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So here's my deal: I am a sophomore at a large public university in the SEC. Freshman year i did bad in school, but so far this semester have had nothing bud A's and B's. I got a job in the summer, but realized soon enough that i could not balance that, school, and social life. My parents are also immigrants with shitty jobs and are struggling to pay for my school since it is 3 hours away from where i am from. They pay tuition, housing, books, pretty much everything for me. I also live a lifestyle out here that is too damn expensive and i can not afford anymore. I sometimes dont see the value of college and do not want to get in debt or get them in debt. Lately i have been thinking about moving back home and just transferring to a community college or take a semester off and go from there. I just want to have a decent job that pays me well enough to support myself in the medium range.
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“The people who were trying to make this world worse are not taking the day off.
Why should I?” - Bob Marley
My instinct is always to tough-out things like this, think of the longer-tern rewards. Perhaps a liberal arts degree isn't for you, but since you're already enrolled at State U, you can probably find a way to make that pay-out better in the medium- to long-term than community college would.
-------------------- A lotta cats a livin' in the neighborhood
Some are bandits,
Some are very, very good as I would tell it to ya'
- I-Roy
Why would you even consider going to College?! Such a waste of money..... And it's not like you cant learn all you need to know from some good searching on the web! All you're paying for is a piece of paper(degree) that many employers could give a shit less about anyway. Employers want someone who has a good work-ethic, social skills, the ability to grasp new concepts quickly, and a mature, confident attitude. Fuck college. In this day and age the cost to enroll into college is completely excessive and just pure greedy. Plus, even if you DO manage to find a job in your preferred field you still have to worry about your college loans! Not to mention the at least 4 years you wasted sitting in a classroom "learning" when you could have been already earning money and even getting raises and promotions in the workforce.
I'm not saying college is evil, but most people don't need it. It will not benefit them, it'll get them into unrealistic debt 9 times outta ten. If it's your thing then thats just fine, but you better be damn sure you know what your doing. Colleges are a business.....
Quote: SoundScape said: Why would you even consider going to College?! Such a waste of money..... And it's not like you cant learn all you need to know from some good searching on the web! All you're paying for is a piece of paper(degree) that many employers could give a shit less about anyway. Employers want someone who has a good work-ethic, social skills, the ability to grasp new concepts quickly, and a mature, confident attitude. Fuck college. In this day and age the cost to enroll into college is completely excessive and just pure greedy. Plus, even if you DO manage to find a job in your preferred field you still have to worry about your college loans! Not to mention the at least 4 years you wasted sitting in a classroom "learning" when you could have been already earning money and even getting raises and promotions in the workforce.
I'm not saying college is evil, but most people don't need it. It will not benefit them, it'll get them into unrealistic debt 9 times outta ten. If it's your thing then thats just fine, but you better be damn sure you know what your doing. Colleges are a business.....
Depends on what you are going to college for OP. I never understood why anyone would go to school for an artsy type degree. You can't teach creativity, and most would be better off just becoming an apprentice in the field they are interested in.
If you are going to school for engineering or finance(or any similar degree) then by all means stay in school. Adjust your lifestyle to be less of a financial burden, but do not drop out. You could also consider learning a trade. Electricians get paid well.
From personal experience, college was a waste of time, in the sense that I could have taught myself all of the material I learned at university. However, I could not have gotten a job as an engineer let alone an interview by telling someone 'well I taught myself all of the same info, which is kinda the same thing right?' It simply doesn't work that way with Nursing, Engineering, etc.
Quote: SoundScape said: Why would you even consider going to College?! Such a waste of money..... And it's not like you cant learn all you need to know from some good searching on the web! All you're paying for is a piece of paper(degree) that many employers could give a shit less about anyway. Employers want someone who has a good work-ethic, social skills, the ability to grasp new concepts quickly, and a mature, confident attitude. Fuck college. In this day and age the cost to enroll into college is completely excessive and just pure greedy. Plus, even if you DO manage to find a job in your preferred field you still have to worry about your college loans! Not to mention the at least 4 years you wasted sitting in a classroom "learning" when you could have been already earning money and even getting raises and promotions in the workforce.
