Is College really necessary?

Is college really necessary to get a great job, or get alot of money from a job? I dont think it is and I think that if you know what you are doing and have a goal for yourself that you dont need to go to college. But what do you guys think?

Interesting question. On one hand, I know people that make decent money (50K) and have no college at all. I also know people with college who make less than that.

In general a college education can get you a higher paying job, as it opens up more possibilities. Some places aren't interested in you if you don't have a college degree.

Going away to college does help a person be more well rounded, and learn a lot about other people and such; but if you have a plan and it's what you want to do, then you could just go for it. You could always pick up a degree later if you wanted to.

Overall, you're better off from a pure monetary standpoint if you have a college degree.

Look at bill gates, he dropped out of high school, but you also gotta look at his classmate bubba who graduated high school, and got a job as the manager for mcdonalds. It all depends on how you play your cards.

Also it depends on what you want to do with your life, if you want to be a doctor you have to go to college, if you want to work in retail you dont have to go to college. Just depends on your goals.

So 732, what's your plan? Better ideas with more info.

You don't need an education to make money . If it's a choice between getting an education and not then go with the education. Your plans to make money will only be enhanced with a higher education.

Is college really necessary to get a great job, or get alot of money from a job? I dont think it is and I think that if you know what you are doing and have a goal for yourself that you dont need to go to college. But what do you guys think?

I know people that didn't go to college that are now making $60,000 a year. I also know people that didn't go that are making <$20,000 a year.

On the other hand, I personally know (several) people that went to college and now make $200,000, $300,000, $400,000, even a million plus every year. Yet again, I also personally know several people that went to college and are making $30 and $40k a year. Why? I have no idea. All I know is that I plan on going to college.

Going to college gives you better opportunities.

Basically, it comes down to this: do I know any millionaires that didn't go to college? nope.

Im 24 and not sticking with college was a bad decision.I could already have my electrical license.If opportunity knocks,open the fuggin door.............go to college while youre still young,trust me,now is the time to prepare for youre future,so figure out what you want to be
And remember,knowledge is power ,not money,with knowledge youll get all the money you need

I personally don't think having a college degree is necessary. My father has a 8th grade education and makes six figures a year. My mother went to a year of junior college and she is now the ONLY woman contract manager for a company called "JE Merit" (Jacobs Engineering), and in of a company of roughly 45k employees world wide, she has gotten employee of the year TWICE. She also makes well into the 6 figure range, all with 1 year of juco experience. Did I go to college? Yes indeed. Will I take more college in the future? Yes, because I have hopes of becoming a lawyer in the future and college is the only way to achieve my goal. If that doesn't work out, I always have my mechanical engineering degree to fall back on. With the times of today, so many people are getting college degrees that its hard to compete without one. A great job means different things to different people. Some people do what they LOVE and just scrape by, while other do a job they hate but get paid well for it.. Who has a great job in this regard? Do I think having college degree is NECESSARY to have a great job? No. But it sure does help out.

Rob

Knowledge is what everyone needs. Some can get it without going to college, but most of us needed needed to go to expand out knowledge. Decide for yourself where you can best get yours.

Exploring your options before making the decision is good advice.

I think that in terms of highly technical professions, say engineering or law, a college education is a must. However, you can get by in many other disciplines with no more than a few grades of education.

Like Yogs was said, Knowledge is power, and in college, you get knowledge crammed down your throat.

A lot of people I've met in University hear would surprise you with how little street smarts you needs to be hear. I think that Street and Book smarts are to two things that have to be taken into consideration when posing a question such as this.

To be any sort of professional these days you will do much better to have a degree. If you can go one step further and get a graduate's degree, you are well ahead of the game.

I started college the week after my 18th birthday. It has now been 5 months since my 20th birthday. That means I should at least have an associates degree, and be working on a bachelors. But I dropped out 3 months into the first semester. Now I have no college education to speak of, and my dad isnt going to pay for my college again. Nobody wants to hire someone for a good job, if they were too lazy to go to college and get a degree. I could possibly get a job as a receptionist, and work my way up from there, but imagine if I had my associates degree already. I wouldnt have to bus tables for a living, to scrape by and earn barely enough for tuition and books for a community college, and then if Im lucky I will have an associates degree or 2 year business management degree by the time I should have had a bachelors. Imagine being 25 or 26, or even older with no degree, and competing for a job with a 22 year old with a bachelors degree. I know a guy who looks like he's 19 or 20, you'd think maybe hes working on an associates degree but no... dude has a masters degree. He kinda does what he wants. Unless you have a great plan to start your own company or invent a new revolutionary product, or whatver... you need a college degree. Unless you want to spend 4 years at your job working your way up the ladder, only to have the job you want handed to a kid with a degree. Then you'll have to work even harder. Then if you get high enough, they will say.. Um, sorry, but if you want to advance any more, you need a bachelors degree. Well, be ready to spend another 4 years working your ass off just to get where you should have been a long time ago.

