Does college matter anymore?

Question

Do you think going to college is important?

Something I learned by going to college is that it's huge amount of money being paid for self studies. I learned almost everything from the internet and from studying together with my friends. Surprisingly many of the straight "A" students know nothing beyond the lecture notes, they memorize it then spit it on the exam papers. There are smart students I know who are not good with exams but they have practical knowledge and how to apply the knowledge in the real world, but they don't get recognition.

Seriously I had to go to college to realize that a degree doesn't mean much, and that there are too many smart-asses than actual smart people.

HawkPerception · Accepted Answer

Being an entrepreneur, whether you're freelancing or starting your own business is harder than finding a job in a field you're educated/trained in.

When you're an entrepreneur, you have to set your own goals and meet those goals each day, manage cash flow, secure funding, maintain financial stability, deal with market competition, balance multiple roles and responsibilities, stay motivated and disciplined. When you scale, manage increased operation and hiring staff, navigate legal requirements, deal with client/customer acquisition and retention, and effective marketing. It's a lot.

If it was easy, everyone would be doing it. There's a reason the average income for people with only high school education in 2023 was $36,000/year while the average income for recent graduates within the ages of 22-27 is $60,000/year.

Education does matter if you want a stable job with some safety. They also include benefits in a lot of jobs.

As a prime example, I'm a 30 year old 3 time college dropout and I'm still trying to get my feet off the floor. I'm not saying that every person aspiring to be an entrepreneur is as bad as I am. I'm just saying you have to pick your poison carefully and know what you sign up for.

Jersey2 · Accepted Answer

It matters of you get a Master’s Degree in a field that is in need of people and pays very well. If you get one, go to an inexpensive state school and live at your parent’s home to save money if possible. You can also go to a community college and transfer over after the first two years as long as they accept the credits for the classes taken which can be checked and they will let you know. Then get a Masters as that is the new threshold for education and college provides little

Colleges charge too much anymore and they don’t provide a lot of value other than giving you a checkmark for having gone through their program.

You can also find a trade that you like and make a lot of money. I would research which jobs have a lot of openings and and pay well along with the skills needed. I would also do a myers-briggs test to find what professions I would be best at.

juliaanita · Accepted Answer

I am certain that no one would want to have an surgeon begin cutting, or an ICU nurse adjusting an IV or a ventilator without college credentials. On the other hand I have at least two cousins, one of whom is a journeyman electrician, and the other a crane operator for high-buildings-and they both have found themselves in a non-college occupation which is very lucrative! The salient part, the point of intersection, between all of the above occupations, is that their practice requires a great amount of training, either at university level, or in a long hard apprenticeship program.

Sarah2007 · Accepted Answer

It's both at the same time, it all depends on the person and their capabilities. Some people have the mindest to start their business or start working after high school while some people go for college certificate and hope later on to find a regular job related to their major in any company.

As some companies want Bachelor to accept the person and many people want to have a safe life, hence they enter college.

ArrowheadSW · Answer

It depends on what kind of work you want to do and what kind of jobs you are good at. For me, college worked out well because I was interested in the healthcare field and you needed a lot of college for the job that I chose.

Dinklex3 · Answer

Depends on what you’re going for. Does your field require it. Anything medical, sciences, yes. But if you go to get a bachelors in liberal arts…

RavVid · Answer

In some fields you need the piece of paper engineering, science, medical, law.

I was talking to a young girl who sad she was trying to work out what to do. I suggested law. She said you can't get a job in law anymore and that both her parents were lawyers and they strongly advocated not to do it.

So even if you need a ticket it doesn't guarantee anything at the end of it.

Supply and demand. Increased supply leads to lower prices and maybe there might be 10X more law grads then needed. Not only do you struggle to get good pay but get a job at all.

If all high school grads go onto college than you could expect a degree to be worth no more than a high school diploma.

So I agree with you.

Drewtate · Answer

I believe it depends on your academic ability, what you study and how well you do at college.

There are too many college graduates with a bullshit degree that were not academically good enough to go to college in the first place and barely scraped by in useless subjects that were invented to pad out how worthless these degrees are, and these kids waste 2-4years of their lives and run up thousands in student loan debt that will take years to pay off all for a degree that qualifies them for nothing more than a job in Starbucks slinging coffee when they could have been earning instead and studying the same bullshit degree 3 nights a week at community college.

https://youtu.be/vk6WUskYfg8?si=NOSc6cdC8Dxw9raZ

RingOfFire · Answer

It depends on what you want to do.

If you want to be a plumber, carpenter, mechanic or tradesman for example, it doesn't matter.

