College Degrees --> Overrated

[Speedy]

Re: College Degrees --> Overrated

Fine, here's your answer and this is just off the top of my head.

Doctors, lawyers, every single job that requires a science degree (biology, chemistry, physics, computer science, mathematics, engineering, etc), nursing and other health professions, economists, accountants, this list could go on and on.

and that's just me thinking about it for 30 seconds.

Seriously, how do people not see the advantages of college for the vast majority of people given the amount of uneducated people out there who are a complete drain on society? It's not an accident that college graduates, on average, earn a ton more throughout their lifetimes.

Lose the arrogance.

[superjames1992]

Re: College Degrees --> Overrated

Seriously, how do people not see the advantages of college for the vast majority of people given the amount of uneducated people out there who are a complete drain on society? It's not an accident that college graduates, on average, earn a ton more throughout their lifetimes.

College graduates better make more money because they may have lost $150,000 of earnings/expenses during their college years. They lose at least four years of earnings potentially (unless they work during college), which could result in over $100,000 lost. Then oftentimes college students incur massive student loans which can result in bankruptcy later on. So, if you lose $100,000-$150,000 during the four years you are in college, you're going to have to make a few thousand more throughout the rest of your life. Now, the money will most likely be made up eventually and you'll in end with a net gain, but that may take 20 years, so it's not so clear-cut, IMO.

[mgoblue]

Re: College Degrees --> Overrated

College graduates better make more money because they may have lost $150,000 of earnings/expenses during their college years. They lose at least four years of earnings potentially (unless they work during college), which could result in over $100,000 lost. Then oftentimes college students incur massive student loans which can result in bankruptcy later on. So, if you lose $100,000-$150,000 during the four years you are in college, you're going to have to make a few thousand more throughout the rest of your life. Now, the money will most likely be made up eventually and you'll in end with a net gain, but that may take 20 years, so it's not so clear-cut, IMO.

It is an investment, but it shouldn't take 20 years to pay off your loans...nowhere near that...The people with that 150k debt are doctors/lawyers and come out of school making 6 figures so are able to pay them off quicker. It also depends if you go to in state schools or not, my college tuition was nowhere near that expensive because I stayed in state. That's a very real option that won't result in as much debt.

It really all just depends on what you want to do...there's a lot of careers that don't need degrees, but if you want a career in a field where a lot of people will have degrees then you'll be at a disadvantage no matter how awesome of a person you are.

Personally I'll want my future kids to go to college, and if they don't want to then they'll have to have a rock solid plan for the future in some other field that they can survive on.

[USF11]

Re: College Degrees --> Overrated

It is an investment, but it shouldn't take 20 years to pay off your loans...nowhere near that...The people with that 150k debt are doctors/lawyers and come out of school making 6 figures so are able to pay them off quicker. It also depends if you go to in state schools or not, my college tuition was nowhere near that expensive because I stayed in state. That's a very real option that won't result in as much debt.

It really all just depends on what you want to do...there's a lot of careers that don't need degrees, but if you want a career in a field where a lot of people will have degrees then you'll be at a disadvantage no matter how awesome of a person you are.

Personally I'll want my future kids to go to college, and if they don't want to then they'll have to have a rock solid plan for the future in some other field that they can survive on.

The problem right now is the recession. This has cause alot of college grads to be jobless. It's very popular to bash college right now, buts its just a supply and demand cycle.

Everyone is pushing the trades hard as an alternative and more and more people will go that route. Eventually causing a log jam there.

Nobody wants to hear that there sacrifice and effort was for nothing. Really it comes down to the individual his/her circumstances.

[deaduck]

Re: College Degrees --> Overrated

...the "fluff" courses which have nothing to do with your field of work(intended) and take up a decent amount or curriculum. You're paying for these...and they are nonsense.

My experience may vary but I'm glad I took a wide of classes outside my major. It was vital to making myself a more well rounded individual to expose myself to subjects and lines of thought I would never would have encountered just pursuing my own interests.

[mudman]

Re: College Degrees --> Overrated

Lose the arrogance.

You asked the question in an arrogant manner and you got an equal response, get over it.

My answer was 100% correct. Either choose to respond or choose not to respond. Flinging an insult doesn't help your case.

College graduates better make more money because they may have lost $150,000 of earnings/expenses during their college years. They lose at least four years of earnings potentially (unless they work during college), which could result in over $100,000 lost. Then oftentimes college students incur massive student loans which can result in bankruptcy later on. So, if you lose $100,000-$150,000 during the four years you are in college, you're going to have to make a few thousand more throughout the rest of your life. Now, the money will most likely be made up eventually and you'll in end with a net gain, but that may take 20 years, so it's not so clear-cut, IMO.

The average earnings aren't even close.

http://www.collegeboard.com/student/plan/starting-points/156.html

[USF11]

Re: College Degrees --> Overrated

You asked the question in an arrogant manner and you got an equal response, get over it.

My answer was 100% correct. Either choose to respond or choose not to respond. Flinging an insult doesn't help your case.



The average earnings aren't even close.

http://www.collegeboard.com/student/...oints/156.html

To be fair if a person starts making 30k (Earning 2-5% raises) at age 19 and lives with his parents till 30 and avoids children...While investing 20% of his earnings at 8-10% He will have more money then a college grad.

But How many people do that?

[Husker_OS]

Re: College Degrees --> Overrated

To be fair if a person starts making 30k (Earning 2-5% raises) at age 19 and lives with his parents till 30 and avoids children...While investing 20% of his earnings at 8-10% He will have more money then a college grad.

But How many people do that?

Fewer than the amount of people who graduate college $0 in debt.

[Cyros]

Re: College Degrees --> Overrated

Fewer than the amount of people who graduate college $0 in debt.

*is one of the few with $0 college debt*

[bcruise]

Re: College Degrees --> Overrated

*is one of the few with $0 college debt*

*Is another*

Hooray for Federal Pell Grants (and going to a community college where the grant actually covered most of the costs).

[Cyros]

Re: College Degrees --> Overrated

*Is another*

Hooray for Federal Pell Grants (and going to a community college where the grant actually covered most of the costs).

I played football at a Division-II school in NE Oklahoma. So scholarship + cheap school + parents helped out. I'd be hurting right now if I had gone to Bucknell.

[Speedy]

Re: College Degrees --> Overrated

You asked the question in an arrogant manner and you got an equal response, get over it.

My answer was 100% correct. Either choose to respond or choose not to respond. Flinging an insult doesn't help your case.



The average earnings aren't even close.

http://www.collegeboard.com/student/...oints/156.html

I stated nothing about the content of your post and gave you credit for another post regarding a thought I hadn't thought of yet. I was referencing your attitude as if I'm condemning you.

[Beantown]

Re: College Degrees --> Overrated

Yeah, I only owe around 2600 for my four years.

[Cebby]

Re: College Degrees --> Overrated

To be fair if a person starts making 30k (Earning 2-5% raises) at age 19 and lives with his parents till 30 and avoids children...While investing 20% of his earnings at 8-10% He will have more money then a college grad.

But How many people do that?

More importantly, how many people make $30k a year at 19 with no degree (or trade school equivalent)?

The only jobs I can think of would by fire/police jobs in one of the major cities I mentioned earlier, but even those are probably pretty damn competitive now, and I believe there's a trend of major police departments requiring at least some higher education (or I would assume military time).

[Cyros]

Re: College Degrees --> Overrated

Yeah, I only owe around 2600 for my four years.

You're going into teaching, right?