Bill Gates.. HA! yeah, keep falling back on that. You'll be the next Bill Gates one day, sure.

man if your deciding wether its a good idea to go to college or not then its a no brainer. just go and have fun. stay in the dorms, join clubs, and make lots of friends. Now wether you think its going to be financially worthy to go or not thats another story. If you do liberal arts or communications or education you probably wont get rich and if go to a major university thats a lot of money you are spending every semester just to get a low paying job in the end, but college is a once in a lifetime experience so I think its still worth it. Even if you want to do something technical you could just as easily go to a community college or technical school and learn exactly what you need to and get out and get a job, but you miss out on the entire college life. Bottom line is college is not necessary, but i would advise anyone to do what it takes to get to college because it will probably be worth it in the end.

I am in college and I am totally glad that I am there. Sure there are a lot of people who didnt go and make a bunch of money, but I think your chances are a lot higher. It also depends on what type of person you are and what you want to do.

Depends on what sort of job you're going for. In my case, I already know that I have to be here if I'm going to do anything with my life. I want to be a sports writer or something along those lines, and I've learned more in the past 6 months about writing than I have over the rest of my life.

Plus people would just call you an alcoholic if you got trashed for an NBA game...in college (mine at least), it's tradition.

Even if you know your stuff, going to school will teach you new things. Not to mention it gives employers something physical to bank on rather than taking your word.

Is college really necessary to get a great job, or get alot of money from a job? I dont think it is and I think that if you know what you are doing and have a goal for yourself that you dont need to go to college. But what do you guys think?

I believe that doing what you love and getting paid for it is great job, and if money is a factor then do something that will make the most. but a good plan for the rest of your life is better than college today and wish for a better job after.

You certainly don't need College to get a good paying job. For some people having college is the difference between being a bum and being an educated bum. But college can change the way you think about life and give you a different perspective.

i think its either u suffer for 2,4,8 yrs, owe a shit load of money, and then finally get that job that pays over 100k and pay off ur bills and be well off in the end, or save ur money, work hard, and land an ok job and live happily ever after.me i always wanted to just work my way through.even in highschool, i felt that work was more important then school. i finished highschool, got a job makin 9/hr, worked my way up, and now i make 40,000 a year, get a company h2 hummer with free gas, and am totally satisfied. i see some of my friends that did go to college without jobs and stressed about thier tuition. i know id be better off goin to college, but i made my choice and im happy! i mean lets face it, what could be better then sittin on my azz all day and talkin to u guys for a job!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

forget money forget jobs. Yes, colledge is important FOR EDUCATION if nothing less. The last thing the world needs right now is more people walking around with no educational experience beyond high school and even less to contribute to our world. Unfortunately money is a reality in our world, so a job is necessary, but i dont know how this has promoted some of you to say that colledge is not a necessary thing. Any job you could get without higher education will be more than open to a persom with higher education. The only good reason i can see for a person to not pursue higher education is that they do not have the money to pay for it, and as far as that goes, as long as you put your time in, in high school and get a good education there are plenty of scolarship opportunities for serious students.

if its necessary, i guess im shit outta luck, but i just dont see it that way. everyone is different. of course college is a huge plus, but not the end of the world if u dont go.

College teaches you how to accomplish as much as possible with the least amount of work possible :lol:

It's necessary depending on what field or profession you're wishing to enter. I know people who've gone onto be very successful and have never had a day of college.

It all depends on what your drive, determination, creativity and just street business smarts are. And a little bit of luck thrown in too. But just watch the newest apprentice. You have two teams: One being "Book Smarts" the other "Street Smarts". Who's winning right now? The street smarts have been ahead in every project. These guys are beating out the books smarts mainly b/c of their shere creativity; i.e. thinking outside the box.

IMO college is good for a person. You need to make the decision if its necessary or not. Personally, I'm glad I went to college. It opens up a lot of opportunities and gives you a different perspective on different things. I've changed what I wanted to be 3 or 4 times in the past 4 years, and now I'm not sure that I want to go to grad school for what I'm planning on going for. But you meet a lot of interesting people, and if anything, you learn things in college that can help you throughout your life. I don't think that I'd ever decide not to go to college. So many people I know, look back on college as some of the best years of their life and while, I'm not sure this could be considered the best years of my life, it has been for most of my friends. So my suggestion to you is, to figure out what direction you want you life to go in. Most companies will promote people with college degrees 10x faster than people with no college degrees. I can tell you what I think, but only you can make the decision of whether it's for you or not. Don't just go because everyone wants you to. College isn't for everyone and that's ok, just make your own decision.

is it necessary?

just think......Girls.......Gone......Wild.........:sun glasse

no really, Does what you WANT to do require a degree? then yes. if not, then what kind of goals do you set for yourself besides living and having money?

