Given all the factors of:

Rising tuition (and those blasted college textbook racket!)

the possibility of harder to get personal financing for college loans

the way that you cannot claim your student loans on your bankruptcy

Jobs that seem to be vanishing for white collar and middle management blue collar (i. e. going overseas or companies being embezzled and then bankrupt)

do you think that degrees are as worth it today as they might have been in the past?

It's unfortunate how college caters to people who have money. Individuals who had parents who were able to put them through college or at least help them, do not know how lucky they really are. My parents never could help pay for my education, AND, even though I got really good grades in high school (mostly A's and a few B's)...it was not enough to win scholarships and such.

I was able to complete 2 full years at the community college (paying for it little by little on my own), and I would LOVE to finish my degree, but I just don't have the funds, nor do I have the good credit that enables loans, etc. I really want to do something with my life, and after much thinking I have decided to go back this fall and do it a little at a time (starting with maybe 2 classes this semester). I am going to focus on a degree in computers (because that is the present and will always be the future). I would love to be able to have a degree in something that I am passionate for (English, Anthopology, Theater, etc)....but let's face it...how easy would it be to get a job in any of those fields?

Sometimes I think that trade schools or computer technology schools are the way to go. I know someone (who has always excelled in computers) that went to a 2 year computer trade school, and he only has his associate's degree and makes TONS of money in his field.

It's just that nowadays, if you don't have some sort of degree...it's even harder to find a decent paying job. I've always said though..that with a degree or without a degree..it mostly boils down to who you know and what kind of connections you have. If you know the right person who can give you some kind of pull...you have greater chances of obtaining that great career.

do you think that degrees are as worth it today as they might have been in the past?


Just as a high school diploma was the gateway from burger-flipping to 9-to-5 employment in the Boomers' generation, the Bachelor's degree is to today's students.  If you want a job, you go to college.  If you want a good job (i.e., work for a company like Google), you now need a Master's degree.  If you want to advance the state of the art, you need a Ph.D.  Sucks, but that's the way of the world.

So the answer is "Yes and no", and it all depends on how you define "worth it".

Yes -- because it's now the equivalent of a boomer's high school diploma.  Back in the post-WW2 era, anyone with a high school diploma could get a good job and support themselves.  Maybe even a family.  A degree was for someone who wanted to go on to bigger and better things.  If you want to avoid grinding poverty, and you don't have access to wealth, you get a degree because it's the highest-probability method of escaping a lifetime of burger-flipping.  Although some entrepreneurs make millions without degrees -- just as some sports stars make millions in their chosen endeavor -- you only hear about the 0.01% of the un-degreed people who make it big, and not the 99.99% of people who spend a lifetime in grinding McJob-poverty.

No -- because it's just the equivalent of a boomer's high school diploma.  You do four years of college to get a job that puts food on the table.  If you actually want to learn something or advance the state of the art, you need to go to grad school and beyond. 

I've got the socioeconomic equivalent of my parents' education -- they went to high school and entered the work force.  I got a Bachelor's degree and entered the workforce.  Same thing, really.  I didn't care for academia, so I sold my soul -- put in my four years, got my sheepskin, got out, and lucked into a series of good jobs.  I'll never advance the state of the art in my chosen field, and I'll never have five exotic motor cars in my garage as per the old "Justification for Higher Education" poster that once adorned my dorm room wall.  But I was OK with that at the time, and I'm still OK with how things worked out, because without that degree, I'd still be eating Top Ramen.

No.  The ability to earn a living is.  If anybody asked me, "I have drive but no money, should I take out college loans or become an electrician's apprentice?"  I would tell him to go with he apprenticeship.  

I think there should be rigorous academic standards for college and if you can qualify to go, you should be able to go for free.  Right-wingers out there hate this idea, but they can all go take a flying ****.  

The policy makers in this country seem to want a return to the class structure we had in 1900.  They're doing a smashing job of getting us there.  The problem is, this is not 1900.  

Why should anybody enroll in college to come out with 50K in debt and a degree not worth the paper it's printed on?  

The rest of the prosperous world does not do education that way, which has something to do with why they're prospering.

