Seriously having seconds thoughts on college

[enyce2k9]

Hello all.

Alright so I'm on my third day of college, Recently I was thouroughly explained that I would need to attend some remedial courses (Which seem of little help, really).

Now I am considering (again) just joining a straight forward school for computer certifications (A+, Network +, maybe more).

In the end think of it, you spend years learning, now learning is good, but the real goal
is to get a job that pays well (obvious right), and many college graduates face similar challenges to others who don't even have a fraction of their knowledge.

Therefore I've just thought about abandoning this college life, and pursuing a more direct education towards what I really want to learn.

I know this is something personal but just thought i'd post here and read some thoughts on others perspective.

P.S. If I continue with the remedials and proceed it will take me an estimate of nearly 3 years to get an Associates (which is a 2 year degree).

 

[pontifex]

get a degree
believe me, i went the route you are thinking of and it sucks, especially IT.

If you're thinking about some other kind of career like construction, that might be different though.

 

[NuroMancer]

Originally posted by: pontifex
get a degree
believe me, i went the route you are thinking of and it sucks.

Yes you can learn what you want, but when they are looking for people to promote, you will get passed over.

 

[Tiamat]

get the degree.

 

[Jeeebus]

Seriously having seconds thoughts on college

I would stay... and add a few more English classes as well.

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: NuroMancer

Originally posted by: pontifex
get a degree
believe me, i went the route you are thinking of and it sucks.

Yes you can learn what you want, but when they are looking for people to promote, you will get passed over.

thats if you can even find a job.
i've been looking at going college lately, even for just an Associate's degree. Once you're out there working full time, it makes it 100x harder to go back.

 

[misle]

A 4 year degree is well worth the time and effort. There's a lot of competition for IT jobs and a degree will help a lot.

 

[weirdichi]

And you'll miss all those road trips and house parties. Seriously!

 

[us3rnotfound]

College changes you, you're not there to just "learn stuff." Study hard, meet friends, and have a good four years.

 

[Codewiz]

Hope you want to do low level IT work your entire life.

 

[NuroMancer]

Originally posted by: pontifex

Originally posted by: NuroMancer

Originally posted by: pontifex
get a degree
believe me, i went the route you are thinking of and it sucks.

Yes you can learn what you want, but when they are looking for people to promote, you will get passed over.

thats if you can even find a job.
i've been looking at going college lately, even for just an Associate's degree. Once you're out there working full time, it makes it 100x harder to go back.

Touche,
I am just finishing up my 4 years, and I'm quite pleased with the route I went. I have 1 semester of school left, and I have a great job lined up.

 

[krunchykrome]

Originally posted by: enyce2k9
Hello all.

Alright so I'm on my third day of college, Recently I was thouroughly explained that I would need to attend some remedial courses (Which seem of little help, really).

Now I am considering (again) just joining a straight forward school for computer certifications (A+, Network +, maybe more).

In the end think of it, you spend years learning, now learning is good, but the real goal
is to get a job that pays well (obvious right), and many college graduates face similar challenges to others who don't even have a fraction of their knowledge.

Therefore I've just thought about abandoning this college life, and pursuing a more direct education towards what I really want to learn.

I know this is something personal but just thought i'd post here and read some thoughts on others perspective.

P.S. If I continue with the remedials and proceed it will take me an estimate of nearly 3 years to get an Associates (which is a 2 year degree).

Get the degree. I have a buddy who decided not to go to college. Instead, he got certified in those areas you listed. He got a job that pays low 40K's. He's 25 now, and he still makes low 40K's. He's now going back to school because he realizes he needs a degree.

Stop trying to take the easy way out and earn your degree.

 

[enyce2k9]

I understand that it sounds great to say continue, and just get the degree, but if you think of the effort required with the given circumstances I believe its natural to want out.

 

[NuroMancer]

Originally posted by: pontifex

Originally posted by: NuroMancer

Originally posted by: pontifex
get a degree
believe me, i went the route you are thinking of and it sucks.

Yes you can learn what you want, but when they are looking for people to promote, you will get passed over.

thats if you can even find a job.
i've been looking at going college lately, even for just an Associate's degree. Once you're out there working full time, it makes it 100x harder to go back.

See, I'm considering doing my masters. But I had kinda decided to wait and go back later.

Oh well, maybe I'll do it.