I'm not saying college is evil, but most people don't need it. It will not benefit them, it'll get them into unrealistic debt 9 times outta ten. If it's your thing then thats just fine, but you better be damn sure you know what your doing. Colleges are a business.....
Depends on what you are going to college for OP. I never understood why anyone would go to school for an artsy type degree. You can't teach creativity, and most would be better off just becoming an apprentice in the field they are interested in.
If you are going to school for engineering or finance(or any similar degree) then by all means stay in school. Adjust your lifestyle to be less of a financial burden, but do not drop out. You could also consider learning a trade. Electricians get paid well.
From personal experience, college was a waste of time, in the sense that I could have taught myself all of the material I learned at university. However, I could not have gotten a job as an engineer let alone an interview by telling someone 'well I taught myself all of the same info, which is kinda the same thing right?' It simply doesn't work that way with Nursing, Engineering, etc.
Good luck OP.
What it all boils down too is that College is a huge gamble and its most certainly a problem that almost everyone is pressured to go there. People graduating are usually having a huge problem finding a job like I said, and the debt you are required to pay is OUTRAGEOUS. Bottom line is just because college worked out great for you doesn't mean itll help most people in the same way. I graduated high school from a 2 year welding class that I worked my ass off in and was taught by perhaps the greatest welding instructor ever. Now im making 30 dollars an hour straight out of highschool. college is in all reality useless for many people and most people are better off just finding a decent job and keeping it for life.
Depends on what you are going to college for OP. I never understood why anyone would go to school for an artsy type degree. You can't teach creativity, and most would be better off just becoming an apprentice in the field they are interested in.
If you are going to school for engineering or finance(or any similar degree) then by all means stay in school. Adjust your lifestyle to be less of a financial burden, but do not drop out. You could also consider learning a trade. Electricians get paid well.
From personal experience, college was a waste of time, in the sense that I could have taught myself all of the material I learned at university. However, I could not have gotten a job as an engineer let alone an interview by telling someone 'well I taught myself all of the same info, which is kinda the same thing right?' It simply doesn't work that way with Nursing, Engineering, etc.
Good luck OP.
^ I hereby award this man a Bachelor of the Arts in Truth.
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┼ ··∙ long live the shroomery ∙·· ┼
...╬π╥ ╥π╬...
Quote: SoundScape said: Why would you even consider going to College?! Such a waste of money..... And it's not like you cant learn all you need to know from some good searching on the web! All you're paying for is a piece of paper(degree) that many employers could give a shit less about anyway. Employers want someone who has a good work-ethic, social skills, the ability to grasp new concepts quickly, and a mature, confident attitude. Fuck college. In this day and age the cost to enroll into college is completely excessive and just pure greedy. Plus, even if you DO manage to find a job in your preferred field you still have to worry about your college loans! Not to mention the at least 4 years you wasted sitting in a classroom "learning" when you could have been already earning money and even getting raises and promotions in the workforce.
I'm not saying college is evil, but most people don't need it. It will not benefit them, it'll get them into unrealistic debt 9 times outta ten. If it's your thing then thats just fine, but you better be damn sure you know what your doing. Colleges are a business.....
Depends on what you are going to college for OP. I never understood why anyone would go to school for an artsy type degree. You can't teach creativity, and most would be better off just becoming an apprentice in the field they are interested in.
If you are going to school for engineering or finance(or any similar degree) then by all means stay in school. Adjust your lifestyle to be less of a financial burden, but do not drop out. You could also consider learning a trade. Electricians get paid well.
From personal experience, college was a waste of time, in the sense that I could have taught myself all of the material I learned at university. However, I could not have gotten a job as an engineer let alone an interview by telling someone 'well I taught myself all of the same info, which is kinda the same thing right?' It simply doesn't work that way with Nursing, Engineering, etc.
Good luck OP.
