Who here has a College Degree?

[jonathanfigaro]

Hey everyone, I'm fairly interested to find out who here on this forums, actually have a college degree?

What school did you graduate from?
Are you happy you went to school?
Any life long lessons about school you can share with me?
What are the pro's and cons' of going to college?
Do you think its necessary to go to college to be for successful?
Do you think it actually makes you into a better person? Or is that just what the commercials say?
Has going to college even contributed to your success right NOW?

I ask these questions because im in college right now and i think its a waste of time!

I hope this discussion gets real deep!

[pboychuk]

I am in the same boat, I have contemplated dropping out for about a year now, but think I finally will after next semester.. If my college had an entrepreneurship program I would finish, but I could care less about how the BIG 4 accounting firms and their cohorts manage their corporate ladder.

[jonathanfigaro]

I am in the same boat, I have contemplated dropping out for about a year now, but think I finally will after next semester.. If my college had an entrepreneurship program I would finish, but I could care less about how the BIG 4 accounting firms and their cohorts manage their corporate ladder.

Exactly...school is a waste of time. What school do you go to now? When did you decide to call it quits....what was the breaking point?
And i agree too i wish there was an entrepreneur program in my college. would have graduated freshman year!

[Lambo]

just graduated university, got a finance degree.

probably wouldn't have changed my decision looking back. Although I wish I had an entrepreneurial mindset from day 1.

[jonathanfigaro]

just graduated university, got a finance degree.

probably wouldn't have changed my decision looking back. Although I wish I had an entrepreneurial mindset from day 1.

Why wouldn't you have changed your decision? Did you feel that going to school helped you to get one step closer to your goal?

[Mr. Bizness]

Whether anyone wants to admit it or not, a college degree or certification of some sort adds a level of perceived credibility. I recently read a book called '4-Hour Work Week' and the author explained just this. He called degrees and certifications, "credibility indicators'.

I personally have 2 degrees and am working on my 3rd.-An Associate of Arts in Graphic Design and Visual Communication, A Bachelor in Business and Marketing, and working on my MBA.

I currently work as a Sales Operations Manager for an E-Commerce Solutions and Hosting provider. Have my degrees helped me in my profession....yes. Have they determined my advancement in the company.....maybe, but probably not.

Believe it or not, perception in business plays a larger role in personal success than most people would like to admit.

I would not do anything differently when it comes to the choices I've made regarding formal education.

The best piece of knowledge I've gained is that a formal education will make you a living, but self education will make you a fortune~Jim Rohn.

Keep this in mind, college is not designed to completely mold you into a successful person, it is simply a tool to give you basic understanding of concepts that you can then take and build on with personal experience and furthered self education.

Not many people understand this. That's probably why you have all these college graduates just waiting for someone to hand them a job that pays 70k+ a year.

I'm 25 years old by the way. I've also pondered the idea of dropping out, but determined it was not in my best interest.

[axeman236]

Hey everyone, I'm fairly interested to find out who here on this forums, actually have a college degree?

What school did you graduate from?
Are you happy you went to school?
Any life long lessons about school you can share with me?
What are the pro's and cons' of going to college?
Do you think its necessary to go to college to be for successful?
Do you think it actually makes you into a better person? Or is that just what the commercials say?
Has going to college even contributed to your success right NOW?

I ask these questions because im in college right now and i think its a waste of time!

I hope this discussion gets real deep!

College is a waste of time if you say yes to any of the following criteria. (well at least for me)

1. If it costs over $3,000 a year
2. If its business related.

I went to Heald in California, spent $25K on a Business Admin degree, an AAS degree to be more specific. I actually even WORKED at the college and got to see the behind the scenes so to speak. College's are BUSINESSES... they want your money! That's it.

Take my advice, go to a community college. It's a hell of a lot cheaper, and you actually get real education as long as YOU put in the effort. It also depends on the major too.

If you're going for an engineering job, urr yeah, find a way to get the education!! Business? Come on... some of the most successful business people didn't even finish HIGHSCHOOL let alone get a 4 year degree from harvard. I mean i'm not saying it doesn't help, but if you have the passion and the creativity, you dont' need it. Learn as you go. I wish I did.

The only thing going to college has contributed to me, is giving me the push that I can be successful and that as long as I keep on trying I will get there. Sure I've been in some bad times, and yeah my attitude is like a yo-yo right now, but man, it's amazing what wearing a suit can do to your self esteem.

In the words of Barney Stinsen! "SUIT UP!" and see how it changes you!