Don't go to college if your folks aren't wealthy, kids.  The rich are laying waste to our economy.  This is not the time to be in more debt than necessary.  Find out what skilled trades are most in demand and learn them.  When and if this benighted nation comes to its senses, then enroll in college and study liberal arts.
::)

No.  The ability to earn a living is.  If anybody asked me, "I have drive but no money, should I take out college loans or become an electrician's apprentice?"  I would tell him to go with he apprenticeship.  

I think there should be rigorous academic standards for college and if you can qualify to go, you should be able to go for free.  Right-wingers out there hate this idea, but they can all go take a flying ****.  

The policy makers in this country seem to want a return to the class structure we had in 1900.  They're doing a smashing job of getting us there.  The problem is, this is not 1900.  

Why should anybody enroll in college to come out with tens of thousands of dollars and a degree not worth the paper it's printed on?  

The rest of the prosperous world does not do education that way, which has something to do with why they're prospering.

Don't go to college if your folks aren't wealthy, kids.  The rich are laying waste to our economy.  This is not the time to be in more debt than necessary.  Find out what skilled trades are most in demand and learn them.  When and if this benighted nation comes to its senses, then enroll in college and study liberal arts.
::)


karma++ Max. :)  You know, I have a friend who lives in Slovenia, and when I told him how much a decent education is in the US, he simply couldn't believe his ears. Unlike this country, HIS country pays for their education and enables citizens to actually make something of their life. They are very hard working people, and they take their livelihood serious. It was shocking to him though to hear that this country cannot do the same.

I agree about the trade option. I know a lot of people who make a terrific living, having learned a trade.

I got most of my edumacation for free.

Technical degrees are typically much more lucrative than 4-year ones.  If I could do it over again, I would have gone for one.

Actually I'll take issue with some of the views here.

First off, a college degree is not a necessity.  Society needs all sorts of people to do things that do not require a college degree.  Construction trades, bus drivers, manufacturing, small business operators, and any number of good service jobs.

Yes, if you want to get a job as management for a big company, a bachelors degree is pretty much a necessity, unless you have distinguished yourself in the company otherwise (typically "working your way up".)  The second-highest paid person at my company has "only" a high school degree, but he has lots of power, power that he accumulated by working hard and kicking butt in his jobs.

As for Master and Doctor degrees, I can tell you that, by a wide margin, the highly sccessful people who I have encountered did NOT have MBA's or PhD's.  Well a few had MBA's, but typically they received them AFTER they were advancing rapidly thru the company.

My own policy?  If I have two job candidates, all other things being equal, yeah... I'll hire the college grad.  But if the high school grad shows me a better record of achievement, the job is hers, hands down.  Can't tell you how many times I have made that decision and I don't look back.

I agree with Quirk... if you want to go to college to better your employment, getting a degree in Fine Arts or English Literature is not going to be of much career help, unless you have the talent of Picasso or Gore Vidal already.  If you're gonna fork over the dough to get a BS degree for the purpose of career, then you need to pick a major that is marketable!

If you simply want to go to school to "expand your horizons" then a degree in the arts is great... it just usually will not pay many bills.

It's true!  A lot of PhDs, MDs and MBAs and lawyers work for people who don't have degrees...those people came up with an idea on their own or worked super hard for their money, and now are hiring lots of professionals to bigger their money, which everyone needs (read the Lorax one too many times).

Definitely a good idea, if you're going to sink tens of thousands of dollars into a college education, to get a degree in something marketable, like chemical engineering.

It's true!  A lot of PhDs, MDs and MBAs and lawyers work for people who don't have degrees...those people came up with an idea on their own or worked super hard for their money, and now are hiring lots of professionals to bigger their money, which everyone needs (read the Lorax one too many times).

Definitely a good idea, if you're going to sink tens of thousands of dollars into a college education, to get a degree in something marketable, like chemical engineering.


Rice, what are you majoring in at the U of C ? ???

I don't think it's always necessary.  Do you have to have a college degree for being a HAVC technician?  Trade school yes, but that is not a college degree.

karma++ Max. :)  You know, I have a friend who lives in Slovenia, and when I told him how much a decent education is in the US, he simply couldn't believe his ears. Unlike this country, HIS country pays for their education and enables citizens to actually make something of their life. They are very hard working people, and they take their livelihood serious. It was shocking to him though to hear that this country cannot do the same.

