Is it worth getting a University Degree?

[Cappuccino]

There are many alternatives like, Apprenticeships.

I'm a 1st year undergraduate studying Dentistry and I have received my exam results today. I passed 5/6. I need to resit my failed module, otherwise I cannot continue to studying in 2nd year.

Stuff really put me of Uni are:
I will be over £45k + in debt.
My course cost £9k per year (3 year course and this doesn't include accommodation etc)
ALSO, if I fail my failed module in the resit, I need to pay ANOTHER £9k to redo 1st year IF I fail the module...

So my question is, is it worth getting a degree nowadays? Apprenticeship is free!!! and Uni is not! but... :thumbsdown:

Yes I understand that you have more chance of getting a job vs a non degree holder. But that is not fuking true!? D:

How did you get your job? Degree? or no degree?

 

[SheHateMe]

You want to be a Dentist....and you are asking is it worth it going to College?

 

[Markbnj]

There was a recent study that made it clear that college graduates still make more money over their lifetimes. There's no question it's still worth it. The other side of the coin, however, is that there are lots of ways to get a college education. What isn't worth it, imo, is attending an expensive 4-year college and graduating with the equivalent of a mortgage worth of student debt. As a nation we have to make college affordable for the middle class again. Until that happens, smaller local and county colleges are a good alternative, and actually do better, according to another recent study, at producing graduates who get hired.

 

[jaedaliu]

In this American-heavy forum, you'll quickly realize that we don't have formal apprenticeships. So, if we want a nice paying job, formal education is quite useful.

Look at the difference between what a dentist with a degree and one with an apprenticeship can do. Without the degree, you're probably stuck as a hygenist.

Quit goofing off. Study and pass the rest of your exams. That way you won't need to resit any more, and won't need to worry about the cost of University because you'll be a dentist when you're done, and money won't be a big worry any more.

 

[Imp]

Yes... it's the new high school diploma.

Just think twice before going for the out-of-state, most expensive school you can't afford just to impress your parents or whoever you think you're impressing -- unless you really are 200% set on going to a first-tier medical, law, or business school.

 

[PenguinPower]

In this American-heavy forum, you'll quickly realize that we don't have formal apprenticeships. So, if we want a nice paying job, formal education is quite useful.

Look at the difference between what a dentist with a degree and one with an apprenticeship can do. Without the degree, you're probably stuck as a hygenist.

Quit goofing off. Study and pass the rest of your exams. That way you won't need to resit any more, and won't need to worry about the cost of University because you'll be a dentist when you're done, and money won't be a big worry any more.

You know the average wage for a hygenist...68k. I know that's not relevant but...yeah, 68k.

Oh, and a lot of the trades do offer formal apprenticeships.

 

[jaedaliu]

You know the average wage for a hygenist...68k. I know that's not relevant but...yeah, 68k.

Oh, and a lot of the trades do offer formal apprenticeships.

You're right. The contrast is the European system has people selecting a path in High School then going straight in, while in America we kind of have to find our own way after highschool.

Yeah, 68k isn't a bad salary. You could rent a small apartment and live comfortably anywhere in the country with a salary like that. But if you compare to a dentist, with an average of 149k, it should be clear that Cappuccino should quit with the excuses and get his ass back to studying.

Oh, and to answer his original questions: Yes, it's quite difficult to become an engineer without a degree. I'm glad I finished school. My work is a lot more interesting than that of a technician that follows plans and tightens nuts and connects wires.

 

[Molondo]

IMO yes. Lots of positions out there are impossible to get without a degree.

 

[silverpig]

Going to uni for dentistry is well worth it from what I hear. They do quite well and essentially run their own business. If you think you'll enjoy dentistry, then do it for sure.

 

[Born2bwire]

The hell? There are apprenticeships in dentistry? That's not for an actual dentist, that's for like a hygienist or assistant, right?

 

[Vdubchaos]

It depends on what you want to do. Dentistry, yes.

 

[madoka]

The other side of the coin, however, is that there are lots of ways to get a college education. What isn't worth it, imo, is attending an expensive 4-year college and graduating with the equivalent of a mortgage worth of student debt.

Currently my college alma mater costs $58,000 per year. My professional school alma mater costs $73,000 per year. If I were to try and replicate my degrees now, it would cost me $466,000. That sounds horrific.

Yet at the same time, my degrees from these schools have enabled me to earn an income that would otherwise not be possible. IMHO, I think if I went to cheaper, less prestigious schools, I would actually have a harder time paying off my educational debt. In fact, I was able to pay off my student loans very shortly after graduating (mostly because I screwed up and was forced to accelerate my repayments - still shows that it's possible though). Most of the jobs I got were simply because of school name recognition.

