Is College Worth it?

[MassHavoc]

My real 'college experience' was my four years of active duty in the Army. I can agree with what you are saying Mass, but networks generated in college are not a mutually exclusive outcome from those generated in doing something other than just working as say a garbage man or retail clerk from 18-22.



I got my first civilian job after the military because I had a security clearance, had experience with the agency our contract was for, and specifically had experience with the systems and programs that the contract was asking my company to work with.



The people I had worked for or with only came up in casual conversation over the next 9 years.



So in my case, my military service served the same as a college degree would for civilians. The reason I am going back now is to help with a job sector transfor if I choose to leave the defense contractor environment (or have to for reasons out of my control). I am not an engineer or specialized technician and don't want to be one. So simply having about 10 years of highly stylized IT services management experience may not translate on a resume. Having a BBA or any undergrad degree, gives me just a bit of help and keeps me away from the 'bottom of the pile'. Which I admit is necessary but still think is bullshit.

I was using college as an example as it was my experience, but if you'll remember the post you agreed with above from me I mentioned that college, and millatary serve pretty similar functions for the individuals after HS, so in that in my post directly above you could say that I meant everything the same way as what you stated. I didn't mean to be exclusionary but at the same time I didn't want to talk about the military duty with the same knowledge as I haven't been in it.



I agree with you fully and it's why I whole heatedly feel that an 18 yo kid needs something to go into to transition him into the real world.

 

[Kerfuffle]

I don't think it matters what school you went to cause you can learn anywhere. I've also found the kids I've hired that had the nice school on their resume weren't always the most motivated as the guy who went to the regular state or private school. So to me as long as I see education on the resume - with a degree of some type I'm fine with that. High school graduates I don't even interview.

 

[BiscuitintheBasket]

My real 'college experience' was my four years of active duty in the Army. I can agree with what you are saying Mass, but networks generated in college are not a mutually exclusive outcome from those generated in doing something other than just working as say a garbage man or retail clerk from 18-22.



I got my first civilian job after the military because I had a security clearance, had experience with the agency our contract was for, and specifically had experience with the systems and programs that the contract was asking my company to work with.



The people I had worked for or with only came up in casual conversation over the next 9 years.



So in my case, my military service served the same as a college degree would for civilians. The reason I am going back now is to help with a job sector transfor if I choose to leave the defense contractor environment (or have to for reasons out of my control). I am not an engineer or specialized technician and don't want to be one. So simply having about 10 years of highly stylized IT services management experience may not translate on a resume. Having a BBA or any undergrad degree, gives me just a bit of help and keeps me away from the 'bottom of the pile'. Which I admit is necessary but still think is bullshit.

Yup, I always thought that my active duty was liken to college, just more dangerous. The networking and knowledge is similar from a general standpoint.

 

[TSD]

Lets not forget the best part of college, getting shit faced and partying 6 days a week.



Aside from a degree the #1 thing college did for me, was bring me out of my shell. I used to be very shy and was basically forced, due to the situation, to adapt. First night at school, my roommate was like lets go to a party, I was like alright, I was a wreck of nerves, I had never been to a party in my life to this point, and Im going to a party of people I dont know, with someone I just met today, that was totally not in my nature, but I just said **** it and dove in.





by the end of that first year I was a completely different person in terms of social skills.

 

[bri]

Lets not forget the best part of college, getting shit faced and partying 6 days a week.



Aside from a degree the #1 thing college did for me, was bring me out of my shell. I used to be very shy and was basically forced, due to the situation, to adapt. First night at school, my roommate was like lets go to a party, I was like alright, I was a wreck of nerves, I had never been to a party in my life to this point, and Im going to a party of people I dont know, with someone I just met today, that was totally not in my nature, but I just said **** it and dove in.





by the end of that first year I was a completely different person in terms of social skills.

That is hard to imagine, but in reality I guess I could see it. I still see you as our Little Christina Crawford. "No wire hangers."

 

[BiscuitintheBasket]

Lets not forget the best part of college, getting shit faced and partying 6 days a week.



Aside from a degree the #1 thing college did for me, was bring me out of my shell. I used to be very shy and was basically forced, due to the situation, to adapt. First night at school, my roommate was like lets go to a party, I was like alright, I was a wreck of nerves, I had never been to a party in my life to this point, and Im going to a party of people I dont know, with someone I just met today, that was totally not in my nature, but I just said **** it and dove in.





by the end of that first year I was a completely different person in terms of social skills.

And either getting laid or learning new spanking methods.

 

[TSD]

And either getting laid or learning new spanking methods.

I pretty much had my spanking technique solidified before college.

 

[winos5]

I don't think it matters what school you went to cause you can learn anywhere. I've also found the kids I've hired that had the nice school on their resume weren't always the most motivated as the guy who went to the regular state or private school. So to me as long as I see education on the resume - with a degree of some type I'm fine with that. High school graduates I don't even interview.

Who knew ticket scal...err brokers had such educational demands.

 

[BigPete]

Lets not forget the best part of college, getting shit faced and partying 6 days a week.

You've never been assigned to Korea, obviously.

 

[BigPete]

Who knew ticket scal...err brokers had such educational demands.

Hey that Econ 201 is gonna come in real handy when considering supply and demand!

 

[TSD]

You've never been assigned to Korea, obviously.

When I would go help out with the retention program (I did that alot for my weekend a month, since I was at ISU, and that was in Springfield, instead of going up to my unit in chicago).



We'd all get hammered (DS's and other staff) and play drinking games, after the recruits hit the rack. Only thing that sucked was getting up at 4 am the next morning.