Poll: Is College/University Worth It?

[Mint Rubber]

Here's something I heard from a human resources guy:

"A college degree won't land you the job by itself, but in a stack of resumes that I have to read it will push yours towards the top."

A college degree from a well known source guarantees some kind of knowledge tangent to the subject.

You might be great at something you learned in your free time, but without a degree or some kind of work experience you'll have a hard time landing interviews to prove your worth.

Plus, in some places a college degree puts you in a higher salary/pension bracket.

 

[Shoggoth2588]

It depends on what you want to do really. For me it didn't seem worth it so I...well, I didn't really last a semester. That's just me though. I didn't go to a University though, I went to a community college so it felt a lot like high school which I absolutely hated to begin with so maybe if I were to try again it would be better. If: I still have no idea what I would want to do career wise and I wouldn't want waste a lot of money taking a bunch of courses that could end up being meaningless/worthless/etc.

 

[Zack Alklazaris]

Degrees are a requirement to get into many of the high paying jobs in the world. It is NOT a ticket to get the job you want. You still have to compete with others who have the same credentials you do and pray that the experience you have been getting (while in college) is enough to make you shine to employers. Even after you get the job you still need to work hard, work your way up, and if you have to take it up the ass to get the job you want.

Welcome to the real world!

 

[superbatranger]

I'm going to disagree with most people here. If you feel like going to college will be a time sink and a waste of money, then you don't have to go. If you feel like 4+ years will pay off in the end, then go. Just because everyone says you have to go to college doesn't mean you have to. It's ultimately your decision.

 

[AngryMongoose]

As someone being paid more in grant and bursary than I'm paying in tuition, I'd say yes XD
Possible depends on which subject you do, but here in STEM, job prospects are improved enough to justify 3 years of slacking off and partying. Just my opinion.

 

[Nerexor]

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?

Student debt can be racked up pretty hard in Canada, but the government student loan programs are generally quite flexible and they give you 6 months after you graduate before they start adding interest to the payments. I managed to mostly pay my own way through my first degree (lived at home, took semesters off to work various jobs and pay for the next term), so I owe less than most. Just remember that student loans are LOANS and must be repaid eventually (you'd be surprised how many people overlook that.)

I think in terms of it being worth it you need to look into what you want to do. I had no idea what I wanted to do in my first degree, and I was no closer to getting a job at the end of it. I did, however, learn a lot about research, writing, and was exposed to a lot of what are termed "soft skills."

No matter what degree you get, there is no guarantee of a job at the end of it. You can get a degree in the liberal arts, and honestly get a lot out of it in terms of being a more educated person, but not necessarily one that is trained in job skills that you can put specific examples of on a resume.

Also be sure to look at the job market. A part of me dies inside every time someone says they want to be a teacher in Canada. The job market there is utterly saturated, due to thousands of people across the country wanting to be teachers. It's not a bad thing, but there are only so many jobs in a given field.

If you want an education, want to learn more about something, or just things in general then I think the degree is worth it, because it will do that (provided you work at it). Learning is what Universities are there for. If you want a job that pays well and doesn't require a degree, get an apprenticeship or go to community college. That is what they are there for. Also, if you want to party hard and still do courses, college. Or the University of Western Ontario.

Captcha: Time Lord. Awwwww yeah.

 

[Frission]

If you're planning to work, then yes. If not you're wasting money. At college you can learn as much as you want. That's the only thing asked of you. It's a great time if you know how to use it. Don't in debt yourself if you just plan to do the minimum. You get as much as you put in.

 

[Skratt]

Unless you want to do something very specialized, go to college and get a business degree or don't go at all. History Major? Would you like fries with that? Library Science? Art Major? That will be $5.29, please pull up to the second window.

Colleges are businesses, pure and simple and high tuition is indicative of that. Student Loans are exempt from bankruptcy, so I would not recommend getting a loan from a Private bank unless you like Anal Sex. Don't pay for an expensive university when you can get the same from somewhere cheaper. If you want a BA or BS, be mindful of how many credits will transfer, and how many it takes to get your Associates.

As with all things, there are no guarantees. Don't believe the hype, not all degrees were created equal and the wrong degree might even get you passed over for work. It's a tough world out there, and while I believe in higher education, the system is flawed and the unaware find themselves often left out in the cold on a mountain of debt, some fond memories and a piece of paper.

All I'm saying is try to go into it with your eyes open. There are no reset buttons or new game menu options in life.

 

[JoesshittyOs]

Once again, it depends.

I've sort of half assed college at this point because there's really nothing that I see myself doing besides Social Work.

Just whatever your studying. Counseling is a rising market, and there's generally always more room for medical personnel and lawyers if the people you intern with like you.

People tend to say that there's no jobs out there, because they're generally looking in the wrong places. You can't really choose what you want to become anymore, provided your good with computers and fixing shit.