If you want to work for yourself and be an entrepreneur, it doesn't matter.

If you want to get a professional job in finance, engineering, information technology, law, science, medicine, accounting, teaching or climb a corporate ladder it matters a lot. It's your ticket in the door.

I would not waste the time and money though to study liberal or performing arts or ridiculous majors like "gender studies" or sociology or the like unless you have money and time to kill and don't care if it helps you earn money or not.

And if you can get into one of the top schools in your chosen profession it also makes a big difference. I can tell you from my own experience that when people see that on a resume it makes you stand out.

So it depends on what you want to do with your career.

bobby_bush_eater · Answer

I think it still matters and I simultaneously think it's a waste of money if you do it wrong. It doesn't have to be that expensive with exceptions like law and medical.

In state tuition vs private, community colleges, if it's an option staying at home instead of another $12k~ on your loan every year etc.

I joined the military went to school for my bachelor's free, got a free associates degree in the prices and still have my entire GI bill for multiple master's.

It's not like I took a crazy route, plenty of options for those who really look into it

ProbablyClueless · Answer

It doesn't matter for the VAST majority of people. I'll never discourage anyone from going to college if they're doing it for the love of learning. The love of learning is a top notch reason to go back to school.

Most people go to land a better career or acquire social connections, and how worthwhile a goal like that is depends on the specific person's degree and situation.

ChicoFromThe305 · Answer

College only matters if you plan on working a 9 to 5 all your life, it helps get jobs that pay the most but they aren't necessary if you make your own source of income or want to build your own empire.

DishLady · Answer

Depends what you're hoping to accomplish. It's not something EVERYONE needs to go to, however realistically some professions do require advanced training. For instance. You want someone with only a GED equivalency to perform surgery on you? After all, they could probably just YouTube it right?

frenchgirl123 · Answer

I have to ask, why TF is college so expensive here? I do think education is worth the price, but to this extent for both public and private colleges is ridiculous. I would love to pursue a PhD but to pay to study for a doctorate admonishes me. And yes I know colleges are a business too. Whereas in Europe, it is way more affordable, even including the visas, school and living expenses.

Sasquach · Answer

Yes it does. College gives you the degree, and life experience you can only get from a school setting without parents surrounded by like minded people your age.

The most valuable thing though: the network.

At the end of the day, if you are in college just to get grades, then no the degree itself isn't worth the money. If you build a network, get the degree and absorb the life experience then yes, it's worth it

Danny_dan92 · Answer

Ever since the government got involved with the college system, degrees lost their value.

When I was a teenager, a bachelors degree meant something.

Now a masters degree almost means nothing. There are some masters degrees where you still cannot get a job with. Even if you had experience in that field

Nikki1989 · Answer

Depends on your goals in life. If you just want a solid career that pays well, you don't need it. I achieved all my knowledge through business training and public speaking courses.

KostasKouvalis · Answer

I think it matters only because so many employers require it now. It's basically proof of knowledge, rather than the employer simply taking your word for it.
Though it doesn't seem to matter as much if you have good connections

SeriouslyNotSerious · Answer

In our country, I've seen that it is much harder for people to find jobs without a degree. I'd still want to finish college and have something to specialize in, just to be safe.

SweetJoyGirl · Answer

It matters, but it depends on how far you go in it. How far you go in it really determines your stance in the academic and real world. The higher you go, the more chances you have.

paledreams · Answer

It's a waste to me I voted if someone only wants to lead a lifestyle and a long term lifestyle of working an average or even below average job - which there's no shame in

SugarSugarplum · Answer

How else are you gonna learn about life-crippling debt?

RedInnocent69 · Answer

Depends a lot on the person, and their interests/profession.

msc545 · Answer

People with college degrees end up with 1.5 million more $ over their lifetime on average.

Anonymous · Answer

unless it's a STEM degree. college doesn't matter at all a piece of paper is meaningless compared to actual job skills

exitseven · Answer

Try getting a job interview without a Bachelors degree. It is not fair but it is what it is.

Jmmmfi4 · Answer

YES VERY MUCH. ID GIVE ANYTHING TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL.

Jennz6 · Answer

I didn’t need college for my job

Anonymous · Answer

It matters in showing that you're a smart person, but it doesn't help you much in getting a good job if you live in a crappy country.

Anonymous · Answer

Getting a $ugar daddy and get a head of everyone matters the most?

legalboxers · Answer

depends what your degree is

jahaims · Answer

Nope

anymoree · Answer

I think its important for life and work

youandi_ · Answer

No, it's a waste of money.

Does college matter anymore?

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