Do college degrees matter anymore?

[Deadshot1988]

Just as the title to this thread states, do they matter anymore? :dunno:

 

[Ace Boobtoucher]

No. I know a ton of Doctors, Lawyers, Pharmacists, professors and nurses who skipped college.

 

[PirateKing]

No. I know a ton of Doctors, Lawyers, Pharmacists, professors and nurses who skipped college.

Yep. I became a doctor without getting my MD. Don't ask me how I'm allowed to practice medicine. I just told the hospital director that I gained my experience by watching Scrubs, ER, House, Grey's Anatomy, ect. He hired me right on the spot. Gotta go, I'm off to perform an endoscopy.

 

[Deadshot1988]

No. I know a ton of Doctors, Lawyers, Pharmacists, professors and nurses who skipped college.

Yes granted those professions do require degrees, but I just feeling doubtful at the moment. At the moment the degree I want to pursue is an art/theater degree but with todays ever changing job market, the people with those degrees have the highest unemployment rate. I kind of feel like college is a big waste of time, money, and resources.

 

[Ace Bandage]

I'm a space ninja. No degree was required.

 

[Deadshot1988]

Yes granted those professions do require degrees, but I just feeling doubtful at the moment. At the moment the degree I want to pursue is an art/theater degree but with todays ever changing job market, the people with those degrees have the highest unemployment rate. I kind of feel like college is a big waste of time, money, and resources.

For the degree I want to go after.

 

[STDiva]

Yes they do. Anybody who thinks otherwise (Will E) needs a helmet.

Sure you can achieve success and live a happy life without a degree, but it will open more doors and you'll probably (definitely) earn more money.

College seem and feels like a waste of time, but that piece of paper will probably double your annual income.

 

[Straight Shooter]

Yes they do. Anybody who thinks otherwise (Will E) needs a helmet.

Sure you can achieve success and live a happy life without a degree, but it will open more doors and you'll probably (definitely) earn more money.

College seem and feels like a waste of time, but that piece of paper will probably double your annual income.

:dito: The stats don't lie: Those holding bachelor's degrees earn about $2.27 million over their lifetime, while those with master's, doctoral, and professional degrees earn $2.67 million, $3.25 million, and $3.65 million. I think it's imperative that everyone pursue some type of post-secondary education whether it's a university, a community college or a trade school

 

[squallumz]

ive never been asked for any sort of documentation for anything in my life.

in highschool, they make it sound like if you dont get your diploma or whatever, you're fucked.


yeah fucking right.

 

[Will E Worm]

Yes they do. Anybody who thinks otherwise (Will E) needs a helmet.

Sure you can achieve success and live a happy life without a degree, but it will open more doors and you'll probably (definitely) earn more money.

College seem and feels like a waste of time, but that piece of paper will probably double your annual income.

ive never been asked for any sort of documentation for anything in my life.

in highschool, they make it sound like if you dont get your diploma or whatever, you're fucked.


yeah fucking right.

Squallumz is correct. STDiva (who needs the helmet) is wrong. :tongue:

College not worth it. Link

College degree not worth what it was

Today's college grads are earning far less than their older siblings coming out of school.

Entry level wages for male college graduates fell to an average of $21.68 an hour last year, down 11% from 2001, according to a new report from the Economic Policy Institute, a left-leaning group.

Women, meanwhile, saw their average hourly wage drop to $18.80, down 7.6%.

"Young college graduates who finished their education in the last five years or so are earning significantly less than their older brothers and sisters who graduated in the late 1990s," the report found.

Article


A college degree does not protect your job nor does it assure you in getting one. Article

 

[PirateKing]

translation: I didn't go to college and feel insecure about it, so I'm going to post biased articles to help justify that college is overrated.

:tongue:

 

[fallacy]

I have always thought college for the most part was for kids out of high school. However if you know exactly what you want to do then college can help get you there and not be just a waste of time and money.