However, in the end, your education is what you make of it. I'm sure I have some classmates that regret having gone, but I'll bet that the majority of them do not as we went to high-end schools which tends to attract the go-getters in life. I know many of them are filthy rich now.

 

[purbeast0]

im about 99.99% positive that without my college degree i wouldn't be making anywhere NEAR what i am making now, and it's only been 9 years since i graduated college.

but my brother on the other hand, he got a degree and is now a fire fighter. i also know plenty of people who got degrees but don't actually use them for the job they are doing.

that said, my pay is more than double quite a few of friends who both have college degrees and don't. but it's also the field i'm in that is on the higher paying side out of possible fields - software development.

 

[poofyhairguy]

smaller local and county colleges are a good alternative, and actually do better, according to another recent study, at producing graduates who get hired.

I disagree with that.

In the modern economy "who you know" can often determine whether you are employed or not. By attending a large public university you are plugged into a network of alumni that gives you a huge competitive advantage.

So many people are applying for the same jobs, unless you are a rockstar its hard to stand out on paper (and then they are scared because they don't want to pay you what you are worth). Establishing that alumni bond during an interview can put you ahead of honestly more deserving candidates.

I got my current job because of the University I attended (certainly not because of my undergrad major as that is a joke) and because I could leverage that network.

Plus at a large university you have a chance to join greek life, which creates yet another network of people that will hire you for reasons other than pure qualifications. (I never was greek I just see the advantages).

In the 21st century, unless you are incredibly talented in a niche field, you network is your net worth.

 

[techs]

You want to be a Dentist....and you are asking is it worth it going to College?

Exactly. My first thought was if you ask the question you're probably not university degree material.

 

[JBT]

No Bachelor degree is a good way to have your resume weeded out.

 

[Markbnj]

Currently my college alma mater costs $58,000 per year. My professional school alma mater costs $73,000 per year. If I were to try and replicate my degrees now, it would cost me $466,000. That sounds horrific.

Yes, a half-million for a first rate education does sound pretty horrific to me. If you can earn an income that allows you to pay off those loans in a reasonable time then maybe it is worth it. I would be interested to see what percentage of graduates have that outcome.

 

[Markbnj]

In the modern economy "who you know" can often determine whether you are employed or not. By attending a large public university you are plugged into a network of alumni that gives you a huge competitive advantage.

I agree, that's a definite advantage. It probably works more to your favor in business and financial careers than in the software industry where I've worked for 25 years. But in any event, is it worth a 250k debt package? If so, then maybe this really is just the market at work, and not a system perverted by easy federal money.

 

[Texashiker]

No Bachelor degree is a good way to have your resume weeded out.

And since the market is flooded with BS degrees, what now?

OP, what do you what to do with your life? If working in cold and hot weather, doing hard work does not bother you, then learn a skill.

I spent 15 years in the welding field. While wages in the welding field have stagnated, it is a good portable life skill to know. I can go just about anywhere in the nation and get a job.

 

[Gooberlx2]

You want to be a Dentist....and you are asking is it worth it going to College?

Different advanced education options in the UK? Maybe apprenticeships are like associates degrees where she could become a hygenist/assistant?

Or maybe she doesn't really care about becoming a dentist after all and is considering skilled trades.

 

[Drako]

And since the market is flooded with BS degrees, what now?

OP, what do you what to do with your life? If working in cold and hot weather, doing hard work does not bother you, then learn a skill.

So you're advising he go into some kind of manual labor because there are too many people with BS degrees?

 

[Markbnj]

So you're advising he go into some kind of manual labor because there are too many people with BS degrees?

There a lot of good-paying professions between manual laborer and rich guy .

 

[Texashiker]

So you're advising he go into some kind of manual labor because there are too many people with BS degrees?

Sure, why not? Go where the demand is.

A buddy of mine went to work on a tugboat straight out of high school. A few years later he took his captains test and is now raking in $100k a year.

He works a week on the boat and then gets a week off the boat.

In short, he makes $100k for 6 months of work.

 

[KidNiki1]

Ms. Smith is in the UK. I'm not sure how apprenticeships work there, so I can't say if it is better for her to apprentice as a dentist. or if that is even what she means by apprenticeship. i know some canadian friends though who have done apprenticeships to end up with a fairly decent job. maybe someone in the UK who knows more about how that works can give her some advice.

 

[nehalem256]

No Bachelor degree is a good way to have your resume weeded out.

Given that all the weeding out is done by computer just put

Bachelor, University of Life

on your resume and you should be good