now, you'll thank yourself for it ten times over when your older.

 

[zhoominator]

Don't focus on the current economy when deciding to go to college, as long as you can pay the bills. The reason is that the economy always goes up and down, recession and expansion. Just because we're still in a kind of recession, you'll be working for the next 40 years so there will be plenty of different economic conditions during that time.

As for college graduates without jobs, many of them didn't realize they needed to work harder until it was too late. Doing the bare minimum just to get a grade is not what college should be about. People who cram for exams the night before are missing the whole point, they should be developing knowledge and skills if they want a job after graduating.

One more thing to consider: it's easier to go to college when you are young. The next few years are critical in that regard, by your late twenties it's harder to go back to school (for most people, not everyone of course, but try talking to people of that age about it). Pretty much anything you do to improve your life now, you'll thank yourself for it ten times over when your older.

Pretty much this. Also, if your are doing a degree, try to make sure it would lead directly into something you would want to do (some employers are quite specific on what kinds of degrees and college/university developed skills they like) because this will put you in better stead than those who just think that they'll get any old degree and fall into a job, because it doesn't work like that.

 

[Lazier Than Thou]

Depends on what you study. A lot of college career paths are very much worth the money. The vast majority, it seems, are not. Pick a path that will lead to a very lucrative job. There are sectors in the economy that are growing.

To me, it's absolutely not worth it. I'm absolutely terrible at school. The busy work and monotony just kill me inside. Even when I try I can only manage barely passing grades and that was back in High School. Furthermore, the high end paying jobs aren't worth the time investment or what it would do to me mentally.

None of the people I know with a college education actually uses what they learned in college. This is a problem, don't be one of them.

I say do what you want to do. Everyone expected me to go to University because I was a smart cookie, that I'd have some fancy high paying job and so on.

I said fuck it to all that and I'm joining the Military instead because it's what I want to do.

Good for you, sir.

 

[Raven's Nest]

Well. I'm heading off to university this year and I'll be 25 at the start of the course. I've done the full time working thing and I've realised for me how unfulfilling it is.

I needed to be doing a job where I could investigate, work with a specialised team and working towards a goal that is important and not just for profit.

I arrived at taking a course in Zoology and Microbiology. With the research skills i'll gain, plus all of the specialist knowledge in an advancing form of biology, I'll likely find work to my above criteria.

The financial situation in the UK is dire. I would probably struggle to even find a semi decent full time job even with my years of catering management experience.

It's a personal decision at the end of the day, but for me it is 100% the right thing to do.

 

[Vault101]

but why not train for something you know there will always be lots of jobs for? Medicine is often a safe bet unless you choose some very obscure field, demand for health care is hardly depended on the economy.

yeah....let's just all go out and get medicine degress...its [i/]that[/i] easy

I get what your saying but not all of us can be doctors

 

[Johndo]

Seems like you're on your way of evaluating your current situation. Keep on going with it. Do you want things to be the way it is? Are you happy?

You're going to have to weigh the risks for what you want. We ultimately try to go for things that we are comfortable with. If you don't want what you have, than change it. Financial burden is tough but if the path makes you happy, than go for it.

And noticed I didn't say anything about college or higher paying job. Choose what you want to do. People are happy at whatever they do. I can never force someone to do something they don't want to do. But you're going to have to consider if all the work is worth it.

 

[Chemical Alia]

but why not train for something you know there will always be lots of jobs for? Medicine is often a safe bet unless you choose some very obscure field, demand for health care is hardly depended on the economy.

yeah....let's just all go out and get medicine degress...its [i/]that[/i] easy

I get what your saying but not all of us can be doctors

Don't forget cheap. It's also really cheap.

 

[jokaero]

I suggest getting an HVAC certificate. A rather high paying job.

 

[IndomitableSam]

Agreed with the above - learn a trade. It's what I used to tell all my students. (And that I got in trouble for as I taught at an all-girls private school for rich people, trades are apparently beneath them.)

Trades earn a ton of money, will keep you physically active, give you flexible work hours, allow you to choose when and where you work, and you will ALWAYS be in demand. And when you're older, you can manage, be a foreman, or teach. Teaching a trade usually only requires the trade, no teaching degree.

I work a cushy government job and still wish I'd taken up a trade. Even here in Canada with +30 (100's+) summers and -40(-40) winters.

 

[Lilani]

As long as you have a specific goal in mind I don't think a degree is a bad investment. I think some people go to college, get a C-D average for some random, generic degree and then get discouraged when nobody wants them. A degree does not automatically equal a job, contrary to what they try to beat into your head all through high school. It has to be a useful degree and you have to have a plan for what you're going to do with it, or at least a general direction. But if you just stroll on into college with no particular plan, of course there is a pretty good chance it's going to end up being a total waste of money. Sort of like when you go to WalMart without a plan--you end up spending money on a whole bunch of crap you never went in to buy in the first place.

 

[Heronblade]

Look into internship programs. You can learn the skills needed for a high paying job on site, potentially while also getting any college education paid for depending on the program.

For example, you expressed a secondary interest in industrial engineering. The Honeywell branch local to my area is currently looking for people almost exactly like you to eventually fill a well paid role along those lines in their lower level management. The plant in question supplies critical engine parts to most of the airlines around the world. For some jobs like this one, major companies actually prefer intelligent and trainable high school graduates with excellent working experience to college graduates with no working experience.

That particular opportunity is closed off by now, only a few slots and its a bit late in the application process, but if you look hard enough, there are always more around. I'd have gone for that one myself, but was ineligible.

 

[Terminate421]

The common problem I'm seeing from everybody complaining online is that everybody seems to be taking college programs that never really had a strong graduation to employment relationship in the first place.

Wooo a degree in fine arts, where are all the jobs for guys like me who understand arts and stuff? The problem isn't that college is a poor investment of time and resources, it's that people don't know HOW to invest their time and resources. I'm not trying to mock people like you or anything, but why not train for something you know there will always be lots of jobs for? Medicine is often a safe bet unless you choose some very obscure field, demand for health care is hardly depended on the economy.

It seems something updated might be helpful.

one of the degree's I'm thinking of going for (At SCAD) is for Animation, something which is pretty much used everywhere for movies/TV/games.

BTW, think thats a good choice? I was also considering concept artist or level design.

Also this

 

[Nouw]

I say do what you want to do. Everyone expected me to go to University because I was a smart cookie, that I'd have some fancy high paying job and so on.

I said fuck it to all that and I'm joining the Military instead because it's what I want to do.

Huh, I have the same prospects. Tell me how it turns out.