With a record amount of people attending college each year, is a degree really worth all that much anymore? I know my degree really hasn't helped me at all career wise to this point, due to the overflow in the IT field. College will always be needed for MD's, Lawyers and similar roles, but wouldn't a trade school be more beneficial these days?
Is a college degree really worth much these days?
- Thread starter Reckoner
- Start date
Depends on what your degree is, your final grades, and the marketplace for people with your skillset.
Of course it is. Unless you plan on running your own business successfully or working at McDonalds, you should definitely get a degree. If you don't, you'll never be able to get any higher than a basic tech worker in any major corporation.
Having a college degree (any degree) is becoming a pre-req to getting any decent job. Like you said, a lot of people have them, so those that don't get left behind.
Yeah, you should...(depends on the degree) but for the most part ppl with degrees earn more than those who don't. But then again, much of it is based on your work ethic, skills, etc. Just like a HS GPA or SAT score may not be the best indicator of how well you'll do on the next level (or in some cases, could)--likewise, a degree can help or show potential. teh link
Really depends in the line of work. I find hands on experience is much better. I can't count the number of people I've met, especially in the computer field that have degrees but don't know jack. I'm 22 and make over 60k a year and have no post secondary education
40+ years ago you could rise to be CEO of a major company with a BA and sometimes even a high school degree. Today, it takes a college degree (BA) to be hired as a low-level white collar office worker.
It's still possible to succeed without a college degree, but basically only if you are working for yourself (eg own a shop, web company, etc). Getting at least a BA makes sure that certain doors are not closed.
Unfortunately, to rise into senior management, it is now almost a requirement to get additional degrees like a JD, PhD, CPA certification, MBA etc.
It's still possible to succeed without a college degree, but basically only if you are working for yourself (eg own a shop, web company, etc). Getting at least a BA makes sure that certain doors are not closed.
Unfortunately, to rise into senior management, it is now almost a requirement to get additional degrees like a JD, PhD, CPA certification, MBA etc.
Think about it.... if TONs of people are getting a degree, it doesnt make it worthless, it just means you NEED one in a lot of areas unless you can prove yourself otherwise.
My mother doesnt have a college degree, and she cant get her foot in the door beyond being a secretary..... My sister has a college degree and she makes 50% more starting out in a similar position with slightly more responsibility
The point is, if EVERYONe had them, and you didnt.... then it would suck if you didnt..
My mother doesnt have a college degree, and she cant get her foot in the door beyond being a secretary..... My sister has a college degree and she makes 50% more starting out in a similar position with slightly more responsibility
The point is, if EVERYONe had them, and you didnt.... then it would suck if you didnt..
A college degree is critical these days. If money is an issue, go to a junior college for the first two years, then transfer to a larger college. Get the student loans and whatever other programs are available to you to pay for it, if family assistance is limited. Do whatever it takes to get that degree! Then, go to work and get 2-3 years of experience behind you and go get your MBA. A lot of companies will assist with the tuition for the masters degree.
While you may not see an advantage immediately, you will see it when you get to be my age. I am 49, and the only one in my department without a degree, with most having an MBA. I have been very lucky, but realize that I could not duplicate my success under the current conditions.
Cliff Notes:
Get your 4 year degree in anything
Get a few years of work experience
Get your MBA
Profit
While you may not see an advantage immediately, you will see it when you get to be my age. I am 49, and the only one in my department without a degree, with most having an MBA. I have been very lucky, but realize that I could not duplicate my success under the current conditions.
Cliff Notes:
Get your 4 year degree in anything
Get a few years of work experience
Get your MBA
Profit
There's a hell of a lot more to do with your life than medicine, law, and IT. There are plenty of jobs in science, civil service, etc.
A college degree is almost a necessity for many fields, but it's no longer the automatic boost it once was, especially if you majored in X-Box.
ViRGE
Elite Member, Moderator Emeritus
- Oct 9, 1999
- 31,516
- 167
- 106
As of now, a college degree has the same relative worth as a high school diploma - having one won't make you stand out, but not having one will make you stand out in the wrong way. These days, you need a bachelor's just to keep up, and a master's to really stand out.
a college grad will get paid 20000 more than a high school grad.
The people high up in companies that never graduated but still run business were from 60-70-80's and that was ok. But now in the 21'st cenury, you need a degreee to pull your weight.
If you look on monster, most or every job asks for a college degree.
The people high up in companies that never graduated but still run business were from 60-70-80's and that was ok. But now in the 21'st cenury, you need a degreee to pull your weight.
