Front page article - did-i-choose-the-wrong-profession

[farley2k]

Originally Posted by jkuo13

Whether a degree is worth it is highly dependent on individual situations.

What possible topic could we talk about which isn't highly dependent on individual situations?

[Tightwad]

In the real world, as long as you have a college degree, regardless of major, it will suffice. I only know one person I graduated with who is currently working in their field of study and that was Chemistry. Everything else is interchangeable.

A college degree will get you in the door at a higher rate than someone with just a high school education and some experience. If you are in the same position long enough the high school education you will reach parody with the college graduate. However, if you change jobs (and everyone does, many times), you are back to square one. My husband ran into this many times and is now completing his undergrad.

I followed the MBA route because I bought into the hype that you HAD to get an advanced degree in order to get a good job. Imagine my surprise when I entered the job market and found that my advanced degree actually COST me good jobs because I was over-educated for the position. I have changed jobs several times over the years and regardless of where I worked, my advanced degree had squat to do with my paycheck. I was on the same pay level as someone with the same experience with only an undergraduate.

READ AND HEED: Do not take out student loans to get an advanced degree!!! Get your undergraduate at a decent in-state school. Find a job at a company that will pay for continuing education and let THEM pay for advanced classes if that is what you want. I have two friends who received their MBAs this way on the company dime. If a company pays to put you through graduate school, you will be on a faster career track than someone who comes in the door with one. Crazy, I know, but this is how it works.

[Julie Rains]

Originally Posted by Tightwad

A college degree will get you in the door at a higher rate than someone with just a high school education and some experience. If you are in the same position long enough the high school education you will reach parody with the college graduate. However, if you change jobs (and everyone does, many times), you are back to square one. My husband ran into this many times and is now completing his undergrad.


READ AND HEED: Do not take out student loans to get an advanced degree!!! Get your undergraduate at a decent in-state school. Find a job at a company that will pay for continuing education and let THEM pay for advanced classes if that is what you want. I have two friends who received their MBAs this way on the company dime. If a company pays to put you through graduate school, you will be on a faster career track than someone who comes in the door with one. Crazy, I know, but this is how it works.

This is great advice and I think that Margaret was really hitting on the cost (tuition + loan interest)/return of higher education. If you started investing that college money at an early age (in your 20s) and were able to get a good job, then you could be better off in terms of net worth.

Also, I agree that you can work your way up with a HS diploma but if you are laid off, then you don't get credit for your experience among most employers without the degree. I work with people in that situation which is one of the reasons I wrote about Credit for Prior Learning (not exciting but useful!)

The other issue that Margaret mentioned was that people may not value writers as much as they should. I know this is an extreme example but I saw a craigslist ad for someone who wanted writing done: "I have 50 short (300-500 word) aricles that I need rewritten for my website, so they sound completely different. I need them rewritten today. I'll pay $35 for this. Payment will be on tuesday." And a local (though nationally recognized) university has advertised that it will pay (per hour) the same for a part-time library assistant as a web content writer; you'd think a liberal arts university would value creativity and communications.

Nevertheless, nearly all the tradespeople I have dealt with have been well worth what I paid them. Electrical work, in particular, is dangerous (at least it would be for me) and having to fix other people's work, make sure things are safe, etc. is especially valuable.

[Ronni]

A college degree will get you in the door at a higher rate than someone with just a high school education and some experience.

I don't think this is always the case. A college degree can make you more competitive than someone with a diploma, but I don't think it necessarily means a higher rate. I know plenty of people who make at least twice as more as I do, in non-trade jobs, who don't have degrees.

Which is why I don't think "I have a degree, I'm entitled to this higher salary." No, I'm entitled to the education I acquired while I was in school. Everything else is just gravy. Then again, my degree isn't a specialized one such as medicine or teaching, so my outlook is different.

[72Tiger]

I have actually managed to find a job that I truly love. I could not have gotten it without my college degree. That makes it worth it to me.

[jkuo13]

Originally Posted by farley2k

What possible topic could we talk about which isn't highly dependent on individual situations?

Well, we could discuss whether it's a good idea to get educated at all. My guess is that almost everyone would agree that acquiring some learning in life is a good idea, but maybe that wouldn't make for interesting conversation.

Originally Posted by Tightwad

A college degree will get you in the door at a higher rate than someone with just a high school education and some experience. If you are in the same position long enough the high school education you will reach parody with the college graduate.

I know what you meant, but that typo made me chuckle. I was sitting here imagining the non-degreed worker doing a stand-routine and impersonating a college student.

[Tightwad]

Originally Posted by jkuo13

I know what you meant, but that typo made me chuckle. I was sitting here imagining the non-degreed worker doing a stand-routine and impersonating a college student.

ROTFL. I guess that is what I get for rushing to make posts during my lunch hour!

PARITY!

[Ginger]

Originally Posted by moneymatters

i tend to think that college and advanced degrees can be over-rated. I know several friends who have gotten a masters or phd, only to be saddled with huge amounts of debt, and remorse at having spent so much.

On the other hand there are some professions where you really do need the advanced degree, and the earning potential is really there. its hard to say. for me i think college was more of a time to network, socialize, and learn about how to succeed in life.. I think it depends on the person's situation as to whether it is worth it.

You can say that again!

I have regrets regarding one aspect of my field and in the midst of planning to go back for a 3rd MS just so that I can break six figures personally before 35.

[fred333]

That is a good plan. I think in todays business world there is a lot of luck involved if you want to get your ideal job.

[Finally_Frugal]

This is a topic I think about on a daily basis. With over $50,000 in student loan debt, and master's degree in Education, I often wish I had made better choices 10-15 years ago. Technically, I don't 'need' my master's degree to do the job I do (advisor at a university). I REALLY didn't need to go to a private school on the opposite coast (East vs West) to get that expensive master's degree.

I talk to students every day who are being offered salaries at $20,000 more than I make for entry level jobs in the science and technical fields, with a bachelor's degree. It makes me question: did I make a mistake in following my interests and living for the moment, rather than being more practical?

In my advising, I often counsel students to take a year or two off after the bachelor's degree, think about what they want, and above all, avoid student loans like the plague.