Poll: Is College/University Worth It?

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As a high school student I'm obviously thinking about going to university and starting a career. However, I've heard loads f stories about student debt (not sure how bad that is in Canada), how it's hard to find a job and how many people, on forums and from friends of mine, have said its not worth it.

Now I have two questions: Is it only the state of the economy and if it was better it would be worth it? And, did you go to university or college and in your opinion, is it worth it?

 

[Dags90]

Look at the numbers. Personal anecdotes are shit; maybe your friends are just really shitty at interviews, and maybe the internet is full of shit people. Check out how much more degree holders earn on average in your locale, and how much debt it would take to get a degree. People tend not to complain very much when they go to school and get a relevant job, so they don't stand out as much.

A poor economy is also a good time to go to school, because you're not likely to find a good job anyway.

Edit: This thread made me realize that I can't consider myself a "student" anymore, now I'm just plain old unemployed. Sad face.

 

[SomeLameStuff]

I went to University for less than a year before getting conscripted into the army, so I can't really comment on it too much I suppose.

It all really depends on what you want to work as. If you're aiming for a future high-position job and a degree can help you get there, then yeah, worth it.

If you're planning on working at MacDonalds for the rest of your life, being an expert in Thermonuclear Astrophysics will hardly count towards anything.

 

[Womplord]

I'd say that the smarter you are, the more worthwhile it is. Heaps of people are going to university these days, and its becoming a bit dumbed down. People largely study business, humanities, etc. In my opinion, these degrees are pretty useless and having attended a small number of those types of classes I'd say that almost ANYONE could understand it and having that type of a degree doesn't really separate you much from the average person, unless you do a masters degree (so just go to community college/TAFE and work your way up). However, if you want to study science or engineering it's important to go to university to understand it, but you still may need to get an honors or PHD to separate yourself. Computer subjects are kind of a grey area.

 

[DarkRyter]

It depends on what you want to do.

If you wanna be a doctor or lawyer or engineer or teacher, it's something you can't really skip over (although, perhaps the armed forces are an alternative path. I don't really know.).

 

[Kahunaburger]

This would be an excellent thing for you to research. Based on anecdotes from the Canadians I know, you're probably going to be fine as far as debt goes.

 

[Chemical Alia]

I didn't need either of my degrees for the job that I have, but I feel that my education made me a much better and well-rounded artist than if I had learned everything on my own, and I personally wouldn't trade it even to be out of debt from my loans (40k, down from around 85). Though I guess it's also nice to know that it's a bit easier for me to get hired at a job outside of the country, if that's ever an issue.

It's something that you have to personally weigh, depending on how important higher education is to you and to your chosen field.

 

[Goofguy]

The student debt is manageable in Canada. I wouldn't ask the Quebecers about that right now though, they're a bit indisposed and... incensed on this subject at the moment.

 

[I.N.producer]

College is totally worth it. Aside from the obvious getting a degree to get a job part, there's a lot of personal change involved. For me, I've had to adjust to city living after growing up in a very small town. If you go for a big change like that, you find out a lot about yourself.

 

[Devil's Due]

People largely study business, humanities, etc. In my opinion, these degrees are pretty useless.

Sorry friend, but the moment you generalize degrees that are vital to the world's stability and economy as "useless" shows your lack of education on the very subject matter you're attempting to preach. Yes, generally engineering and science degrees pay more than humanities or business degrees, but each have their own area of necessity. In humanities for example, political science gives you a very indepth ability to understand how the political world works, and very few politicians have ever succeeded in that area without that sort of education. Business as well, as you need to understand how to properly manage businesses, supply chains, marketing, etc.

Don't try and undermine another degree's worth simply because you cannot grasp the necessity.

As for the thread itself, it depends largely on what sort of career you're wanting to go into, the way you'll be able to pay for it, and your life goals. All of these have to be factored into the equation, it cannot be simply a "yes or no" answer on an online forum.

 

[Powereaver]

Im with again the people who say.. potential employers rate a college/university degree in the highest regard a lot of the time.. so even though its teethpullingly frustrating and stressful in the end if you want a decent job right away its the way to go unfortunately.

 

[SaetonChapelle]

I want to say yes, Im all for education, and there is certain practices that force you to have a degree. I also know that many people don't go into the field that they went into college for, so that's also there.

Im in college at the moment, and I have to admit, if I wasn't being pushed, I probably wouldn't be there. but that's good! Im in there for my psychology degree, which Im planning on getting my masters. However you need to be dedicated to your future profession, and work hard. college isn't cheap.

Having your degree is a good thing, and education is VERY important.

 

[White Lightning]

As long as it's not for Art or History yeah, choose something that will get you a job.

