Go back to school??

Gysgt Guy · Aug 3, 2011

I'm debating whether it's worth it to go back to college or not? I'm 25, did a yr and half right out of high school but gave up. After years of working dead end jobs it's really making me think.
I'de probably go for a management degree or something along those lines as this point. I've had a few mgr jobs at restaurants,and they were all right just pay was a little low due to the industry.

With the economy all f'ed up is it even worth it?

Any thoughts?

LandoAWD · Aug 3, 2011

Had I not stumbled into a temp job that kept me on (and keeps promoting me), I'd have gone back. I did about the same as you out of HS, but landed a job with my current organization back in 01.

I'm not leaving and you can't make me!

holo82 · Aug 3, 2011

LandoAWD said:
Had I not stumbled into a temp job that kept me on (and keeps promoting me), I'd have gone back. I did about the same as you out of HS, but landed a job with my current organization back in 01.

I'm not leaving and you can't make me!

I was in the same boat as well, but after I landed my job, the company went bankrupt / lost all bids. I'm still paying student loans!

Do whatever feels right. To each his own, but I wish the best to the OP! :hellyeah:

LandoAWD · Aug 3, 2011

holo82 said:
I was in the same boat as well, but after I landed my job, the company went bankrupt / lost all bids.

Good thing that can't happen to the govern...men...wait...

LOL

Trav83 · Aug 3, 2011

If the career you really want requires a college education, then I say go. Life is definitely a lot more enjoyable when you actually like your job. Whatever you do pick something that is in demand for employment, you don't want to go to college for years to only end up with a worthless degree and school loan debt. Plan this out and be prepared to make sacrifices, such as a social life, a full time job and school aren't going to leave you with much free time.

GofaST4life · Aug 3, 2011

I absolutely love my job!

If not for college, I wouldn't be doing what im doing.

The job market is very scary though these days so spend time on this choice

My advice as a recent college grad/business man:

Keep your current job, make the best of it or find a new one and go to school part time. Its the best of both worlds, you'll have an income, so you wont be a broke a$$ student eating ramen every day, and at the same time you'll be benefiting yourself by getting a higher education in your spare time.

Just stay motivated, it wont be easy.

And make sacrifices!

Also, if you do go back, ONLY! take out the money you need to get through school.

I have a lot of friends that took out and extra $2500 here, or $5000 there every semester so they could live comfortable in college. Looking back that extra 15 to 30k will cost them 50k+ when paying back. Not worth it IMHO.

Best of luck!

leet · Aug 3, 2011

I plan on going to college (finally) once I am out. I have a ton of hands on experience with a LOT of things, but every employer wants that magic piece of paper.

Way to go, GI Bill!

importracr317 · Aug 3, 2011

A bachelors degree has become pretty much standard for most, if not all white-collar jobs. Now companies are looking not only for a degree, but also experience and additional education.

Over the last several months, I've been looking for alternative employment at the jr executive level and I've realized advanced degrees are expected. This wouldn't be a problem as I have a grad degree, but so do a ton of other people. With the economy the way it is, kids are just staying in school after they graduate. If they can't find a job after college, they just go back and get another degree.

The quality of education is also taking a dive. Example - I just finished a tax class for my CPA - it was a condensed class, I wasn't expecting to learn much, and I somehow managed an "A". Let me be clear. I. didn't. learn. shit. But according to my prof, I aced the class. Figure that one out. That "no child left behind" crap has infiltrated colleges now.

If you don't have a degree, I would definitely encourage you to get one, regardless of your age. But don't expect it to automatically get you a high paying, cushy job. And don't expect to become the smartest man alive. Get the degree, get a job and learn the hell out of the position and the industry. Experience has become just as valuable as a degree.

GSXSixteenG · Aug 3, 2011

importracr317 said:
A bachelors degree has become pretty much standard for most, if not all white-collar jobs. Now companies are looking not only for a degree, but also experience and additional education.

Over the last several months, I've been looking for alternative employment at the jr executive level and I've realized advanced degrees are expected. This wouldn't be a problem as I have a grad degree, but so do a ton of other people. With the economy the way it is, kids are just staying in school after they graduate. If they can't find a job after college, they just go back and get another degree.

The quality of education is also taking a dive. Example - I just finished a tax class for my CPA - it was a condensed class, I wasn't expecting to learn much, and I somehow managed an "A". Let me be clear. I. didn't. learn. shit. But according to my prof, I aced the class. Figure that one out. That "no child left behind" crap has infiltrated colleges now.

