Is it true that you need a 4 year college degree to survive in this world?

[Apathetic]

Unfortunately for you, your mom is right. A high school diploma (by itself) generally doesn't mean much. Either go to college or check out some trade schools. Maybe being an electrician, a welder or something along those lines is a better choice for you.

Dave

 

[BlamoHammer]

I made $60K last year with no college degree. You can make your way without a degree, it's just harder.

 

[BoberFett]

Get a taste of the real world. Get a job, an apartment, whatever. You can always go back to school later.

And just to add some more anecdotal evidence, I'm another person that makes $50-60K/yr as a programmer with no college.

 

[MegaloManiaK]

Sounds to me like you are going to quit if your parents let you.

A word of advice, do not get a credit card, do not buy ANYTHING on credit in any way. Im sure plenty of people will argue you need to build credit blah blah blah but trust me you wont want to even get started there.

When you are "surviving" working an unskilled labor job you wont be able to afford that big screen and it will be the first thing to max out your "building credit" credit card. a year later when you still owe 1k on it they will upgrade your credit and you'll max that out on a similar big ticket item.

In a year you will realize how much you hate pushing boxes around at work and want to go back to school, but you wont be able to just drop everything and go back, you will have this debt that has to be paid so you will end up struggleing to do school part time until you can pay the debts.

Seriously its a no win situation. If you work your job for 5 years and still love it then you can think about building credit etc.

Oh and don't assume you will be responsible with it because chanes are you wont. Working 40 hours a week at an unrewarding job will only make you want to have nice stuff.

 

[z0mb13]

what is a trade school??

 

[rubix]

if you are really good at something then you don't need anything, even highschool because you can do your own thing. but are you really good at something? maybe if you are super good at programming or have the world's best invention.

i'd say go to college (or community college) first, but i don't know why because i hate school and therefore hated college. i took forever to graduate, made no friends, have nothing in common with anybody, did nothing but sit in my room (because i hate people/have no interests), and worst of all: i learned nothing! i am probably the world's worst programmer. i don't even have a job that has to do with computers and i bet i couldn't get one if i tried.

so be like me, go to college. the end.

 

[DPlatypus]

What you need to survive in this world is a good work ethic and direction. Most jobs that only require a four year degree involved sitting on your butt all day and are quite dull IMHO.

Either learn a trade or plan on getting an advanced degree. Electricans, plumbers, etc., make a very good living. Sign up for a union apprenticeship and you are pretty much set for life.

What I think YOU need, however, is to get out of this rat race and do something interesting with your life. Sign up for Americorps or go work on a farm. Check out web sites like http://goabroad.com and find something that interests you!

 

[imported_Papi]

I see its a regular day here at ATOT....

 

[y2kc]

two of the most successful people I know never graduated HS. one of the two spent 3 years in prison. My wife is working on her second post graduate degree and makes practically no money (no exageration, a burger flipper probably earns more)... Am I saying you shouldn't finish school? heck no, but I believe that your (or anybody's) ultimate success or failure in life is dependant on a lot more than a college degree.