 

[Will E Worm]

translation: I didn't go to college and feel insecure about it, so I'm going to post biased articles to help justify that college is overrated.

:tongue:

Not at all. With most college graduates not getting a job in the field they studied, college is a waste of time and money.
Just that fact should prove it to anyone. People like you do not want facts. :tongue:


Anyway, there are cheaper and better options available.
I'm not against education. I'm against wasting time and money.
Unless they can help place you in a job or guarantee something they are not worth the time and money.

 

[helen]

I have a degree in English Literature. My younger brother dropped out of high school. Currently, I'm unemplyed, while he's a factory supervisor. So I'd say my degree hasn't been particularly helpful so far.

 

[Deepcover]

It's a waste yet people still preach that tired phrase...."Go to school and get a good education so you can get a good job". Doesn't apply anymore and no job is considered safe.

 

[Dazza MXM]

a piece of paper might look good.....but it's not what you know, it's who you know that will get you ahead these days

 

[Mr. Hyde]

Yes granted those professions do require degrees, but I just feeling doubtful at the moment. At the moment the degree I want to pursue is an art/theater degree but with todays ever changing job market, the people with those degrees have the highest unemployment rate. I kind of feel like college is a big waste of time, money, and resources.

I don't mean any offense to you, but the major you want to pursue is not one that will bring in big bucks. College is never a waste of money, but if you're looking at it as a way to get a high-paying job, art/theatre isn't the way to go, unless you intend on becoming a professor.

If you really want to major in that, I would also advise you to knuckle down, do NO fun electives, and get a double major. The second degree should be in something that is practical where you can earn a good living.

 

[LukeEl]

I think it's more important to have a trade then a degree. If I could do it all over again, I would learn carpentry, masonary, welding, because there is always going be a need for trade workers.

 

[Rey C.]

I don't mean any offense to you, but the major you want to pursue is not one that will bring in big bucks. College is never a waste of money, but if you're looking at it as a way to get a high-paying job, art/theatre isn't the way to go, unless you intend on becoming a professor.

If you really want to major in that, I would also advise you to knuckle down, do NO fun electives, and get a double major. The second degree should be in something that is practical where you can earn a good living.

Excellent advice!

I think it's more important to have a trade then a degree. If I could do it all over again, I would learn carpentry, masonary, welding, because there is always going be a need for trade workers.

I don't disagree with this... as long as the person in question has some sort of mechanical talent. If he is all thumbs (or that's just not the sort of work he is suited for), he'll just have a(nother) piece of paper that will do him no good.

It's generally better to have a college degree (or at least a certificate from a technical school) than just a high school diploma. That's not an opinion, it's a fact, based on the earnings and employment rates of those who have them versus those who don't. It's fun to read anecdotal stories about a guy who didn't go to college or trade school, yet dreamed up some whiz-bang invention and became a millionaire. But that's not how it turns out for most people. Helen has a brother who is a factory supervisor, while she is unemployed. We fired a plant manager a couple of months ago. So let's say both Helen and her brother applied for the job. While she may not have any experience and he may have years under his belt, we MIGHT interview Helen, but we would not even interview her brother for that job. Having a 4 year degree is a minimum requirement for that position. With some positions, at some companies, being a great worker or a great person and having impeccable references, is sometimes not enough. That might not be fair, but why shoestring yourself in a job market that is getting increasingly competitive???

Even if the plan changes, it's ALWAYS better to have a plan. And if/when your plan changes (which if you're 18-22, it probably will), a degree or trade certificate will give you a great many more options. The problem that a lot of younger people have is they focus on the here & now and aren't able to consider what might happen if they should want to do something else.

 

[BCT]

A degree doesn't guarantee a great job but it sure the fuck helps. You can't be in the medical field without it that's for sure. i have an mBA in business, it was rough getting a job at first but everything turned out ok. There was a period where i felt degrees don't matter but they do to a certain extent.