 

[Womplord]

People largely study business, humanities, etc. In my opinion, these degrees are pretty useless.

Sorry friend, but the moment you generalize degrees that are vital to the world's stability and economy as "useless" shows your lack of education on the very subject matter you're attempting to preach. Yes, generally engineering and science degrees pay more than humanities or business degrees, but each have their own area of necessity. In humanities for example, political science gives you a very indepth ability to understand how the political world works, and very few politicians have ever succeeded in that area without that sort of education. Business as well, as you need to understand how to properly manage businesses, supply chains, marketing, etc.

Don't try and undermine another degree's worth simply because you cannot grasp the necessity.

As for the thread itself, it depends largely on what sort of career you're wanting to go into, the way you'll be able to pay for it, and your life goals. All of these have to be factored into the equation, it cannot be simply a "yes or no" answer on an online forum.

I'm not implying that business and humanities theory are not important for society to function properly. What I mean is that it is a pretty easy area to study in, I think anyone who studies a hard subject like engineering could pass the subjects with both eyes closed, and because it's so easy, everyone is doing it just so they can get a degree. It's one of the easier subjects, so there's less of a difference between a person with and without a degree.

What this basically means is that many people with degrees in business and humanities don't put the knowledge to good use because only the best of the group get a good job in that area. Most of the other business school graduates don't do much better than people who never went to university in the first place.

 

[crudus]

It depends on what you want to do. If you want to be a server for the rest of your life, then college is worth it. If you want a degree just to say you have a degree, then college is worth it, but go for one of the cheaper/easier ones. If you want to do something with your degree, then college is worth it. It all boils down to you. Do you have the drive to study your ass off and get through your major?

Personal anecdotes are shit

As a friend of mine said once: "The plural of 'anecdote' is not 'evidence'".

 

[bobmus]

However, if you want to study science or engineering it's important to go to university to understand it, but you still may need to get an honors or PHD to separate yourself. Computer subjects are kind of a grey area.

I was looking at degrees in the UK and pretty much all of them were honours bar maybe 1. Where is it that getting an honours degree makes you stand out?

Australia's system is a bit different, was talking about this with another Aussie user the other day. They do a separate course before an honours course, so it's more like a masters?
But yeah, in the UK, do an honours course.

OT: Doing a Joint Honours course right now, just finishing up First Year. Obviously I can't say how likely I am to get a job from it, I'd call it worth it. It's a pretty good experience, and your school friends are gonna move away for it anyway so you may as well make some new ones.
I echo the advice to pick your course wisely though. Try and keep it vocational, or at least useful. (Though of course disregard this if you're going to a 'free pass for life' Uni with great world rankings)

 

[aPod]

Now I have two questions: Is it only the state of the economy and if it was better it would be worth it? And, did you go to university or college and in your opinion, is it worth it?

Is college worth it? Well that's a tough question but I think my answer is pretty reasonable. It's only worth as much as you're willing to put in.

If you go to college and apply yourself, even if you get a job which has bonkers all to do with your degree you will find the experience very rewarding and you'll actually become a more intelligent and well rounded person.

However, you don't "need" to go to college to do that. Lets cut the crap and get to the reality of what college really is about: a degree. Yes, it's all for a fucking piece of paper. Everything which is applicable to any career you might be hoping to get into can be found in any of the numerous text-books which you basically self teach yourself from reading for class anyways, but without that degree you may never have the chance to even have that career. So yes, again, it is worth it.

Now if you're worried about the money then you need to be smart about it. Go to a community college, which works with the university you want to transfer to (if you do want to go to uni) and take all the classes you can for a fifth the cost.

There's nothing wrong with apprenticing either. I worked as both a fisherman and a mechanic so I have trade skills I can fall back on if my degree doesn't open the doors I'm hoping for. I'm not relegated to unemployment or some job I'd hate to do when times get tough. So if at all possible do both. Go to school and get a trade skill. Plus you'd be surprised how much college programs eat up all that "life experience" garbage.

 

[Sexy Devil]

Really, it depends. If you go to school to get a degree that has some practical applicability that's going to help in a job then it's worth it. If you go to get a liberal arts degree, though, you're more or less just pissing money down the drain.

That's just my opinion though.

 

[Hap2]

If you are honestly asking for opinions on an internet forum whether or not university/college is worth it, then it is clear that you have not done any practical research of your own, nor have thought very carefully as to why you would want to go there in the first place.

Universities/colleges should never be treated as merely being career factories; this is a mistake many make and remains a poor way to use the variety of experiences and skills cultivated throughout an undergraduate career in academia.

Spend some time reflecting on exactly what it is you want to do and why, rather than rushing into a decision you might regret later on.