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[offshore]

I left f/t work to go Uni - and I was really excited about going, no doubt. Leaving home and moving to a new city with new friends, etc. For sure it was great. But for the longest time after, I regretted going because I struggled to find a f/t job after I left (which just happened to be as the 2008 crash was happening), and I blamed that squarely on Uni.

Years later though, I've realised that my attitude was the problem: I feel into the trap of not getting a part-time job at Uni because of the "full time education" mentality. My advice to those going uni is that you've got to get a job when you're there: even if it's just a 4hr part-time job. You've got to keep your foot in the door somehow; send off applications for work experience in your related field; network like crazy.

I did none of those things and it's a massive regret. Uni/college is what you make it.

 

[The Lamp]

Education is the one thing no one can take from me. It will not divorce me or get chopped off my body.

And I got a degree in chemical engineering so my 5 years of torture was worth a lifelong knowledge and prestige and decent job security. I love my career.

Having said that, it cost me at least $80,000

 

[HellforLeather]

Nope.

I only got an Associates but none of my jobs have been a result or even correlating at all to my degree. Pretty much every decent job Ive ever had was through networking.

 

[Zaphrynn]

Not one post in this thread about how "college expanded my perspective/enriched my mind/deepened my sense of humanity/helped me see the world for all its good and ill." I mean, I understand the financial aspect of college, but as a former instructor, it'd be nice to see a little "my growth as an individual was invaluable."

Well this is what I was gonna say! Or close to, haha. I'm only in my second year of college, and so far what I've learned as a person has been invaluable, especially as someone who struggles with social anxiety. I'm 29, got sick of working shit jobs I didn't care for or knew I could do better than.

Since college, I've become much more motivated in my life, I feel like I've expanded my knowledge and beliefs, I've gotten better at talking with people, my self-worth has increased, and as much as I hate writing, I've definitely improved on my writing and speech abilities. I feel so much more confident about myself, and confident about interviewing and job prospects in general.

The thing about college is you gotta put in the work to get anything back. It feels like a lot of students expect to give a college money and the college will hold their hand through the school process, and they'll land a nice job with minimum effort. Life doesn't work that way beyond high school. I know countless kids in college who get people to write their papers for them, gloat about getting good grades with minimum effort/are proud to skate by, etc etc. If this is your mindset, I can see how college seems like a waste. I use college to gain resources and really force myself to grow as a person.

However, I think it's important to note that I like my college overall and I find it challenging. It's also a community college, so I'm not dumping tons of money into it. Had I gone to college right out of high school, I probably would have went for a degree I wouldn't use, and I probably would have paid way too much for it.

 

[KrellRell]

Paid for the paper. Worth it to get a job, but didn't really get much out of it.

 

[Head of Vengarl]

Yes because my parents paid for it. ¯\_(&#12484_/¯

Edit: That came off a lot more smug than I meant it to be. I majored in Communication because I had no idea what else to major in; I didn't know what career I wanted and I never found a school subject I was passionate about. Now I'm a tax accountant. So while an education certainly is valuable for all sorts of reasons other people have explained in here already, in practical terms I can't say my degree would've been worth it if I had paid (read: gone into debt) for it myself. But since it was free I can't complain.

 

[Maxim726X]

Well, let's see...

Made some lifelong friends, met the woman I'm going to marry and can't envision living without, and it was a great stepping stone for a fantastic career.

Just be smart. Have a battle plan, bust your ass, and make the most of it.

 

[davidwhangchoi]

I got kicked out but hell yeah.

i choked on my lunch laughing reading this. hilarious

doing pretty damn well for yourself so it worked out =)

 

[hamchan]

It terms of actually improving myself, not really.

But I needed this piece of paper so employers would even glance at me.

 

[Marjorine]

I think it was for me personally. I would never have my current job without it, and I earn a comfortable living with a job that isn't total hell. I could see some people not needing college, and I think the push for college at all costs is a major, major problem.

I got more out of my MBA than undergrad, as I got some good connections and found some useful new ways to look at problems in areas where I wasn't already adept, like accounting and finance. Undergrad? I got a piece of paper saying I was competent to work in an entry-level marketing job.

 

[jabuseika]

I wouldn't have the job I have without the stuff I learned in my undergraduate, so yes.

I'm a Robotics/Control Systems Engineer.

 

[eot]

Well, I'm doing my PhD now so I guess?

I think I would've made different choices if I grew up in a country with tuition fees. Still probably would've gone to uni though.