If you don't have a degree, I would definitely encourage you to get one, regardless of your age. But don't expect it to automatically get you a high paying, cushy job. And don't expect to become the smartest man alive. Get the degree, get a job and learn the hell out of the position and the industry. Experience has become just as valuable as a degree.

^--- I believe your in the same field/industry I am. Haven't started the CPA yet, just finishing my masters at the moment. But been working public accounting for about a year.

I agree completely with importracr, you need to have leg up on the competition. In this case, your competititon is the other people applying for the same job. Even though experience trumps all, many companies want to see some type of degree on your resume. I think it shows companies that you have the ability to learn and follow directions.

I have had circumstanes where I am at a clients office and they will ask me what kind of education I have and where I went to school. So, you realize from the firms standpoint, you are representing the company as a whole. I'm sure if I told the client that I never went to college or had no post HS education, we would lose that client, no matter how much experience I had. It is like self gratification to the client/customer to know they are in good hands.

ncampos92562 · Aug 3, 2011

Go to school at a local junior college that isn't crap. And work as well. Congrats, you are now living life. Going to school and working with little time for you.

And this student loan stuff is BS. You don't need to go straight to a uni and go into debt when most CCs offer the same classes at a way lower price with sometimes the same professors from the universities. Sure you'll have to transfer later but better doing 2-3 years of debt then 4-5.

atownturbo · Aug 3, 2011

Im going to tell you like my father told me "Go to school you lazy bum." :thumb:

jimbob_843 · Aug 3, 2011

I wish i could decide what i wanted to do so i could go to school. Dont waana jack the thread, but which would be a better choice, automotive or aeronautical mechanic/ tech? Ive always been told to get in and decide from there but idk.

blindboarder_02 · Aug 3, 2011

I feel an education is one of the most important privileges we have in this country. I am 28, and will be going to college for my first time this year. I havent been to school since I was 18 and dropped out of high school. Took me a long time to realise what it is that I've been missing.

I think school is a very good idea and you should probably try it again.

What have you got to lose?

Palmetto_TSi · Aug 3, 2011

Go for it man... even if you can only take a class or two each semester, get it done. I only have an associates degree, but even that completely changed my life. I haven't made less than $70k since I got my degree. Compare that to never making MORE than $25k prior to graduation. Not only that, but the jobs you do with a degree are often FAR less physically demanding than the ones you have to take when you don't have one.

I work in Plant Maintenance for 3M. Sometimes WEEKS pass by without me even getting called out to the floor for a problem... As a matter of fact, it is kinda boring most days. But, if they want to pay me $30.00 an hour to look at the internet and work on parts for the DSM, then I'm not gonna argue with them...

Palmetto_TSi · Aug 3, 2011

jimbob_843 said:
I wish i could decide what i wanted to do so i could go to school. Dont waana jack the thread, but which would be a better choice, automotive or aeronautical mechanic/ tech? Ive always been told to get in and decide from there but idk.

Let me just say, I worked outside as a construction helper before I went to school. I would find a career that will allow you to work in a heated and cooled environment. I like the aeronautic choice myself. South Carolina just got a new Boeing facility, and there is a lockheed plant right behind the plant where I work. Jobs like those pay well, and keep you interested. Don't pick a career that you think you may get bored doing, and try to find one that will allow you to advance past what you will start out as. I don't know about you, but I don't wanna turn wrenches and reset breakers and overloads for the rest of my life. It's easy work, but not very mentally challenging.

silicosys4 · Aug 3, 2011

My advice if you are going back, is find a tech-oriented job that you like doing. These days the strength of your qualities is more often determined by what you can do vs. what you know via college. Case in point, I scooped up a good job that specifically lowered its requiements down from a bachelors of science degree, so that they could hire me, because I interviewed much better with my 2 year technical degree than everybody else did with their general B.S. (bachelors of science.). Simply put, I have 2 years specialized training directly related to my career, via trade school. Most bachelors degree programs only generalize their studies, and offer a broader but shallower education.

Ravenous · Aug 3, 2011

If it is for a science degree or a trade, I say go for it. Be careful of arts degrees, there are a lot of unemployed college graduates out there with useless degrees but science and engineering degrees always command top dollar.

nuclearr · Aug 3, 2011

College is a SCAM its bull crap. They tell you need a degree but if its not from the "right" schools your screwed to jobs that will take years apon years to pay off the loans. Its just another way for the ritcher to get richer and the poorer get poorer. This case the ritch are the colleges who no longer care about the students but must have the money.

Yes I did attened college and this is the rationalization I came too while attending. They raise tuition while I was there because the lost money on the small market crash back in late 2000. It went up 2 or 4k a semester. ALL about the $$$$!