What it all boils down too is that College is a huge gamble and its most certainly a problem that almost everyone is pressured to go there. People graduating are usually having a huge problem finding a job like I said, and the debt you are required to pay is OUTRAGEOUS. Bottom line is just because college worked out great for you doesn't mean itll help most people in the same way. I graduated high school from a 2 year welding class that I worked my ass off in and was taught by perhaps the greatest welding instructor ever. Now im making 30 dollars an hour straight out of highschool. college is in all reality useless for many people and most people are better off just finding a decent job and keeping it for life.
I agree with some of what you say. Yes, most people do get pressured into going directly to college directly out of high school. Yes, you can do extremely well learning a trade(I used Electricians as an example), you seem to have made a good choice in what you are doing. Yes, people who can't plan five, ten or twenty years down the road will likely waste time at university.
However, I disagree with the 'outrageous debt', and most people having trouble finding a job, and to some extent your statement about most people being better off just finding a job without furthering education.
Here is why: I received financial aid in the form of scholarships and loans(10k in loans over 5 years). I worked three semesters as an engineering intern making 15-21 dollars an hour. I was able to graduate with only 10k in loans, and had them paid off six months after I graduated. I am not an exception(at least not at the engineering uni I went to). There is not a single student that I knew that was actively looking for a job and was unable to find one. If people pick a field that is in demand then they will have no problem finding a job. Finally, people who further their make more money over the course of their life. Google it if you are interested.
All that being said, many people that do go to college shouldn't. Everyone's situation, skills, lifestyle is different. OP you need to evaluate your own and make a choice based on your situation. Again good luck.
Personally I regret going to college. I'm in my 3rd year. I went because I got grants to cover my first 2 years of tuition, and because of the pressure and expectation of going to college straight out of high school. I'm just going to finish since i already have over half of the required credits for my degree. I'm majoring in business, and personally all I learn is business theory. With business grades do not matter as much as who you know that can hook you up with an internship or job. I've been working a completely different angle for my entire stay in college- i've been making money online, and don't plan on getting a job after college.
All in all the only advice I can give you is don't drop out. Changing the path you are on is very costly, and if you drop out you lose (that is if you don't re-enroll) all the progress you have made so far.
Quote: xtokex said: Personally I regret going to college. I'm in my 3rd year. I went because I got grants to cover my first 2 years of tuition, and because of the pressure and expectation of going to college straight out of high school. I'm just going to finish since i already have over half of the required credits for my degree. I'm majoring in business, and personally all I learn is business theory. With business grades do not matter as much as who you know that can hook you up with an internship or job. I've been working a completely different angle for my entire stay in college- i've been making money online, and don't plan on getting a job after college.
All in all the only advice I can give you is don't drop out. Changing the path you are on is very costly, and if you drop out you lose (that is if you don't re-enroll) all the progress you have made so far.
Considering the economy right now I cant stress enough how important it is to get some relavent experience before you graduate in your field.
Quote: Anonymous said: So here's my deal: I am a sophomore at a large public university in the SEC. Freshman year i did bad in school, but so far this semester have had nothing bud A's and B's. I got a job in the summer, but realized soon enough that i could not balance that, school, and social life. My parents are also immigrants with shitty jobs and are struggling to pay for my school since it is 3 hours away from where i am from. They pay tuition, housing, books, pretty much everything for me. I also live a lifestyle out here that is too damn expensive and i can not afford anymore. I sometimes dont see the value of college and do not want to get in debt or get them in debt. Lately i have been thinking about moving back home and just transferring to a community college or take a semester off and go from there. I just want to have a decent job that pays me well enough to support myself in the medium range.
The way I see an education is - the university & college diploma/degree market is becoming overly saturated. Employers have the choice to pick the top breeds. If you want a great job/career you must strive to be at the top of the class. Your personal networking abilities, friends, profs, instructors can make or break your career path. Referrals to jobs in your career path assist greatly, so every friendship you make now in your field can potentially assist you.
The majority of graduates start at the bottom in companies, with the added stresses of probationary period, attempts for fulltime employment (so many only offer temporary/contract without benefits), education repayment, and all your personal life issues to top it off.
