Posts: 4,396
Threads: 0
Joined: Nov 2008
Reputation:
36
Why Go to College at All?
02-06-2012, 06:42 AM
My take on college is if someone else is paying for it and it works for you and the life you live, may as well. But for me I don't think it's worth it. Most people with lots of cash don't even use their degrees in the work they do.
Posts: 196
Threads: 0
Joined: Nov 2011
Reputation:
1
Why Go to College at All?
02-06-2012, 09:55 AM
I graduated from college a few years ago. I came out with really next to no debt. I went to a city school in NYC, basically due to my financial background (i'm poor) school was pretty much free. I also had a few grants and a scholarship that allowed me to go study abroad. I went to school for art/performance, really the only jobs you have coming out are in tutoring/education (and part time at that). It's been rough but I wouldn't trade the experiences I had in training under some of the best artists/performers literally in the world right now for damn near free. The thing that still pays off about this is that I have a few of these guys still in my contact network and i'm able to still visit them at their studio's and get advice about business, craft and life.
Outside of my major, school was a fucking joke. I'm debating about taking the graduate route but I'm not sure I can justify taking 30k of debt for an MFA.
Posts: 1,039
Threads: 0
Joined: Jan 2011
Reputation:
10
Why Go to College at All?
02-06-2012, 08:21 PM
I think if you are in the right major, college can be worth it. Yeah, you can do it without college but everyone cannot be a business owner. Owning a business is ideal but let's face it...it's a WHOLE LOT of work and risk and you have to pretty much think network, network, network 24/7.
If you keep you computer skills up to par, recruiters basically find you. No networking necessary.
Posts: 6,749
Threads: 0
Joined: Sep 2011
Reputation:
146
Why Go to College at All?
02-07-2012, 07:25 PM
I haven't learned shit in school. College teaches you to be a work mule for the system. But you need to know how to act like a work mule to exploit the system for its gains.
For somebody whom is a big-picture, outside the box, Right-Brained dudes like me School isn't designed for me. Its meant to whip people into robotic shape. Its a tool meant as a means to get to my end. I stopped leaning my hat on this nonsense a few months ago. It makes no sense when your the smartest guy in the room and School does not good for you. I still view it as important but school does not make successful people that is something that comes from whiten.
The way the system is set up I am either going to be a game changer globally or a complete wreak on the street. That's how the system is hedged for me.. its either success or the gutter. I was never breed to be somebody whom just rides the status quo to some typical lifestyle.
I always believed playing it safe would be best, starting to shake that off and say fuck it. School is only beneficial for a few fields, 80% of programs are garbage and will be irrelevant when new global trends make them obsolete.
Posts: 7,818
Threads: 0
Joined: Oct 2010
Reputation:
343
Why Go to College at All?
02-17-2012, 08:33 PM
1) Friends for life.
2) life/personal transformation
3) women
4) networking
5) education that you can't get by reading on your own
6) slight chance of getting a job
In that order.
Posts: 999
Threads: 0
Joined: Aug 2011
Why Go to College at All?
02-20-2012, 05:24 AM
Not sure if my experience pertains to the question of the value of a college degree, but here goes. Due to lifestyle and temperamental reasons, I didn't want to either go to college or work for anyone else. Instead I opted to be an entrepreneur, and started many small businesses, stubbornly sticking with my chosen lifestyle through the good and the mostly hand to mouth bad times.
There were many years of high stress poverty, many late rent checks. Things got a bit easier after moving to SE Asia where keeping expenses extremely low was possible. I cycled through some moderate times, had a few very good times, but mostly it was hand to mouth extreme poverty.
And yet my life was good. I was happy and doing what I wanted to do. Eventually through stubborn diligence one of my ventures did ok. Much later after realizing to stop diversifying into new ventures and to focus on what I know works, I was able to make that grow into a modestly successful personal income. Now my income is above average - not just for my location, but for most any location. That took decades of fumbling around ineptly to accomplish.
So that is another life option - fumble around in poverty for decades. Honestly - it worked for me, and I'm glad that I chose that lifestyle, and wouldn't do it much differently if I could do it all over. It would have been nice to learn to not be overconfident and to not stretch myself too thin at a younger age, but some people have to learn their limits the hard way.
So for very stubborn fiercely independent people who have little need for peer admiration, entrepreneurship - even when you suck at it - can be the choice for you.
Posts: 529
Threads: 0
Joined: Feb 2012
Why Go to College at All?
02-20-2012, 10:04 AM
Quote: (02-06-2012 03:15 AM)pitt Wrote:
Torontokid is good that you have a business mentality, however you should think that you are going to college in case your businesses ideas dont work and you have something to fall back. So make sure you are choosing a course that will help you having a good job in the future (preferably opt for an engineering course). Its easier for you to succeed when you have a degree in hands and you are also a business minded person.
Not only that, but college is also a place to network and find other people who will can become key contributing resources in your future plans.