 

[snacknuts]

Even though I'm spending as much as my mortgage every month to pay off my student loans (undergrad and master's), and even though I am not working in a field that is even tangentially related to either of my degrees, it's an easy 'yes'. If I had it to do over again I would have gone into the Air Force for four years and had the government pay for my school, but I know for a fact that the extra income I'll earn in my lifetime from having gone to school will far exceed the cost.

 

[BriGuy]

College was how I got into grad school, and grad school is how I met my wife. It was worth it for that alone.

 

[SciencePilot]

I grew up in college, so for that reason it was definitely worth it.

Also, there's no way I would have gotten my current software engineering job without going to college, so I guess that also makes it worth it.

 

[niahbvgpq]

I'm an academic researcher so...yes, it was worth

 

[Clearos]

The piece of paper got my first interview at corporate, hard work does the rest.

The social aspect and having to control your academic success by yourself is worth it.


If you can, get a minor in business administration. If you don't like the direction your major takes you BA will at least get you an interview at a big company where you can then plot your own career path..

 

[weepingangelz]

On average, a person with a BA/BS will obtain a higher salary job than a person without one. On average. That alone should make it a wise investment to get a BA/BS.

WHERE and HOW you get that BA/BS, however, determines whether or not it's a wise investment. Sometimes it's better to go to a less prestigious college for less tuition or for better financial support, if it means you won't be sunk in student loan debt later on.

I would seriously consider going to community college for the first year or two and then transfer into a 4 year college. You'll save thousands of dollars that way.

 

[lethial]

I went to university and 2 tech schools to be in a field I worked for 3 years in or so and then moved on to a completely different field with no experience, schooling or knowledge of it.

 

[Nester99]

Yes,

But not for the paper but for the friends experience and personal growth.

 

[Dai Kaiju]

Yes, but only for the sex.

Edit:should mention that I have an associates degree and the only thing I use it for is telling people I have an associates degree.

 

[Roland_Gunner]

Totally. I grew up in a small town and needed to get away to experience the broader world. Several friends tried to attend the local community college while living at home and just got sucked into the small town life.

 

[the1npc]

nope but thats only because I didn't finish. Spent three years studying my ass off and only got half of my degree....and it was a two year program. not sure what I expected I barley got through high school....

I could maybe try trade school but I cant really afford it or drop my current job. Also its hard af to get an apprenticeship here.

if school ever goes free in Canada I could see myself taking something but Im not putting myself through the stress and spending all that money.

 

[Exhumed]

Nope.

Finally got a decent career heading that has nothing to do with my education. I might be eligible for promotions that require a degree (if it's even recognized) but other than that a colossal waste of money

 

[Oblivion]

OP, wtf were you thinking getting a history degree with no plan? I have one from UCLA, but I never would have done it if I wasn't planning to go to law school afterwards.

Wait, who said I didn't have a plan? The original goal was to get my B.A. in history and then get a job as a game designer.



....then I realized that was a dumb plan, so I thought I'd go to grad school and become a professor.


...which at the moment, also doesn't seem like it was the brightest idea.


So...uh, yeah. Take that? :/

 

[kamineko]

I really enjoyed learning about art, philosophy, and literature. It was totally worth it.

It also set me apart in IT, where my peers had comparable technical ability but were unable to articulate a compelling business narrative. My liberal arts training gave me a serious edge.

It was a manufacturing company. I'm pretty sure that I was the only English and Philosophy person in the house. Companies need that know-how, but they don't seem to realize it come hiring time.

After I made management, I had very little to do because my education prepared me for my responsibilities. I spent the excess time with the people who worked for me, because that seemed managerial.

& fulfilling, I might add. I After more than a decade in IT I've gone back to university for an MFA in creative writing. Having a great time.

 

[trixx]

As much as I think it's worth it, I do think it's overrated though. People will say "college is best time of your life" maybe if you go to a party college, otherwise it's very stressful especially balancing it with job, volunteer, personal life and such. For the vast majority it probably isn't and I know many that want out by 3rd year.

I definitely think people going to college should at the very least move out for a year and see how you like it. Financially it seems like a bad idea but as a person who commutes like 2-3 hours daily it seems like living close to campus seems infinitely better.

Add the fact that you have libraries all around living near campus and not bothered by parents and siblings and such... Highly recommend moving out and I tell people this all the time.

May not be feasible in the states but in Canada, doesn't seem like a bad idea to me. Also study space could make or break your experience (for anyone thinking of going, seriously consider study space at campus).