I noticed people in this thread are talking trades. Yes, I have heard trades to be drying up in terms of fresh meat going in. There is a demand for skilled tradespeople and I can only see it increasing. The tough reality for becoming a tradesperson is you have to find someone willing to take you on as an apprentice - and at the same time you must be aware if they're trustworthy, safe, and have a positive image in the field. You'll most likely get shit pay for a few years and handle all the bitchwork, but after you've become a journey person you're making reasonable cash that should be able to support a small family.
The trick I've learned is to become independent, your own name/brand. Be good at what you do and market yourself well. You're never going to really make top dollar if you're an 'employee' of someone else. From what I hear as employees, we're getting double fucked by taxes, commuting into work etc. If you have enough experience to open up your own business and you know how to bring people in, this may be the best way to go.
No matter what you choose to do in life, it will for the most part be a constant struggle working to perfect what it is that you do. Don't expect the path to pay cheques to be an easy one.
Quote: "I also live a lifestyle out here that is too damn expensive and i can not afford anymore."
That's some bullshit right there. Focus on the shit that's most important. If it's friends bringing out the lifestyle in you, I'd drop them... they simply cost too much.
Quote: "I sometimes dont see the value of college and do not want to get in debt or get them in debt. Lately i have been thinking about moving back home and just transferring to a community college or take a semester off and go from there."
Picture this thought. You're wanting to become a professional poker player. You tell someone at the cardroom you play at that you want to do that and then tell them you don't have bankroll to do it. They retort to you that you should go to the bank and get a loan if you feel confident enough with your abilities. Most people would freeze and consider that to be a ridiculous idea - "what if i really am gambling" you might ask and you may never attempt to collect a loan. Down goes the pipe dream. Are you really wanting into your field or is it just a pipedream?
The above picture is the same thing as your education. You have to know that your education is going to define you for your abilities and show potential employers what you're capable of. Excelling in classes with above average grades, taking on jobs in the related field, volunteering in the field. All this is part of 'experience' in your related field which at some point 2 years, 5 years, 10 years down the road you're looking at presenting to your prospective employer who is willing to fork you big pay cheques because you're that much better than the other guy at whatever it is you do. So the question you have to ask yourself is not about the debt - FUCK THE DEBT - you have to be willing to take risks - which may include taking on debt, that will give you the experience you need to get the better job tomorrow. In order for you to do whatever it is that it takes to get that experience needed to do well in your field, you have to be 100% confident you know exactly what you want.
Why don't you take a few hours, sit there and think about if you dropped out. Yes, it sounds like you've had it easy coasting on your parent's earned dollars. But you need to figure out if your current skillset will get you a decent job right now... forget that... will that job give you better skills and experience to make you get a better job after that one? Most likely not, but you have to figure that one out for yourself.
-------------------- KTHXBai2YoU
Horse_Meister
Life is what happens while you're busy making other plans.
Thank you for those last couple paragraphs. I needed to read the bit about marketing yourself and taking risks.
I am getting over the uncertainty. I am finding life without school to be difficult. Not only do a want a professional wage, but i want the schedule and benefits that go with it.
My half assed skilled labour job is getting me nowhere fast.
If you are already in your sophomore year than why would you transfer to a community college? Don’t they only offer 2-year degrees?
Here’s my take on school, take it your leave it. You have to make school work for YOU period! No matter what subject you study, it’s not going to make something out of you all by itself. I good friend of mine has a degree in mechanical engineering and he works at a local coffee shop as a barista, now that he is 2 years post grad chances of him breaking into industry are very slim. All of our situations are unique, and school may be a good choice for some, and a bad choice for others. In your case, I would recommend finishing your degree, even if you don’t value the piece of paper you receive it’s better than having absolutely nothing to show for your time and money which is what will result if you drop out now.
I dropped out my Jr-year of chemical engineering and suffered greatly for it. Everything I had hoped for career wise was dashed as I found that college dropouts with no work experience are some of the least valued people ever! If you don’t think employers value college degrees, imagine how they will feel finding out that you couldn’t even finish one!. It’s taken a lot of time to turn my situation around and I felt like returning to school was the best path for me, I landed a job in healthcare and I’ll be graduating in May with a BS in healthcare administration. I never saw myself doing something like this but I have connects in this industry so I had to make a choice based on my own unique situation.