College isn't just a simple pay X amount of dollars and get Y amount in future returns, there is also a lot of other abstract value that can be obtained such as exposure to different cultures, ideas, religions, etc.
Posts: 529
Threads: 0
Joined: Feb 2012
Why Go to College at All?
02-20-2012, 10:10 AM
Quote: (02-17-2012 08:33 PM)WestIndianArchie Wrote:
1) Friends for life.
2) life/personal transformation
3) women
4) networking
5) education that you can't get by reading on your own
6) slight chance of getting a job
In that order.
7. Access to resources you would otherwise not have (things like labs and equipment and highly educated instructors/trainers immediately come to mind)
#6 is also very much dependant on your field. My degree is mandatory, I could not have gotten my job without it. I think the key to that part is to pick a field that is needed by society.
Posts: 1,406
Threads: 0
Joined: Sep 2010
Reputation:
11
Why Go to College at All?
02-20-2012, 11:22 AM
Finishing college gives you options. For example, you may teach English in south Korea if nothing pans out at home. There are many things that you can benefit from by doing it. On the other hand, if you don't finish, you will have less options. As for the investment, will you be financially better off in the next few years with it or without it is a mystery.
I am a big advocate for trades. Learning to be a plumber or carpenter, you can never go wrong. Always opportunities to do cash jobs on the side, and work your own hours. In hindsight,I wish I took that route sometimes. However, a university education usually takes many years to see the investment blossom.
Posts: 1,690
Threads: 0
Joined: Nov 2010
Reputation:
34
Why Go to College at All?
02-22-2012, 12:45 AM
College is massive for networking. Missing out on college is a horrible idea because A)You lose the opportunity to gain a massive business network, B)College is perfect for getting laid and its helluva lot of fun.
I suggest going to a school with rich kids. Rich kids = amazing networking. They usually have very well networked parents who can massively help your career or business plans.
Staying on campus/dorms is also essential. It allows for a lot of networking opportunities.
As for debt, If you have an income of 2-3k a month you won't have to worry about that.
Posts: 8,017
Threads: 0
Joined: Nov 2010
Why Go to College at All?
02-22-2012, 07:16 AM
Quote: (02-05-2012 02:53 PM)MiXX Wrote:
Quote: (02-05-2012 02:41 PM)UrbanNerd Wrote:
If you are not majoring in computer science, mathematics (comp-sci emphasis), computer engineering, petroleum engineering, accounting or finance, it is kind of hard to justify spending a lot on college or even going to college...UNLESS you are getting a free ride to one of the Ivy League schools, Stanford, Cal-Berkeley, Georgia Tech or Northwestern.
I lucked out since I was a mathematics/computer science major. Got me a good 13-14 years in the private sector then went the security clearance route once the economy got shaky.
Even now, I tell hopeful computer science/engineering majors to knock out the first 2 years at a community college then finish up at your big 4-year school in your home state....then let your employer pay for your graduate degree.
Guys in the technology field working as temps/contractors rarely get their credentials verified when working through an agency/3rd party.
I personally know a Venezuelan guy who works as a Linux admin and an Oracle technology admin who ONLY does contract work via 1099 or through agencies (never direct/perm hire), and he tells me he does NOT have a college degree, nor is it it ever problem when they perform his background checks because they do not verify them. He's been doing this for almost 9 years. I was amazed to learn he never makes below $80/hr even in todays economy! He really has it down to a science, if it becomes an issue, he'll move on to a dozen other agencies that will give him work without the hassle.
I would guess he would steer clear of any gigs that require security clearance.
Mixx
In the industry UrbaNerd and I are in, most companies don't line up the sf86 form and resume. This is how so many resume rangers gets jobs.
Posts: 237
Threads: 0
Joined: Mar 2011
Reputation:
4
Why Go to College at All?
02-22-2012, 08:59 AM
In case you should ever feel lik requiring a college degree, you can always opt in for some degree from an Online school, like Excelsior College and likes, and get a Bachelor degree for less than 10K and in less than 1,5 years - all fully fledged and accepted everywhere!
_________________________________
"To the man who only has a hammer, everything he encounters begins to look like a nail."
—Abraham Maslow
Posts: 8,017
Threads: 0
Joined: Nov 2010
Why Go to College at All?
02-22-2012, 09:33 AM
^^^ Here's one faster than that:
http://instantdegrees.com/
Not only will this work, I might just tell you how to pull it off.
Posts: 237
Threads: 0
Joined: Mar 2011
Reputation:
4
Why Go to College at All?
02-24-2012, 11:29 AM
^^
Interesting.
Tell us more about it.
_________________________________
"To the man who only has a hammer, everything he encounters begins to look like a nail."
—Abraham Maslow
Posts: 237
Threads: 0
Joined: Mar 2011
Reputation:
4
Why Go to College at All?
02-24-2012, 12:32 PM
Deleted
_________________________________
"To the man who only has a hammer, everything he encounters begins to look like a nail."
—Abraham Maslow