Richard
Axeman236

P.S. To add, I'm not saying don't get a college degree. I already knew out of Highschool I had a passion for business, and I did go to CC for 6 months... I absolutly loved my business classes. It was the English and Math classes that got me out of CC... but I know that when I'm successful, I WILL go and take as many business classes as I can. If money/time isn't a problem I may even go for an MBA or something, but like the person above me says, it adds credibility, and as an entrepreneur, its okay to create that credibility ourselves to start.

IMO

[Sherrise]

Originally Posted by jonathanfigaro
Hey everyone, I'm fairly interested to find out who here on this forums, actually have a college degree?

What school did you graduate from?
Are you happy you went to school?
Any life long lessons about school you can share with me?
What are the pro's and cons' of going to college?
Do you think its necessary to go to college to be for successful?
Do you think it actually makes you into a better person? Or is that just what the commercials say?
Has going to college even contributed to your success right NOW?

I ask these questions because im in college right now and i think its a waste of time!

I hope this discussion gets real deep!

I, myself, have an Associates Degree in Multimedia and Web Design from the Art Institutes International, MN.

Overall, I am happy that I went to school, though I will be paying for it (literally) for about 30 years unless I can make millions...

I was lucky enough to work successfully in my career of Web & Graphic design for about 10 years and was laid off last year. This was a happy day for me as I was ready to take off and do something new on my own. However, I wouldn't have gotten the last job that I had, which I worked at for 5 years, if I hadn't gone to school and the experience that I received from that job will last me a lifetime, not to mention the contacts. It opened up doors for me and I worked very hard at it - also was able to telecommute for many of those years and traveled and lived all over the US at the time.

Pros for college - hopefully you'll get some lifelong contacts and mentors, depending on what skills you're looking for and how well you keep them. Credibility as someone else mentioned is also huge in my opinion. Getting a degree shows people that you have the gumption to stick with something for at least a couple of years and work hard at it. Even if you don't plan on using the skills later on, sometimes it can be good to spend the time there.

Cons - huge amounts of money. Also, many skills (especially technical and hands-on skills, can be acquired in many different ways such as apprenticeships and internships. You could actually, in some cases, just volunteer some of your time somewhere and have someone teach you and mentor you for your own future. You have to look for those opportunities and work hard at them, but it's possible.

I don't believe that it's necessary for everyone to go to college, people are all different and different things work for them. Depending on what you want to do, it's good to look at all of your options. It's exceptionally good for a person to at least spend time getting to know themselves well enough to know what they want to do with their lives, to know what gives them joy. Jobs and careers shouldn't necessarily be "what" a person is, how a person lives their life should show "what" and "who" a person is.

Nothing can "make" you into a better person, the only one who can do that is yourself and how much work you want to put into yourself and your own life and future.

I do believe that, even though college was very frustrating to me and I left without learning some of the skills that I specifically went there to learn, it was worth my time. That doesn't mean it's for everyone. If you don't know what you want to do, what you believe in and how you want to live your life for a while, maybe it's time to take a break from school to learn more about yourself. You can always go back.

For example, after working in my career for about 10 years, I no longer want to spend all day, every day, working on my computer in my house. I want to be outside more, and making things that exist, with my hands. I have recently been getting into ceramics and pottery as well as welding and metal art. I was considering going back to school now (I turned 30 in April) for a welding certification so that I could create more metal art in my spare time and have a pretty cool skill to use full time (or part-time) or whatever. I'm not sure if I want to spend $10,000 to do that, however. So, I'm going to see if someone who I know will teach me more about welding and let me apprentice in their shop.

Long-winded, I know, but I hope this gives you another perspective.

[Jersey Angels]

Cornell University. I thought about dropping out, but didn't. I guess I'm glad I finished. Having that degree (and a Summa cum Laude one too mind you) forces others to take me seriously even though I'm young.

[pboychuk]

Exactly...school is a waste of time. What school do you go to now? When did you decide to call it quits....what was the breaking point?
And i agree too i wish there was an entrepreneur program in my college. would have graduated freshman year!

I began planning to quit atleast a year ago, I don't want to work for anyone, or work more than 5 hours a day (ive always known that), fortunately I don't pay anything to go to college, so staying in and taking a part-time load, has not been bad at all. My parents are still against me dropping out, but I have supported myself since I left home, they don't really have any control over me.

But, I decided that me not finishing college was inevitable when I knew I could afford it, I don't like to take huge risks, so I made sure my income was greater than what I could earn with a college degree.

