What Was/Is More Challenging For You? Going to College/University to Get Into Your Career or Your Actual Career?

[bannacookies]

College/University

My career

Never went to college/am a student currently

[angelkissxxxx]

They say that hard work pays off, which I think is completely true, eventually for some, quicker for others. I think going to college was easier for me than actually finding a stable career because I was very passionate and interested in my major. If you are not passionate and interested in majoring in science or math, you will find college more difficult and maybe struggle. As a first generation Asian American, I majored in English Language and Literature, and minored in Ethnic Studies, and even attended graduate school at an Ivy League shortly after. But I also graduated with my BA in two years half the time it takes for a student to graduate with their Bachelors. I moved back to my hometown right before the pandemic hit. The humanities and arts field the most impacted (in some of the worst ways) compared to science and mathematics field. Both fields are excellent and meaningful but I feel that many folks put down fields in writing, teaching and more. But my college experiences helped me reason with a lot of unfortunate life events, and become a person of quality and empathy... I refined my sense of self and know myself and humans better than before. Humanities education teaches people how to think further and ask questions. More importantly i am happy and proud, that I followed the direction of my goals in life. I have no doubt that someday this will pay off in the end. And I have 0 regrets.

[angelkissxxxx]

I would say that high school was the most difficult actually. There I took courses that I wasn’t really eager about: honors chemistry and biology, AP statistics. Geometry. Of course math and science are incredible fields of study and I would never put anyone down who loves it and wants to be part of it. But I can’t help but believe these generate lots of “cold” and “calculative” folks. It’s just based on my own experiences growing up. I prefer to hang around philosophers and even computer science nerds lol.

[Smoke-n-Growls]

It's a hard call.

Uni was a lot more actual work, but it was also really fun sometimes and I had a more flexible schedule.

My career is easier in terms of workload, but it hasn't always been fun. Making money is great though.

[GlassTop]

Complete depends on your degree. Obviously STEM fields are the highest paying, most competitive and stressful. Ask anyone in med school what was tough. Spending 16+hrs a day going to class and studying is mind numbing and stressful. Not to mention you aren’t getting payed but spending a crap ton. Obviously a career will be more stressful if you are doing surgery or some job that requires strict schedule and attention. You are making money though. So it’s a big difference because there is a reward, whereas getting a degree isn’t really rewarding unless you can use it.

[Moose304]

100% agree with the STEM comment. As someone in one of the STEM fields it is tough. The medical school thing is a bit more complicated. The hardest part for most med students is the first year. This is where most dropouts happen. In the 3rd and 4th years the med student is in a clinical setting and not in school so much. I have spoken to several physicians and have asked them what was the hardest part of med school. To a person, they said that first year and getting ready for the USMLEs.. One thing that makes med school so challenging is the MCAT exam to even get in followed by the USMLE to even get a medical license.

[GlassTop]

@Moose304 agreed. I’m in my first year and basic sciences are rough.

[Smoothing]

I tiink this would be different for every one based on the degree one takes. For most people doing sciences, they will tell you university/college is the toughest.

But for those taking humanities degrees, will find university/college easier.

Science students have to sweat a lot in college to get that degree. And actually PhD is worse. It is one tough journey.

[OlderAndWiser]

I decided that I wanted to go to law school and I applied only to the school from which I received my B. S. degree. I got accepted on my first application. I graduated with honors, passed the Bar exam the first time I took it and have been practicing for 36 years.

[OlderAndWiser]

I guess the point I wanted to make but failed in my first post was that it is far easier to succeed if you really enjoy what you are doing.

[Kabluie]

University always felt more challenging to me, I was an A student but definitely remember the anxiety of the admissions process. Acceptance rate is still 32% today.

I graduated during the hiring boom before the great recession, had multiple job offers in my field so that was definitely easier.

[Agent_Elflord]

Getting into a career. I know certain people like to say “nobody wants to work”, but it’s nuts for me to see 860+ people apply to a $15-$17/hr position for general labor and powder coating prep for s metal fabrication company.


Trying to find a $20/hr+ job for a CAD designer/draftsman on the mechanical side, but most of the jobs I’m seeing around me are for Civil Engineering drafting.