I agree about the trade option. I know a lot of people who make a terrific living, having learned a trade.


Thanks, Quirk!

If Slovenia can do it, so can we.  I mean, for chrissakes!  Actually, before the Reagan era, far more government grant money was available to cover tuition and fees.  Now state university systems are trying to compete with private colleages...in charging through the nose!  In fact, it was Bedtime-for-Ronzo who pushed for the initial tuition hikes at the University of California when he was governor.  That university system used to be free for qualifying California residents.  History shows...and will continue to show...that America on all fronts started a sharp decline with Reagan and his right-wing philosophy.  Conservatives can hollar all they like about liberalism, socialism, and secular humanism, but it's as plain as the nose on John McCain's face that this crap just doesn't work!

But let's not be too partisan about it.  The best Hillary Clinton can come up with is a 50% cut in the interest rate for student loans!
:P

It pains me to have to discourage anybody from studying liberal arts because I believe liberal arts are vital to the enrichment and continuity of our culture.  Knowledge is also dangerous.  It teaches people to think analytically...and perhaps even question the state...and God forbid, the church!  That's why right-wingers are always picking on university professors!

Eat the rich, Max. You can't live with 'em and you can't kill 'em. :-\\

I agree with LyricBoy's comment about going for a degree that's marketable. A bachelor's degree in Art History isn't usually in high demand, unless you plan to turn it into some tenured position a few years down the line. While I do believe that getting a college education is a good idea for most people, it shouldn't be seen as the cover-all for people who want a job. Go to school to learn something, or several things, for that matter; knowledge for knowledge's sake isn't an entirely bad thing. Trade schools are another option that I believe are overlooked these days.

As for my college experience, I got a discount at the public university I attended since my parents worked there at the time. I would have been stupid not to take up that offer and attend some big name Ivy League school and worry about how I was going to pay for it. Since I didn't have to pay some of the fees and was still living at home, I was able to cover most of my college expenses via an off-campus job.

Oh, you want a short answer? Yes. The only thing that needs to change is the affordability issue; the university I attended raised tuition several times during my time there. I don't know what it's like in other states, but Ohio's governmental leaders didn't do anything to address equality in funding for public education back then, and they're still scrambling to get it resolved today. That partly accounts for the tuition blues.

Good question, I've thought about this alot too, to be honest.

Even though I think they're certainly a good idea to pursue if you can do it, it's a sad statement in our society that an education costs so much. That's almost like saying there's a monetary value on what you can or can't do in terms of a career or just paying the bills...certainly not everyone can afford it, and it's like how fair is that to them? Plus, I do think our skills and work ethic in terms of doing something is equally if not more important.

Good question, I've thought about this alot too, to be honest.

Even though I think they're certainly a good idea to pursue if you can do it, it's a sad statement in our society that an education costs so much. That's almost like saying there's a monetary value on what you can or can't do in terms of a career or just paying the bills...certainly not everyone can afford it, and it's like how fair is that to them? Plus, I do think our skills and work ethic in terms of doing something is equally if not more important.


Unfortunately this is how society is.  If you want to be able to buy things, you have to work hard.

First, if you want to make REAL $$$$, you will never do so working for someone else.  If possible, be an entrepreneur.  If you do work for someone else, the job market is so competitive that you need:
1. An Undergraduate Degree - in the 70's and 80's it was a bonus but now it is a necessity.
2. Advanced Certification - in many cases you may need an extra certification.  For example, if you work in accounting, you need a CPA. If you work in finance, you need a CFA.
3. Masters / MBA - this is really becoming a necessity in the competitive world.
4. PHD - this appears to be a bonus.
4. Learn and work hard.  If you want to climb the corporate ladder, you must work hard (min. 60-80 hours per week).  WORK-LIFE BALANCE IS A MYTH. IF YOU WANT TO QUICKLY CLIMB THE CORPORATE LADDER YOU PROBABLY WON'T BE EATING DINNER AT 5:30 WITH THE FAMILY.