I am about 2/3rds of the way thru and starting my "senior" year.. Everyone says "why dont you just finish you have many years ahead to do whatever"
But, I hate school, I can't study, I go to about 50% of my classes, I think its all stupid.. So I burnt out, now I am just trying to figure where to move next.

[zlad]

Hey,

Im at the point in my life where Im deciding if I should continue going to school. I can get good grades, when I go to lectures, study, etc... but I dont want to when I know that for $15 000 a year it'll get me a degree that'll get me some job for some entrepreneur.

I mentioned to my parents about 3 hours ago that I want to do school part time and focus on my ventures as well. Soo after all the yelling and such calmed down my dad told me that if I pursue any venture that he's not paying for school. ..talk about unsupportive parents eh?

My dad just so you know has his masters, phd, cbv and a lot of other degrees I cannot remember. For him its education = good job.. but thats for him. I really dont like school, I dont mind the fun classes or classes that'll actually help my entrepreneurship like economics and accounting. But the other classes, like the classes I have to take for my "global studies" major.. eff that, pointless waste of money.

I dunno, im still working it all out with the rents. I'll check back in when I've come to a final decision with them.

Zlad.

[SophieM]

Hopefully I will be going to university (I'm in the UK), it'll give me a good way to make contacts etc. and take a few subjects onto a higher level that I really enjoy (combine them with business or something).

Also, if I go to uni in Scotland it'll be half the price, but living costs will be the same as London.

[Gaulkin]

I go to meet women.

[8bit]

Im doing a bachelors in Business and a diploma in macro economics. The knowledge gained from it has been helpful and I find people take you more serious if you have that little bit of paper it's sad really. But very few people make it big without either a completely unique idea or manage to overtake a section of the market within their industry. I recently got a job managing a marketing campaign, it was between me and one other guy, and the only reason I got the job was because I was doing a degree and he wasn't, which is very unfair I believe..

[jonathanfigaro]

College is a waste of time if you say yes to any of the following criteria. (well at least for me)

1. If it costs over $3,000 a year
2. If its business related.

I went to Heald in California, spent $25K on a Business Admin degree, an AAS degree to be more specific. I actually even WORKED at the college and got to see the behind the scenes so to speak. College's are BUSINESSES... they want your money! That's it.

Take my advice, go to a community college. It's a hell of a lot cheaper, and you actually get real education as long as YOU put in the effort. It also depends on the major too.

If you're going for an engineering job, urr yeah, find a way to get the education!! Business? Come on... some of the most successful business people didn't even finish HIGHSCHOOL let alone get a 4 year degree from harvard. I mean i'm not saying it doesn't help, but if you have the passion and the creativity, you dont' need it. Learn as you go. I wish I did.

The only thing going to college has contributed to me, is giving me the push that I can be successful and that as long as I keep on trying I will get there. Sure I've been in some bad times, and yeah my attitude is like a yo-yo right now, but man, it's amazing what wearing a suit can do to your self esteem.

In the words of Barney Stinsen! "SUIT UP!" and see how it changes you!

Richard
Axeman236

P.S. To add, I'm not saying don't get a college degree. I already knew out of Highschool I had a passion for business, and I did go to CC for 6 months... I absolutly loved my business classes. It was the English and Math classes that got me out of CC... but I know that when I'm successful, I WILL go and take as many business classes as I can. If money/time isn't a problem I may even go for an MBA or something, but like the person above me says, it adds credibility, and as an entrepreneur, its okay to create that credibility ourselves to start.

IMO

I began planning to quit atleast a year ago, I don't want to work for anyone, or work more than 5 hours a day (ive always known that), fortunately I don't pay anything to go to college, so staying in and taking a part-time load, has not been bad at all. My parents are still against me dropping out, but I have supported myself since I left home, they don't really have any control over me.

But, I decided that me not finishing college was inevitable when I knew I could afford it, I don't like to take huge risks, so I made sure my income was greater than what I could earn with a college degree.

I am about 2/3rds of the way thru and starting my "senior" year.. Everyone says "why dont you just finish you have many years ahead to do whatever"
But, I hate school, I can't study, I go to about 50% of my classes, I think its all stupid.. So I burnt out, now I am just trying to figure where to move next.

I cannot agree any more. The fact an individual has to pay 50,000 dollars in debt back to a educational system, that didn't teach them anything in the first place but to conform is truly devastating. I mean, really. Get out and make 30,000 while i have to pay 50,000 in debt......WTF.....

Be an entrepreneur , takes some risk , develop your mind, dream big, and like the life you feel you deserve.

Do what you want to do man. Your parent , just dont understand....old programming.