If you look on monster, most or every job asks for a college degree.
The question isnt how much you will gain with a college degree, but how much you will lose without one
Unless you are in a field where a degree is absolutely REQUIRED, i.e. medicine or teaching, a degree is a waste of time & money. Particularly for those going into the software development field, I would say a psychology degree would have been more useful in the corporate environment than my computer engineering degree, even as a software engineer. That should give you an idea about how relevant college actually is.
You are wrong -- a degree is important/required to be interviewed for a LOT of jobs. If that's not true with most software engineers, I'm shocked....
BurnItDwn
Lifer
- Oct 10, 1999
- 26,276
- 1,783
- 126
No degree here, I'm doing all right.
I don't own my own buisness.
I don't have a low level help desk job (though I did a couple of years ago.)
If I would have stayed in school for 2 more years, and hit the job market 2 years later, I might be in a software development job now making about the same money, or perhaps 10% more ....
Of course I may also be doing boring ass grunt work with a Comp Sci degree ... making less then I make now.
So overall, in general, yea, the degree is a good idea, but you can do OK without one if you are willing to work hard, and if you are very good at what you do. Besides, in IT, it seems like Experience > Degree > *. If you already have your foot in the door, job experience could be better then a degree.
Though I'm sure one of these days I'll hit a brick wall and apply for something and not get it, perhaps then I'll decide to finnish up school or something part time. Until then, I'm perfectly content being a college drop out.
I don't own my own buisness.
I don't have a low level help desk job (though I did a couple of years ago.)
If I would have stayed in school for 2 more years, and hit the job market 2 years later, I might be in a software development job now making about the same money, or perhaps 10% more ....
Of course I may also be doing boring ass grunt work with a Comp Sci degree ... making less then I make now.
So overall, in general, yea, the degree is a good idea, but you can do OK without one if you are willing to work hard, and if you are very good at what you do. Besides, in IT, it seems like Experience > Degree > *. If you already have your foot in the door, job experience could be better then a degree.
Though I'm sure one of these days I'll hit a brick wall and apply for something and not get it, perhaps then I'll decide to finnish up school or something part time. Until then, I'm perfectly content being a college drop out.
No, he's completely wrong. All the software engineering jobs I saw required a BS in CS/ECE. Even when you do have experience, many jobs ask for experience + BS.
If college were a movie, the title would likely be:
High School 2: Irresponsible Alchohol Consumption
In short, I've done well without a degree, but I've taken a different route. My experience in the military and the government, coupled with my security clearance and 10 years of experience will carry me pretty damn far. I'm torturing myself getting my degree anyway, but I haven't needed it to this point and I don't think I would all things considered.
High School 2: Irresponsible Alchohol Consumption
In short, I've done well without a degree, but I've taken a different route. My experience in the military and the government, coupled with my security clearance and 10 years of experience will carry me pretty damn far. I'm torturing myself getting my degree anyway, but I haven't needed it to this point and I don't think I would all things considered.
You're wrong on the software development field. The two companies I have been doing software at will not hire an SE without a degree.
It depends what you want to do...
If your goal is to make money you could do just as well without one. The people I know who make the most are in real estate or mortgage banking and have no degrees.
If your goal is to become a doctor or a lawyer, it's absolutely necessary. If you want to write software it's helpful in landing your first job..after that the people who keep learning will excel. Although one of the best firmware engineers I know makes over 160k and has no college degree.
Hell, I know someone who is a CFO who got her accounting degree from a tech college.
Now, if you think you're going to need to be employed by someone else and you're not in the top 10-15% of excellent employees, one of those who naturally excels I would say it's necessary to separate yourself out from the group. Degrees help those who are average or above average. There are idiots with MBAs who are incompetent and get high paying jobs and only have those jobs because of their degrees.
If your goal is to make money you could do just as well without one. The people I know who make the most are in real estate or mortgage banking and have no degrees.
If your goal is to become a doctor or a lawyer, it's absolutely necessary. If you want to write software it's helpful in landing your first job..after that the people who keep learning will excel. Although one of the best firmware engineers I know makes over 160k and has no college degree.
Hell, I know someone who is a CFO who got her accounting degree from a tech college.
Now, if you think you're going to need to be employed by someone else and you're not in the top 10-15% of excellent employees, one of those who naturally excels I would say it's necessary to separate yourself out from the group. Degrees help those who are average or above average. There are idiots with MBAs who are incompetent and get high paying jobs and only have those jobs because of their degrees.
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