juillet

Going to college has not been overhyped - a lot of people have been saying that, but truth be told college graduates are less likely to be unemployed, make more money on average and also have a lot of intangible benefits (they are healthier, happier, and their children have better educational outcomes).

I looked at that Forbes article. My uncle was an elevator repairer, and he did make good money, but there was a training program involved and it took him a while to make that money. My dad was an electronic repairer - again, there was a training period (that he didn't get paid for) and the pay was decent but not phenomenal. He is now a transportation inspector, and he had to work in transportation for 20 years to get the job. He said that people with less work experience and bachelor's degrees were getting promoted before him. My brother's an electrical power line repairman and he makes good money - $40,000, roughly, with average overtime. He works a lot of overtime so he makes more. That's about what a college grad makes, but he made it 3 years earlier than one and he has no loan debt. However, he's considering going back to college, because he says he doesn't want to be doing this when he's 40 (he's 24). I have another uncle who worked the subway and that is a great job in the cities in which public transit is important. He made a good salary and excellent benefits.

Brian1

Maybe for the Boomer generation; I bet these studies only examined previous generations. College degrees were rare in the past but are now common as muck and devalued due to the high supply of bachelor's degrees. I doubt they make as big of a difference for Generation Y and later generations.

cptofthehouse

I know many examples, too many to ignore, where the degree is essential even to be considered for a job. it's a check mark that you have to have or you are not even in consideration. We have friends who can help get people in the door and under consideration but without a degree, and often it's a degree in ANYTHING, just a BA or BS or equivalent and you are on to the next phase.

One of my closest friends works for a university in her dream job. She worked at very positions for years before this came up and she knew everyone associated with the department. A requirement was a Masters. In anything. From practically anywhere. And she had one from some correspondence program years ago, now defunct when her DH was in the military. SHe either had free or reduced cost access to this and so she took it. Family and her DH derided her on what a waste of time it was. BUt she got it and it was a non negotiable requirement for her job to have that Masters.. Crazy, yes, but that's the way it goes.

For many kids, they may as well be going to college if it isn't putting them in horrible debt as they are not particularly doing anything else useful. For those with other directed interests, my hat is off and I bow as they sweep past me to their pursuits with my congrats.

musicmom

There are many interesting positions in healthcare that require a master's degree now.
So, even with 30+ years after a bachelor's and specialty certification in my field, I would not even get an interview for those openings. Just the way it is.

I can still at my advanced age complete a masters, paid by tuition reimbursement from my employer. Haven't done it yet, don't see it happening. I'm still having fun where I am and not sufficiently motivated to take that opportunity.

I think the trend for higher level degrees will escalate in the future as bachelors degree is becoming devalued.

BCEagle91

You can get an interview if you know someone inside with a very strong recommendation - that person is putting their reputation on the line for you and organizations realize this.

I got my masters in my 30s - much of it was fun and interesting. Much of it I also already knew too. If it's free to you, why not? It probably won't be that difficult if you've worked in the field for 30+ years. I was fortunate in that the school had a local campus about ten minutes from where I work. I did have to drive into the main campus for a few courses but I scheduled those when traffic was light.

musicmom

BC, I'm way past my 30s, finding motivation, time, and ENERGY to pursue grad degree now is a reach, even if free.
I've also got a sideline 2nd career of caring for special needs adult daughter still at home; otherwise I'd not let my very advanced age stand in my way!

So many applicants with degree in hand pretty much negate probably of interviewing without one in my field. Back in the day, they would hire with the contingent 'or eligible' and grant a finite time frame to complete requirements.

Brian1

Yeah, you probably need a degree to work as a barista at Starbucks now. Since anyone can get into and through college, a degree is not much of a filter. You're pretty much just paying for a degree. I think there are alternatives (trade school) that would work better for many people.

Hopefully the education market collapses soon (either through the withdrawal of federal funding or people stop demanding loans) and tuition declines, since the state of the current system is unsustainable (devalued degrees, higher costs, declining job market).

BCEagle91

I had a chat with a guy that's a VP of a multinational doing deals in the hundreds of millions of dollars. He's a world-class expert on a petrochemical process that's needed by large petro companies due to the shifting nature of where oil is produced. I felt like I was talking to a chemical engineer but I asked his wife what his background was and she told me that he just has a high-schoole education.

He did do a tremendous amount of self-study and worked with a lot of engineers when he was younger.

musicmom

Cool story, BCEagle. I bet this scenario is not really common but interesting that it is possible.


I agree about the value of self study. I'm a clinical lab specialist by degree. Over last 10 years or so, I've also been involved with numerous database installations and upgrades for our LIS. Started with NO background in IT at all (especially since it didn't exist when I was a newbie in the workplace) and now I find myself on every IT/Lab team for every project and interface constantly with the analysts and vendor. Building, validation, troubleshooting, staff education, etc.
No formal training except vendor classes/visits.

It's been a very interesting trip that I couldn't have anticipated.
Funny where life takes you when you aren't looking.

itsamanda14

i found her linked-in profile, turns out she majored in english and got a masters in it. figures.

perkylady

A hundred and eighty-eight thousand??? There's got to be a better way of solving this

AlexanderMD

These are not my words so I'm not taking any credit, but some words of wisdom I heard from a professor (at least I think it’s wise), "Don't rely on college to solve all your problems in life." “Don’t fear struggle embrace it.” I know our parents and/or grandparents say this all the time, "go to college get a degree and get a good job and live a happy life," you have probably heard it so much that you have been programmed to think like that. If you have experienced about 2 years of college so far you know it does not work that way (the real world does not work that way today). Its 2012 your folks are using old philosophy from 1980. Times have changed and I think that college today is just a stepping stone to help you get where you want to be, but you do not have to throw 180 grand at it. That’s like being asked "Hey you want to live a great life have a great job?"...Yeah! "Ok give me $20.000 and I will see if I can help you." There is no guarantee even if you graduate with a BS degree, that you will have a great job or a better life. "Yay! I got my BS but I'm 80 grand in dept." How does that sound? From what I have been told is that you have to work backwards. Instead of thinking college is the only way out, look at it more as just a resource to help you in your career. Don't play the guessing game. Go out and find people that are doing what you want to do and ask them the hard question, learn from them. They can be professors, actually I think it’s better to learn from a complete stranger than friends or family, because they want be soft with you. You want to find processional people you know for a fact will show no fluff, and that will give you free information all day long.

perkylady

You know you're right. "Don't fear struggle embrace it" - So let's embrace it. There's just got to be other ways to solve this debt problem.

romanigypsyeyes

Or... here's a thought... get the degree without the 80k in debt.

perkylady

"Without the $80k in debt" I've got a couple of nephews who'd like to know how. Me too.