Is College Worth it?

[TSD]

http://finance.yahoo.com/college-education/article/113010/degree-not-worth-debt-cnnmoney



I think it depends on the individual, and the degree you choose. For my profession I would have been just as likely to score a job going to Devry or something like that for 2 years, or even simply through home study and certifications. (its a non- issue for me, I would like to thank the taxpayers of our wonderful republic for providing me with a free education and comfortable living for 6 years of college

while their own children may be drowning in student loan debt.)





If you choose a field of study you love but pays shit, expect to suffer the consequences. Had I actually had to pay for it though, the debt may have been worth it for the experience alone.

 

[Kerfuffle]

An education is always a good thing and does make a difference in life. I agree though that a tech school such as Devry is not a huge difference over a traditional 4 year school. Basically anything beyond a high school diploma is important - you have to get some kind of trade skills to differentiate yourself from the pack.



On another note how did you get a free education? Scholarships? or just wealthy family that paid it for you?

 

[BigPete]

He got it through selfless service to his country. The same way I did.



Personally, I have noticed that a degree means little if anything in an interview. Either you know someone, or you have experience or something desirable like a security clearance, or you end up putting a label on your head that reads 'sucker-will work my way up by starting in the mail room-even though I paid $80,000 to get a leg up on the competition'.

 

[TSD]

An education is always a good thing and does make a difference in life. I agree though that a tech school such as Devry is not a huge difference over a traditional 4 year school. Basically anything beyond a high school diploma is important - you have to get some kind of trade skills to differentiate yourself from the pack.



On another note how did you get a free education? Scholarships? or just wealthy family that paid it for you?

A combination of federal grants, my GI Bill, and Tuition assistance, brought to me by taxpayers like you. Everybody can get those federal grants though, once their parents no longer claim them as a dependent. I didn't need them, but with them, the federal government was actually paying me to go school at that point.



$2500 a semester in federal grants, tuition paid for, drill pay, and I was drawing around 800 a month from my GI bill. I didnt need a job, and my school and living expenses were paid for and then some.

 

[MassHavoc]

I think college is extremely important as a buffer between high school and the real world, it eases kids, yes kids, into a world of living on their own and taking responsibility. And all the extra education is just cake on top of it. I think when a kid hits 18 he's not quite ready to hit the real world. For this I would say you military people here, same type of thing, obviously a world of difference but still provides a buffer of belonging especially at a time where most of your friends are doing the same thing and abandoning you. It's good to have something, a path of sorts to push you along in life, where you end up paying more for it or not. My brother and I have very similar paths growing up I went to college he didn't. We both are at about the same points in our lives now (he's 3 years older) but we went way way way different paths to get there. I'm not saying one is better or worse as we both turned out ok, but there was a time where he could have went an entirely different way. Luckily we have the family structure to combat that.



Even though we are both happy, and love where we are in life, I think he could have greatly benefited from the structure of having somewhere to go after high school.

 

[BigPete]

I'll agree with all of that Mass. I would love to see some kind of conscription program instilled. Trade school, college, or military service. It kind of already happens naturally as there are a huge number of people doing so already.

 

[bri]

Jobs often still come down to who you know and who you blow. It's just a reality. I just recently went back to school to pursue my heart's desire. This time I will have a fortune in student loans to pay back, so ask me in a couple years if it is worth it.

 

[Kerfuffle]

A combination of federal grants, my GI Bill, and Tuition assistance, brought to me by taxpayers like you. Everybody can get those federal grants though, once their parents no longer claim them as a dependent. I didn't need them, but with them, the federal government was actually paying me to go school at that point.



$2500 a semester in federal grants, tuition paid for, drill pay, and I was drawing around 800 a month from my GI bill. I didnt need a job, and my school and living expenses were paid for and then some.

Sounds good. For many parents I know these days sending their kids who are non-military to a 4 year school is just out of reach. Tuitition per year 21 years ago when I went away to college was $801 for a semester. It went up to $2500 per semester by my 4th year. Today many are telling me it's like $15,000 per semester. I used to be able to work the whole summer and pay the first semester. Today that's not possible. Hence many are sending their kids to a community college for 2 years. The 4 year universities are trying to combat that by accepting less transfer credits knowing that the community school are taking their business for the gen ed courses. I can't imagine what it will be in 20 more years from now - $50K per semester?