And when you graduate the alumi association tries to guilt trip you to donate more money to the school!

F**** That

phunny · Aug 3, 2011

nuclearr said:
College is a SCAM its bull crap. They tell you need a degree but if its not from the "right" schools your screwed to jobs that will take years apon years to pay off the loans. Its just another way for the ritcher to get richer and the poorer get poorer. This case the ritch are the colleges who no longer care about the students but must have the money.

Yes I did attened college and this is the rationalization I came too while attending. They raise tuition while I was there because the lost money on the small market crash back in late 2000. It went up 2 or 4k a semester. ALL about the $$$$!

And when you graduate the alumi association tries to guilt trip you to donate more money to the school!

F**** That

Yes they do rob you, but college is certainly not a scam. Depending on your goals you may need college. I'm 31 and still going and still have a few more years. Hard work always pays off in the end.

At the end of the day, you either have college+work experience or prior military.

LandoAWD · Aug 4, 2011

College is to show that you can set goals, keep timetables, provide deliverables, and see something through to completion.

The knowledge you retain will be fractional to what you're fed, in many cases.

importracr317 · Aug 4, 2011

LandoAWD said:
College is to show that you can set goals, keep timetables, provide deliverables, and see something through to completion.

The knowledge you retain will be fractional to what you're fed, in many cases.

Preach! I had a real tough time with the last few classes I took only because I realized what a farce it is to take tests and quizzes. In the real world, assuming you have a basic grasp on your job responsibilities, if you come across something you don't know, you can ask someone, look it up, trial and error, etc.

Lando is right. You won't retain but about 30% of what you're taught, and even then, the content isn't really what you're suppose to learn.

nuclearr said:
College is a SCAM its bull crap. They tell you need a degree but if its not from the "right" schools your screwed to jobs that will take years apon years to pay off the loans. Its just another way for the ritcher to get richer and the poorer get poorer. This case the ritch are the colleges who no longer care about the students but must have the money.

Meh, depends on the job. I was recently turned away from a top management consulting firm because I'm not a Harvard/Standford/Northwestern grad and I don't work at one of the top financial firms. Conversely, I've got a few calls back from smaller firms who like my background.

Yes, certain companies hire from target schools, but that's more the exception, not the rule.

blindboarder_02 · Aug 4, 2011

LandoAWD said:
College is to show that you can set goals, keep timetables, provide deliverables, and see something through to completion.

The knowledge you retain will be fractional to what you're fed, in many cases.

Exactly. Most employers look at that little piece of paper and can readily identify in you what they are looking for in an employee. It proves you can do the work and also proves you know what you're talking about. Experience without a degree is good, but the certificate will stand out more.

If I owned a business, I would certainly feel more inclined to hire a college graduate compared to a randomn Joe. I also believe in EOE, so I wouldnt rule out someone just because they didnt have a degree, but I would look at like this, "This guy has work ethic obviously if he completed school. He showed up, did homework, and took the tests. This guy who doesnt have a degree might know what he's talking about, but we would have to hire him and find out, and hope that our investment pays off."

Employers want a good return on their hires for the simple fact that no business can run without the proper training.

I would NOT hire a mechanic if he wasn't certified, I would NOT hire a lawyer without a degree, I would NOT hire a Doctor without an education.

You also dont have alot of time to be a young adult, might as well make it worth it and live life well once you are completed. Its really tough living on less than $15k/yr

Gysgt Guy · Aug 8, 2011

Well I decided to go ahead and get enrolled. Here comes the ramen noodle nights haha

OOOH, Back to school, back to school, to prove to daddy that I'm not a fool! I've got my lunch packed up, my boots tied tight. I hope my DSM starts alright! Haha

Trav83 · Aug 8, 2011

Gysgt Guy said:
Well I decided to go ahead and get enrolled. Here comes the ramen noodle nights haha

OOOH, Back to school, back to school, to prove to daddy that I'm not a fool! I've got my lunch packed up, my boots tied tight. I hope my DSM starts alright! Haha

Haha, nice

TRSblader · Aug 8, 2011

As some others have said, start at a community college. I did one year here and was taught by a professor at Carnegie Mellon (VERY good, maybe one of the best, computer science schools). Not bad for a couple hundred dollar a semester education, and I learned so much from just him in a couple classes.

On another note, if you know what you want to go to school for, and don't screw around while there, College is a great investment. Many employers really want to see that magical paper, plus good Universities teach you more than just what you need to graduate and then hope you make it in the real world.

If you still have doubts about what you really want to do, or just plan to screw around, College is a waste of money.

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Go back to school??

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