Just my opinion. 

One caveat - the region you live in may determine which degree you need above.  For example, in the NJ/NY metro area, you need these because it is very competitive.  My friends that live in Texas, say that an MBA is a "bonus" whereas it is almost a necessity in the NJ/NY area.

Unfortunately this is how society is.  If you want to be able to buy things, you have to work hard.

First, if you want to make REAL $$$$, you will never do so working for someone else.  If possible, be an entrepreneur.  If you do work for someone else, the job market is so competitive that you need:
1. An Undergraduate Degree - in the 70's and 80's it was a bonus but now it is a necessity.
2. Advanced Certification - in many cases you may need an extra certification.  For example, if you work in accounting, you need a CPA. If you work in finance, you need a CFA.
3. Masters / MBA - this is really becoming a necessity in the competitive world.
4. PHD - this appears to be a bonus.
4. Learn and work hard.  If you want to climb the corporate ladder, you must work hard (min. 60-80 hours per week).  WORK-LIFE BALANCE IS A MYTH. IF YOU WANT TO QUICKLY CLIMB THE CORPORATE LADDER YOU PROBABLY WON'T BE EATING DINNER AT 5:30 WITH THE FAMILY.

Just my opinion. 

One caveat - the region you live in may determine which degree you need above.  For example, in the NJ/NY metro area, you need these because it is very competitive.  My friends that live in Texas, say that an MBA is a "bonus" whereas it is almost a necessity in the NJ/NY area.




If you want more entrepeneurs, make the ground fertile for entrepeneurship.  Government subsidization of big business is not the way.  If everybody must get an advanced degree, make the ground fertile for earning advanced degrees.  Forcing people to sink 20K, 40K, 100K in debt in order to get a degree is not the way.

Your statement that one cannot get wealthy working for somebody else (that is as an employee of a firm) is simply not true.  I also disagree with the materialistic nature of your assertions.    Consumerism (which is not the same as consumption)  is toxic to humanity.

Of course a strong work ethic is beneficial in any situation; however, if a society is does not strive for equality of opportunity (by which I do not mean equality of outcome) it will drive class structure to an aristocracy/peasant scheme.  Right the American aristocracy is undermining the middle class, which has been duped into thinking it shares the same interests.  Without a middle class, you cannot have a democracy. 

I work in a highly technical area, and it is a good industry.  Our company hires a large number of engineers.  In this field, to be an engineer, a bachelors degree in either engineering or something very close (eg. physics) is the absolute minimum, and a masters is highly desired.  But this is a job where the American dream can be realized in a reasonably short period of time, as long as you perform.  Plus the work itself can be fascinating.  Openings are plenty, but competition is there, too - you have to be good.  Long hour work weeks?  Yeah, sometimes - but depending on what you do, not necessarily constant (I do very little overtime, in the big picture).  Salaries are generally pretty good.

For anyone trying to figure out how college will be paid for, I recommend you (the student) pay for as much of it as possible before you're finished.  Keep those loans to a minimum, and give Mom and Dad a break.  It's character building to do that, plus you'll be in great shape when you're done.  I say this from first hand experience.  It is tough, though.  Just don't assume you can't do it, because many times you can and you don't know it.  If it means stretching things out, even that could be worth it in the big picture.

Just remember one thing - a degree is forever.  No one will ever take it away from you.

I'm sure any degree has its purpose. Even a BFA or BLA. A degree in whatever is almost a requirement these days to get into many jobs. Even 2 year diplomas are going out of fashion with industry changes requiring more time and higher expertise in many areas.

These days, everyone I know had a student loan. It's practically an "investment" more than a loan. It's the only loan that is interest free, so you basically only pay back exactly what was given to the school while you were studying.

Most companies won't even look at your resumé unless you have a college or university degree

Most companies won't even look at your resumé unless you have a college or university degree


Actually, most companies won't look at your resume if it isn't "marketed" towards what they are looking for.
It is still a matter of sell, sell, sell with a resume. Key is: what job are you applying for? Does your resume meet or exceed what they are looking for in a candidate?