 

[us3rnotfound]

Originally posted by: enyce2k9
I understand that it sounds great to say continue, and just get the degree, but if you think of the effort required with the given circumstances I believe its natural to want out.

You obviously have no desire to succeed then.

 

[TecHNooB]

Originally posted by: enyce2k9
I understand that it sounds great to say continue, and just get the degree, but if you think of the effort required with the given circumstances I believe its natural to want out.

Third day of college and you're already calling it quits? What are you majoring in?

 

[NuroMancer]

Originally posted by: enyce2k9
I understand that it sounds great to say continue, and just get the degree, but if you think of the effort required with the given circumstances I believe its natural to want out.

Why is it natural? If you understand the actual implications of such a decision, it is not hard to see why staying in school is the better option for most people.

The effort required of you now will be nothing compared with the effort you will have to expend later to "catch up"

 

[Platypus]

GET YOUR DEGREE
GET YOUR DEGREE
GET YOUR DEGREE
GET YOUR DEGREE
GET YOUR DEGREE
GET YOUR DEGREE

That said, get your degree. Certs are meaningless compared to a bachelors degree + experience. Your degree is your ticket into a very competitive market and will be your edge.. trust us on this one.

 

[raystorm]

Get the degree!! Take the remedial courses you have to take and keep trying! I had to take remedials myself because I didn't learn a damn thing in high school (busted NYC public schools in the Bronx FTL!) so take them if you have to. So what if it'll take longer to get your Associates..just do it!! Its the first step towards a better future.


Maybe you are just not happy with your choice of trying to get into IT? There are so many majors out there to choose from. Do your best to finish off a full year of school then during the summer you can think hard about where you want to go in life. The first year of college is usually the same for everyone (english, history, psychology, sociology..etc) so finish off a year and think about the things you enjoy and go from there.


Best of luck.

 

[purbeast0]

after my freshman year i was VERY close to dropping out. college was just too hard and I got bad grades.

but I decided to give it another go and sucked it up, and now I'm happy as all hell that I have a degree. the reason it was so hard for me was because I was irresponsible and was not managing my time properly and not giving it my full effort. Once I made the change, it became better. Granted, I still hated school, but I'm glad I went through it.

 

[Sphexi]

Most of college is kind of a waste, educationally at least, for a lot of people. Some people just don't find it that useful, with the exception of a few classes here and there. That's not to say that you shouldn't go, since there's a whole experience outside the classroom that really helps you out in the long run.

Add to that the fact that most technical programs will get you into an internship (sometimes paid), which you can't get on your own, and in many cases if you do really well, you can network through your professors to jobs in the industry. Most cases you'll find that the best professors know people who do the hiring at various companies, and will be more than willing to pass your name on, once again, not something you'll get by taking certs online or at some training center.

Personally, I think I made a mistake about college, not necessarily going, but where I chose to go. The college I went to advertised themselves as a more focused school, with a 98% placement rate after graduation. What they didn't tell you is that that 98% was only people who were looking, in the first 3 months, who asked for help from their career advisors, and actually reported back to them. Basically if you didn't tell them you found a job or not, they'd simply remove you from the statistic, skewing the numbers horribly. The actual number of people getting jobs in their field within a YEAR after graduating was closer to 50% from this school. Also, it cost two to three times as much as state schools with much higher placement rates, and much better programs (I found out later).


So yeah, stick it out, you'll be glad you did.

 

[dyna]

If you have your mind set on IT, you need to get a degree. Otherwise, I would suggest learning a trade, mechanic, electrician, plumber, etc...

 

[ScottFern]

Well I am 23 and just got into IT doing lower level things but then again its a small company. I have a degree in Political Science, and I am just wondering how that helped me get into this job? I mean I understand certain HR people value a degree regardless of what it is, I just didn't think that was common place in the IT world?

 

[Syrch]

I'd like to quote everyone that said, get the degree. I got a four year degree in business management. I got out of college and got into IT and worked in there for 2 years. The company has now got me training as a Operations Manager and is training me to take over one of their states. The degree helps a ton!

 

[NuroMancer]

Originally posted by: ScottFern
Well I am 23 and just got into IT doing lower level things but then again its a small company. I have a degree in Political Science, and I am just wondering how that helped me get into this job? I mean I understand certain HR people value a degree regardless of what it is, I just didn't think that was common place in the IT world?

It is becomming more and more true. HR values a degree because of what it represents. In the long run, even a Poli Sci degree will help you. A degree in your field would help you alot more.