 

[TSD]

Sounds good. For many parents I know these days sending their kids who are non-military to a 4 year school is just out of reach. Tuitition per year 21 years ago when I went away to college was $801 for a semester. It went up to $2500 per semester by my 4th year. Today many are telling me it's like $15,000 per semester. I used to be able to work the whole summer and pay the first semester. Today that's not possible. Hence many are sending their kids to a community college for 2 years. The 4 year universities are trying to combat that by accepting less transfer credits knowing that the community school are taking their business for the gen ed courses. I can't imagine what it will be in 20 more years from now - $50K per semester?

yeah while I was going tuition was about 4500 a semester at Illinois State, I hear its up to 7500 now. Now if you add in living expenses you are easily looking at 20g's a year. Even if you live in a college town for a state school they force incoming freshmen and sophomores to live in the dorms.



Once out of the dorms its cheap as hell to live in a college town. My last apartment down there my roomate and I paid 400 total (200 a piece) for rent on a 2 bedroom 2 bathroom apartment. That particular one was a steal though, the rent was normally 625, but the carpet was all stained from the previous occupants so they gave us a discount, like I gave a crap, its a college apartment, and who knows how much beer and whatever else was going to get spilled on it during my stay.



I flat out dont believe anyone that says they can pay for their own school out of pocket at a 4 year state school, unless they found some dream job making 100,000 a year working just a few hours a day, which I would call into question why they are going to college to begin with at that point. Generally peoples driving force is to ultimately improve their financial situation.



Whenever I tell people I actually profited financially over the course of school, they are usually like "you lucky bastard", luck has nothing to do with it, its risk reward. I was lucky in that I ultimately was lucky and never got sent overseas. The Army is still a pain in the ass. After I was in for awhile I started to enjoy it as I got used to it, but at first I hated it. I still remember my first day of basic training, all that went through my head was "what the **** was I thinking".

 

[winos5]

Worked for me. Community college for a year before joining the Air Force and the rest of my education while on active duty.



You couldn't get a sniff of an interview in my field without the education and credentials to back it up. The 1st thing any employer is going to do is verify your education and credentials, probably before you even interview.



I will say it's easy to screw up and waste your time. I know plenty of people that got degrees and end up working in unrelated fields or the family buisness, but I'd be hard pressed to find an example of someone seriously handicapping their future by getting an education.

 

[TSD]

Worked for me. Community college for a year before joining the Air Force and the rest of my education while on active duty.



You couldn't get a sniff of an interview in my field without the education and credentials to back it up. The 1st thing any employer is going to do is verify your education and credentials, probably before you even interview.



I will say it's easy to screw up and waste your time. I know plenty of people that got degrees and end up working in unrelated fields or the family buisness, but I'd be hard pressed to find an example of someone seriously handicapping their future by getting an education.

How many people did you know that were "going to take a year off" before college, that actually ended up going? I knew a bunch of people in highschool like that and of course, they never went to school, a buddy of mine, who went to highschool with me, and we roomed together a year in college, occationally go to joliet and hit up the bar we used to go to summers home from college. We see the same people from HS there every single time, all they ever talk to eachother about is how great highschool was and stuff that happened in highschool. Its depressing.

 

[jaxhawksfan]

I would say nowadays, with the cost/benefit ratio college is a waste.



Caveat: If there is a specific degree you need for a specific job that you are almost guaranteed, then go for it.



My degree in communications hasn't really done much for me in the job realm, or the increased pay realm. If I had to do it all over again, I might go to community college to get an A.S. Degree and then transfer to a larger college, or I would learn a trade at a community college. Perhaps I would actually study in college and get my piece of paper that says I'm an engineer. I guess it all boils down to a personal preference but one thing is for sure........the cost keeps going up, and the benefits (higher paying jobs) are harder to find.

 

[BlackHawkPaul]

When graduate school is over and I receive my MFA, I will be taking on a second mortgage between the wife and I.

She's going back to get certified GIS mapping, and I'm trying to teach on the collegiate level.

 

[BlackHawkPaul]

I would say nowadays, with the cost/benefit ratio college is a waste.



Caveat: If there is a specific degree you need for a specific job that you are almost guaranteed, then go for it.