I graduated college in '93 with my Associate's in Human Resources. They look for the same things today that they did then. Your resume needs to be your Ad Campaign! You have to sell yourself over every other candidate, just to make it through to round 2. They don't know whether you are Black, White, Asian, Indian etc... they see a product and want to look more into it before buying it. You have to sell yourself no matter what!

Anyway, I don't practice HR anymore, too hard to work your way up in an industry that has been held for years by people who coined the term and wrote the books. Went to trade school, working on my A+ Certification. Fixing computers is my passion, so I figured I might as well turn that passion into $$

;D 8)

I gotta stop posting on this thread, it's making me nauseous. ^
8-P

I got most of my edumacation for free.


Me too, I went in for every scholarship I could get and every grant I could get.
The rest of it has been paid as I go apart from small government subsidized loans available to everybody.

To answer the question, I'd like to think I'm case in point.

I have a pretty decent job, I work in a skilled field and as such the things I know how to do are in 'moderate' demand. Therefore I am able to ask for a decent amount of money for my services and also work for a Labor Union that uses collective bargaining on my behalf to give me a better rate of pay than I would probably earn on my own. Do I live a comfortable life? Yes. Do I live a life of luxury? No. But things are fine, however, I am not satisfied with things being merely fine. At some point I would like to go from earning what I do now to earning $100K+. I identified the markets in which I felt I could succeed, ascertained what credentials (if any) I would require to gain a firm position with said market and then began to pursue said credentials.

If you have an interest in a job field and it requires a degree, then the degree is worth it, if the field you're interested in does not require a degree, then it's probably not worth it, unless of course you're doing it to either prove to yourself you can, as a backup, or just for the love of education.. and then, of course it's worth it.

The best way I can sum up my opinion is this - If today I was a Father and had a son, I would encourage him to get his degree as at this point in time, it's the benchmark, if after that he felt further education was necessary then I would support that decision but it would be totally up to him.

Rice, what are you majoring in at the U of C ? ???


I'm in the PhD program in the biological sciences division...emphasis on cancer research.


Me too, I went in for every scholarship I could get and every grant I could get.
The rest of it has been paid as I go apart from small government subsidized loans available to everybody.

I think most student loans have a really low interest rate...my friend has nearly $100K in student loans to pay back but he can continue to defer them as long as he's in his PhD studies.  I also applied for scholarships and stuff.  Especially if you're a minority or have some extenuating circumstance, need-based scholarships are there for the taking, just seems nobody is able to willing to find them :(

I'm in the PhD program in the biological sciences division...emphasis on cancer research.

I think most student loans have a really low interest rate...my friend has nearly $100K in student loans to pay back but he can continue to defer them as long as he's in his PhD studies.  I also applied for scholarships and stuff.  Especially if you're a minority or have some extenuating circumstance, need-based scholarships are there for the taking, just seems nobody is able to willing to find them :(


In my sophomore year I was a recipient of the Ronald Reagan Scholarship Program.  ;D $2500 if I remember right. All you had to do was write an essay with as many buzzwords as possible. I believe mine borrowed heavily from Al Franken's "Why Not Me" - 'As the world's only remaining superpower..etc..etc..'  ;D

Thanks, Quirk!

Knowledge is also dangerous.  It teaches people to think analytically...and perhaps even question the state...and God forbid, the church!  That's why right-wingers are always picking on university professors!



And that's why it's so expensive, because for the past 8 years the rich have been getting away with murder by making college so expensive and seeing to it that the government does nothing about it. It happened with Reagen too (he's one of the few things I despise about the 80's). Republicans know that their party is on the brink of imploding, with all the truth around us, so they want to do whatever it takes to make sure that doesn't happen...and if that means making sure 85% of the country gets no advanced education, if that means cutting the funds for urban schools, and if that means spending billions of dollars on an futile war against drugs, well then by all means!

Their attempts only make them look worse though, and, despite the ignorance of Gen Y, 80% of us are still liberal, and apparently the majority of Gen X is too. The Boomers, the last conservative generation (ironic, eh?) are going to be on their way out in terms of running the economy, and I for one cannot wait until unselfish people get in.