If I had it to do over again, I would have gone to trade school and worried about college later on when upward mobility within a company was more appealing to me, hell most of the time your employer will pay for you to go back to school . Which brings me to my next point, trade schools are great, but expectations need to be in check. Upward mobility is limited to those with higher education degrees in most companies, if you want to make 100k plus than higher education will most likely play a roll (not in all cases of course) but that circles back to realistic expectations…
I’m not the first to say it but I believe that education is the next big financial bubble to burst in this country. Profit motivated institutions are everywhere selling people “a secure future” in exchange for money they don’t have yet. It’s an easy sell to persuade your average “minimum wager” to spend cheap or free government money in exchange for a “better life”; what a brilliant business strategy! This is why we see so many small start-up colleges trying to cash in. There are going to be large numbers of unemployed college graduates with huge financial burdens in the future and it will inevitably catch up to us at some point.
I can draw a lot of similarities to healthcare, which is a total financial cluster fuck btw. Consumers don’t care to shop around because the money comes too easily, when there is a disconnect between the consumer and the cash they are spending (in healthcare this is known as insurance) inefficient spending is unavoidable. Whenever you, as a consumer decide to be rationally ignorant, and put your trust in the hands of the supplier of services you are bound to get fucked. And while this isn’t happening to every person that goes to college, or every person that visits a doctor’s office, it’s happening on a massive scale in both industries.
You are already worried about what your education is costing you; so you are ahead of many of your peers. In ten years your college social life will be a distant memory, something to chuckle about when fleeting thoughts of nostalgia cruise through your mind. If you are worried about the burden you are putting on your folks than maybe you should curve it by putting some of the burden on yourself. If all it costs you is your social life for a couple years than it might be something to consider. Meanwhile, if you want more value for your money you can start thinking about how to put value back into your degree; good grades, jobs, internships, networking, networking, networking, are all good ways to do that..
Everything I have just said is based on what I have observed with my peers who have taken one of three directions, dropped out, graduated w/o entrance to industry, and graduated with great jobs and financial security. In every case, the latter did everything they could to make education work for THEM.
Quote: Anonymous said: So here's my deal: I am a sophomore at a large public university in the SEC. Freshman year i did bad in school, but so far this semester have had nothing bud A's and B's. I got a job in the summer, but realized soon enough that i could not balance that, school, and social life. My parents are also immigrants with shitty jobs and are struggling to pay for my school since it is 3 hours away from where i am from. They pay tuition, housing, books, pretty much everything for me. I also live a lifestyle out here that is too damn expensive and i can not afford anymore. I sometimes dont see the value of college and do not want to get in debt or get them in debt. Lately i have been thinking about moving back home and just transferring to a community college or take a semester off and go from there. I just want to have a decent job that pays me well enough to support myself in the medium range.
I would make your parents proud and finish. I bet they want you to finish and get a degree so you can live a little better than they do.
I know you are probably young and your social life is very important, which it is to an extent. But when you are in college you are there to learn and graduate. College comes first, money comes second, peers come third. Sometimes you have to make a sacrifice in your life in order to build a strong future for yourself.
I would get a job, work 20 hours a week, study hard, and finish as soon as you can. You are a sophomore now? If you work your ass off you could be out of there in two years. And maybe you could be out even sooner if you handle your money right and buy some summer classes.
I am not sure which state you are from but where I am from there are benefits to working while in school.
If you work 20 hours you can then go to the assistance office (welfare office) and they will pay for your books and give you food stamps while you are in school. That means that your parents could use the money they were paying to your books and food for other things such as tuition.
And dont be afraid to apply for a loan to help you through.
If you are getting A's and B's then you should be eligible for grants (free money for tuition).
Talk to your school counselors and they will help you be efficient in your spending.
Life is full of sacrifices. I suggest making a smart choice, buckling down, and graduating. You wont regret it. I didnt.
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