[Moose304]

I'm an Engineer. For me getting into school was easy. Between the GI Bill and a strong work ethic, I got finished and left with two Engineering degrees. This was in the early 80s. Back then I thought I wanted to get into robotics but after some time I saw where my true passion lay. So for me, school was not a challenge, but getting into my career after was. I also made the right choice. Schools today in some ways are different. If I had it to do all over again I would not change a thing!

[nawtee_me]

At 48 I went to college for the first time. My kids were about to graduate and I wanted them to know that they could alway go back if they didn’t want to go right out of high school. And that you never stop learning…. I now have a degree that I have never used but I made my point….

[OddBeMe]

good for you. Now at 38 I couldn't imagine going back.

[ZenJen444]

None was challenging for me. I set in my mind "one and done". I dont like repeating things I like to nail it first try. So I passed every entrance exam, test out , and state exam to become a nurse. Now I'm going back to advance my RN degree entrance again was easy because I already had the credits and testouts to transfer

[dustybiker]

I was always told growing up, “do what you love and it never feels like work.”

[mobiusforniner]

When you go to an engineering school that prides itself on a 67% drop out rate, everything thereafter is a whole hell of a lot easier.

College professor: I gave you a zero percent on your thermodynamics problem because you miscalculated your square root. In the real world, miscalculations kill people.

Real world: ah shit I made a math error. Oh, its bobs fault. He was my second checker and he was teleworking and didn't download all of the drawings.

[DizzyDesii]

Leaving college with a degree but not enough networking or experience to score a highpaying career

[DizzyDesii]

Neither are hard as high school

[JaxiCats]

I’m debating on college and honestly the most challenging part is staying committed to a job in the meantime and choosing what to major in in college if I go.

[exitseven]

College was tough. I had to drop out twice because i could not pay the tuition. It took forever to graduate. I finally finished by going nights while I was working full time. It was really difficult and at times I didn't think I would ever finish.

[freewife]

Hated school, never went to Uni or College and have done fine all my life, better than any friends who went. But yeah, most challenges have come in my early working career. But not weighed down by 'standardised Uni thinking' I made my own way and never looked back.

[GoodGuyBreakingBad]

I went to Douglas School of Business and I couldn't get my studies so I had to quit.

[Andres77]

I jumped into my career and avoided college for as long as possible

[Methis]

The Career. College was easy: get to class, do homework, get shot down by most girls I ask out. Way easier then a career everyone wants tk stab me in the back or run me over with a car.

[pizzalovershouse]

I always felt college was easier than the profession tour in

[blondfrog]

Getting mu actual foot in the door with a job for it.

[OddBeMe]

Its differnet for everyone. I’m not academic so graduating college was a big thing for me. Getting jobs in media was easy.

My wife apparently 180 degrees diff.

[TroyDT]

Definitely the career. Dealing with high-maintenance people pays well, but is often rather taxing.

[captain_voidwalker]

Considering I skipped college and just went into my career, I'm gonna say career, college us basically adult daycare these days

[Guardian45]

University was half the battle. Career-wise, you have to worry about WAY MORE SH! T!
Money & politics!

[TallAnon]

Going to college was more stressfull, not more challenging. Both have been quite easy on me.

[CountryWanderer]

Probably college/university, but that did help my career.

[Sandeeppingping]

You don't need college to traffic illegal immigrants through the Mediterranean right?

[YoogurtBro12]

I think career. I am pursuing chemistry degree but i love programming

[Smoothing]

Focus on physical chemistry and it will lead you to programming. Hoping physical chemistry is your strongest as opposed to organic and inorganic chemistry.

[YoogurtBro12]

@Smoothing how? I never see its applimentation👀👀 do you have any internship or job?

[Smoothing]

I don't which country you are doing your degree, but I did my bachelors in the UK. In physical chemistry, you have a branch known as computational chemistry as you progress further. This involves quantum mechanics and programming. As you know, quantum mechanics is as important in chemistry as it is in Physics.

[YoogurtBro12]

@Smoothing yes yes, our university didn't include computation chemistry yet. And i am about to graduate now.

[Smoothing]

Are you planning to do a masters? In the UK, if you are doing well you can opt in to work under one of your professor's supervision during the summer. You get to learn a lot in a project like that. However, if you haven't touched computational chemistry, you might want to look into how your university offers that.

[Debbie14217]

college is more fun... i think lol