As for me? I was extremely lucky to get $30,000 worth of aid (even if half of it is loans) from a very good local school. But, since some sort of degree is almost necessary now, I'd recommend people just go to community colleges for a few years. I don't know what it's like in other areas, but in mine if you work for a good private school, you can start going there eventually for less than half the tuition.

Really, a college education is only worth it if it's less than $25K a year (total, including books and stuff) or if you're rich and can afford everything. If not, you could become a police officer, work for the fire department, hell, you could be a musician!

If not, you could become a police officer, work for the fire department, hell, you could be a musician!


Or combine them all and be a policeman that breaks out into song at awkward moments, as in that television series by Stephen Bochno "Cop Rock"

I'm in the PhD program in the biological sciences division...emphasis on cancer research.


Cool.  8)    For a while there I thought you were going to tell me that you were a Chicago economics major.  In which case that would make you an ultra-right-winger.  ;D

My best friend's brother went to the U of C Hospital for throat cancer back in '04, and he was in what was supposed to be "the final stages".  But he is in complete remission and back to work.  :)  Those guys are good...

Do you need a college degree? Depends would you want to do. If you want to work at cars you don;t need a college degree but you do have to go to a trade school for that. If you want to be an accountant you have to go to college. I work in Security and you don't even make that much money being a Security Guard. I have no degree myself or did'lt go to a trade school abd I tried college and I couldn;t get through the classes. Eventually I want to make more money though.

So depressing, the whole rat race!
::)

If not, you could become a police officer, work for the fire department, hell, you could be a musician!


Or, like Kerry once said, you get stuck in Iraq.  ::)

College degrees are often required, but sometimes wholly irrelevant to your job. Many perspective employers are wising up to the fact that a degree in mining in not going to help you in marketing (unless they happen to sell mining equipment) and require job specific degrees.

Is having a degree necessary? No. But having some sort of post high school education, whether it be trade school or college is going to increase the chances of you not being stuck with a low paying job.

Degrees do have the advantage over trade school diplomas in being more versatile should you change jobs. My VA Class 1 WW license is basically worthless outside of that field.

Ant

Your statement that one cannot get wealthy working for somebody else (that is as an employee of a firm) is simply not true.  I also disagree with the materialistic nature of your assertions.    Consumerism (which is not the same as consumption)  is toxic to humanity.



I was a little frank with my statements.  Apologies.  Of course you can live well as an employee. And, of course, many entrepreneurs fail. If you are shooting for the stars as many people do, you need to level the playing field.  Those who attend good schools have opportunities that others do not have.  A degree from Harvard is not the same as a degree from the local community college.  A degree is a necessity these days.

If you start a business or are satisfied working in a blue collar or service industry, you do not necessarily need a college degree.  However, if you would like to work in a white collar industry, then a degree (and in many cases), a certification and/or advanced degree is necessary. 

When resumes come across my desk, I throw out the ones without college degrees (in the rare occasions that one of those would make it to my desk).

I must weigh in on this.  I am working on a construction job at Northeastern University in Boston. Many urban universities have gotten into the real estate business under the quise of expanding their campuses.  The are buying up properties at an alarming rate and building dorms that are more like hotels.  The dorm I am working on could be easily refitted as a hotel in the future with fantastic views from the twentieth floor.  Meanwhile, the university bought a $7.5 million townhouse for its president on Beacon street, the priciest side of town.  The college is in Roxbury, the poorest side of town.  Why not put the president on the top floor of the dorm?  Why buy him a home at all?  What? His salary isn't enough to live on.  Executive compensation(look at the perks, not just the salary) is just as bad in education as it is in corporate boardrooms, and it is reflected in the costs of tuition.

Back when, a college degree was necessary to open doors that were shut for non-college graduates.  Once in, performance was the only judge of climbing the ladder.  I should say, performance and someone above who can be your godfather.  Today, with the extremely high cost of college tuition, a focus on growing fields, e.g. computer science is the way to go if you have the mental capacity and interest.
Although I had a successful business career by being in the right place at the right time( THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECT), I would recommend learning a good trade.  All tradesmen that I know who are in their 50's and 60's, have been extremely successful, with many of them owning or have owned their own business.  And with a trade, you can work on the side for CASH.
Michael

I don't know if it's necessary to have in today's society, but it is a good thing to have. However, most job employers don't care what type of degree it is. I found that out when I did some online job searches in the past. Like I said, though, a degree is useful...even if people don't work in a specific field in the degree they've completed.