My degree in communications hasn't really done much for me in the job realm, or the increased pay realm. If I had to do it all over again, I might go to community college to get an A.S. Degree and then transfer to a larger college, or I would learn a trade at a community college. Perhaps I would actually study in college and get my piece of paper that says I'm an engineer. I guess it all boils down to a personal preference but one thing is for sure........the cost keeps going up, and the benefits (higher paying jobs) are harder to find.

My undergrad is specialized and landed me my current job, but if I had to do it again, I'd get a 6 year degree in Pharmacy.

 

[BigPete]

I feel that college is now a business more than a vehicle for young individuals to grow intellectually, mature, and learn or master a trade or set of skills to be used in the professional world. They all find great ways to make you take courses that are no more advanced than something you took in high school and all too often have nothing to do with your degree. Even with very stylized online or condensed degrees a business student for instance is still required to take a behavioral science class or life science class. Why the **** do I need to learn about cells for four months and $900 when I want to focus on the economy or managing a business.

College degrees come down to: could you get in, could you pay for it, and did you finish? There's a lot of waste involved. Condence B.A.s to three years and take non degree related bullshit out of it. That reduces time and money needed to complete the program and should equate to fewer burnouts or those students who just get by. Unfortunately for colleges it would mean less profit. If you think 'state schools' aren't profitting you are naive.

 

[Shantz My Pants]

Considering I'm still young (22) and doing the school route, I feel that the community college route is probably the safest.



I tried the private school dream, but after spending 20K on 3 semesters that I basically had to teach myself (the teachers were not the brightest) I figured I might as well work 35+ hours a week and not take on any debt (Had some college funds to pay for said private school), so now I'm paying as I go. I have tons of friends who are getting out of college now and with no jobs available, they will be having to work 50+ hours a week just to pay off the debt of the schooling.



Plus, I work in the industry (sales) as the low man on the "totem pole" that I want to make a career out of. So in essence I have some college work and 2 years+ of sales and 5+ years of customer service.



I plan on getting the associate and from there see where I'm heading.

 

[BiscuitintheBasket]

Sounds good. For many parents I know these days sending their kids who are non-military to a 4 year school is just out of reach. Tuitition per year 21 years ago when I went away to college was $801 for a semester. It went up to $2500 per semester by my 4th year. Today many are telling me it's like $15,000 per semester. I used to be able to work the whole summer and pay the first semester. Today that's not possible. Hence many are sending their kids to a community college for 2 years. The 4 year universities are trying to combat that by accepting less transfer credits knowing that the community school are taking their business for the gen ed courses. I can't imagine what it will be in 20 more years from now - $50K per semester?

Not true, as here is a whole accreditation system for transfer of courses. It has also never been as seamless as it has been for the past decade.



The only types of classes that usually will not have a credit transfer are remedial classes....and that depends strictly on the program.



Interestingly enough Community Colleges are starting to work with their district High Schools to reduce the amount of remedial classes.





Edit - I would also like to point out that with many, and I mean many, of the 4 year colleges expanding beyond their campuses, many have strong partnerships with Community Colleges. Primarily for their space and occasionally their faculty. The 4 year schools can still charge tuition and hold their classes in the community college classrooms. Renting the classrooms at a community college is far cheaper than business space or constructing new buildings.

 

[BiscuitintheBasket]

As far as to if college is worth it? It depends on the industry you plan to work in and the weight of need....however I can say that without a doubt that those without at least an associates degree and limited workforce history will get little to no consideration over those with a degree. Basically it comes down to hard to fabricate information on the resume having more weight.



Beyond all that, the experience and basic knowledge one can get is highly beneficial in many aspects in life, IMO. And yes even how to use a beer bong properly can be a benefit.





Bri is correct that who you know can be a big difference maker in getting your foot in the door. Business networking is key in any industry and any workplace (that networking does not need to be kissing ass). The interwebs on the internets helps out immensely with kick starting or adding growth to that networking pool.

 

[CaveMan]

I am planning on using my Post 9-11 G I bill when I get out and work a part time job with that. I do have one thing that most people in my area won't have. A security clearance. Hopefully everything works out like it should. Thanks to all who inputted on this thread it is really helping me make my decision.

 

[Ymono37]

Pretty good article regarding this subject... again, from the loons at Cracked.com