However, I will not actually receive my actual degree until the end of the year, because I need to make up a course in summer session. I was allowed to participate in the graduation ceremony last week. This might come as a shocker to some of you guys, but I just found out today that I still need a couple more units, and there is a chance I can take it in summer session. I will be talking with my academic advisor next week to see what I can do, so that I don't have to waste money on fees for another semester.

What's the most valuable thing I learned in high school?  Typing!

What's the most valuable thing I learned in college?  Dunno.  But I did a lot of typing as a journalism major!
::)

I'm wondering how various degrees are viewed in the professional world?  Such as online degrees (from an online university) or not finishing your degree until you are kinda "long in the tooth"?  I wonder if that makes a difference in hiring?

I'm wondering how various degrees are viewed in the professional world?  Such as online degrees (from an online university) or not finishing your degree until your kinda "long in the tooth"?  I wonder if that makes a difference in hiring?

I would not know, as I never have attempted a degree online. However, I will need to make up a course online this summer (or perhaps in the fall; I need to speak with my academic advisor about this; I'll be seeing her this Tuesday). In any event, it will most likely be in December when I actually "get" my degree.

I'm wondering how various degrees are viewed in the professional world?  Such as online degrees (from an online university) or not finishing your degree until you are kinda "long in the tooth"?  I wonder if that makes a difference in hiring?


From what I have seen, obtaining a degree is a 100% necessary prerequisite for getting hired in my industry - finance.  I don't think it matters if online or regular - unless it is from a school that screams "online" such as University of Phoenix Online.  However, in this industry and in the northeast region, you may be competing against alot of Ivy League candidates.  In my experience, some firms will pick the Harvard person over the "average" school candidate.  The presupposition is that the Harvard person is "smarter" than the "average school" student.  Though this is not always true.

Of course, if you finish your degree when you are 45 and you are interviewing for an entry-level job against 23-year olds. Then you may face the "unspoken" issue of age discrimination.

Finish your degree for yourself if anything else.  Take classes you enjoy and learn because learning is satisfaction!

Finish your degree for yourself if anything else.  Take classes you enjoy and learn because learning is satisfaction!



yeah, see I guess that was my whole reason for making this topic.  I worked as a library clerk (with unofficial duties of cataloging books (which to be a full-time cataloger, generally they look for degreed individuals).  I still cataloged even without a degree (albeit in a very small town library with a total staff of 4 (including the library director).  Anyways, what I'm getting around to saying is my hubby is encouraging me to go back to school to finish my degree.  I tried twice before and it was just  a 2 year technical college.  I never finished because I was working full time with nobody to financially support me (I was unmarried at the time.)  I think I might be able to finish this library degree online, while it's not a Masters of Library Science, at least it would be something.    I just have a hard time concentrating and am not especially ambitious.  I don't picture myself ever applying for a "higher" position at a library.  I rather enjoyed my time as a desk clerk, website creator, reference librarian, part-time cataloger.  I had a variety of job skills then and it kept me busy.  But I've been out of the field now for 5 years, and perhaps  this degree could help me get back into the field.

I just don't want to put us into even more debt then we are now, only to find out later that it doesn't really make a difference.

Sorry just rambling.

I can tell you that in the United States Army you pretty much MUST have a degree.  It is not a requirement, however our promotions are based on a points system and you receive points for each credit hour of college.  It is rare that you can get promoted through the ranks without at least an Associate's Degree.

I can tell you that in the United States Army you pretty much MUST have a degree.  It is not a requirement, however our promotions are based on a points system and you receive points for each credit hour of college.  It is rare that you can get promoted through the ranks without at least an Associate's Degree.

If you just want to go over to Iraq and dodge bullets, they'll take you straight outta the state pen!
:o

See, I am speaking for those of us that have made military life a career and wish to advance as much as possible.  That is impossible with out at a minimum an Associate's Degree.

If you just want to go over to Iraq and dodge bullets, they'll take you straight outta the state pen!
:o


The art of slaughtering your enemies for pay and free health care needs no education.

I think in some cases, yes, but in many, many other cases, no.

College, the very expensive kind, does not gaurantee you to be successful, and I think many parents put all their eggs in one basket thinking their kid is getting a great education while their kids are having frat parties every night.

What the rich overlook is that putting their kids through Community College is probably ten times better for them for their first two years. I mean, community college offers great foundation courses and it's a great transition area for many out their who want to broaden their possibilities. One may go into a very pricey college all set to do what they want, and realise halfway through, that this major isn't what they want afterall. Well, all that time spent in a real expensive college deciding you hate your major really is a waste for everybody.

I think getting an AA degree through community college is worth it and then if you feel you need to exceed that, you can always do so, but then at least you don't feel like you broke your moneybook getting there.

I don't know if it's necessary to have in today's society, but it is a good thing to have. However, most job employers don't care what type of degree it is. I found that out when I did some online job searches in the past. Like I said, though, a degree is useful...even if people don't work in a specific field in the degree they've completed.

However, I will not actually receive my actual degree until the end of the year, because I need to make up a course in summer session. I was allowed to participate in the graduation ceremony last week. This might come as a shocker to some of you guys, but I just found out today that I still need a couple more units, and there is a chance I can take it in summer session. I will be talking with my academic advisor next week to see what I can do, so that I don't have to waste money on fees for another semester.

Update...I did not get into this class in summer session, so what I will need to do is this: make up the class during the fall semester, as an independent study, so that I will still be in the "Class of 2008." I will finish it in December.

Personally, from the history standpoint, I mean, historically, rebels made the most difference. I mean, education equals status, is what most of you  seem to say. Bill Gates, the richest man in America, dropped out of college and went to made a fortune, what does that tell you? Warren Buffett is who had specifically said that "failure" is good. I mean, what good is a general with fancy shiny medals if he can't marshall a battlefield, tactical wise? which compares with, what good are those degrees if the person is really a quack or, a rich family type? The Status Quo mentality is really what hurting everybody America. There are plenty of super successful people that didn't required a college degree, maybe, they went supernova before which, caused them not to need a college degree. Becoming hired has become seemingly an art of deception. If a piece of paper says this and that, poof! you are hired. People are perfectly content knowing that they are not the best person for the job which, could cripple the economy because, a college degree meant going on sex romps and, getting stoned. What does the concept "best" means anyway? Best is being somebody who is overwhelmingly talented and, let say for the sake of this argument that a college degree necessary in today's society, what if the "best" didn't have the college degree needed? Suppose there are 300 basketball players and, there can be only one Micheal Jordan, right? Somebody who seperates from the pack is a majorily competitive issue today. Politics get too involved with the progession. If the person is pretty smart, it is like watching a house burn down and, not being able to do anything about it because, of credit theft and, the suspense is killing us all. I vouch for the society of the Colonial Times where a college degree doesn't become a political prop. The person gets the job. Wow, wonderful, What did you just do today? it is a sell, that what it is. College degree people are killing the people with no college degree and, it is probably just because of the "Status Quo" which is sick. These people just sit on their jobs and make no freaking difference to create a better society. My beliefs are just get out of the way if you aren't going make a difference. People won't get out of the way because of the incomes and, the "Status Quo" thing. There are plenty of dud engineers out there and, that is just the truth. They want to protect their salaries at all cost because, it is their life. The Credit thing and the Status Quo thing is maddness. Thomas Edison, the Deaf inventor, made incredible, enormous differences and there's people trying to rob him of his credit. It is sad, actually. People who are experts in getting hired doesnt mean that they are a benefit for the whole society. There are exotic animals being endangered. There are victims getting harmed. There is a historical depression everywhere. The society and the government has become a dysfunctional family. They say today's technology is all we are limited to achieve, if they say that, then, they shouldn't have jobs. The credit thing is pretty huge because, everybody wants to pop the cherry. I just hope that the Science Community is respectable for deafs like myself. Deafs are the future and were responsible for giant leaps of progression in Civilizations.