No skip college its worthless, just look at me. I didnt go to college and I...well I work at a gas station. You know what, go to college.

Let us not forget that college is not the only place to get educated, ever hear of books (reading on your own, meeting people who know more than you and are successful)? :)

Bottom line is you need education/knowledge but it doesn't have to come from college.

A need for a degree is dictated in what one wants to do and by what society demands.

it is necessary and not @ same time. if u do not have a degree thn u have less chances of making over 50k/yr. in case of bill gates and others , all i can say is pure luck and every one is not that lucky.

A friend of mine has a bachelors degree in science, took him four years of school..He's working for the county mosquito patrol during the day and at Wal-Mart at night to pay off his student loans because he can't get work in his field that pays enough...
If you have a definate job waiting for you, or mom and dad are paying, I say go for it. Otherwise find something your good at and move up the ladder. The world has enough chiefs, we need more indians.

deffinately not necessary but still an option...

I think people look at college the wrong way... people say oh I don't know what I want to do so I'll go to college... it should be don't go unless you do it for a reason... why waste money if you may never need what you earn there, or might not even finish, like a large percentage of college students

go if you need it, use your time more wisely if you don't.

Tertiary education is an absolute must, my University years were EASILY the best of my life, it's an experience that helps prepare people for the real world, while helping to apply what is learnt a high school. It didn't cost much to get myself a Bachelor of Commerce and Administration either, so yes, I view tertiary education as something everyone should complete.

it also depends WHERE u goto school.

Tertiary education is an absolute must, my University years were EASILY the best of my life, it's an experience that helps prepare people for the real world, while helping to apply what is learnt a high school. It didn't cost much to get myself a Bachelor of Commerce and Administration either, so yes, I view tertiary education as something everyone should complete.

lol you aparently didnt go to public school. Saying that everyone should attend college is outrageous. Not everyone has the mental capacity to successfully complete even a semester of college. College does not help people prepare for the real world either, it gives you an education that you can apply to a real world job but going to college in no way prepares you for the "real world", it is probably as far from the real world as you can get. Also college is not cheap, if it didnt cost you much then I need to start letting you manage my money. Tuition, books, bs fees, housing, food, bills, gas, insurance, etc. It is hard to pay for all of that while attending class.

Is college really necessary to get a great job, or get alot of money from a job? I dont think it is and I think that if you know what you are doing and have a goal for yourself that you dont need to go to college. But what do you guys think?Not necessarily, but it is hard to find one without some kind of degree or know somebody at a good job to get you in.

It get's a lot harder the older you get. I should have went fresh out of high school like everyone told me to, but I was smarter than everyone else at the time and did not listen :disappoin.
I started going again a couple of years ago, but with a 40 hour full time job, more than 2 classes a semester is not do able. Plus you lose your party time, and social life. Now I am at a tough part in my life where I am going to move and probably give up school for a while. It fucking sucks too because I have 4 semesters done and actually made it on the deans list--that shocked the hell out of me. And also my job paid for my school 100%, it has been like I have been getting paid to go.

Screw it. Go to college NOW while you're young and before you get tied down. I'm going back in the Fall to continue on for my Bachelor's, but this time I'm going to have to do it while working full time (ugh) since I moved out on my own. Don't worry about being up to your eyes in debt from loans, do you know why? Simple. Take a look around at all your friends. I guarantee most of them are going to college. Now, picture them being up to THEIR eyeballs in loan payments as well. Guess what? You're just joining the club :iceslolan Everyone in this country is so deep in debt between higher education, credit cards, loans etc. (something like $7000 for every person in the U.S.) There are many of us running around with the debt-monkey on our backs, so it's not like you're alone in that burden. As a matter of fact, I wouldn't be surprised if in the near future, some sort of federal initiative isn't put on the table to help so many citizens of this country staring down the barrel of mounting school debt (right about now I wouldn't mind being a citizen of one of the many other countries that provide free university education :naughty: )

An interesting thing that I was talking about with my roomate and another friend (just a bunch of college-intellectuals with less-than-stellar-jobs sitting around shooting the shit) and we got on the topic of the apparent evils of current day higher education. See, originally colleges were designed as places where those who wished to pursue intellectual, cultural, and character growth could meet with others like themselves, and engage in the free exchange of information, ideas, philosophies and other such scholarly pursuits. A college degree was something you earned as a sign of your devotion to personal growth. It was designed to open up broader pathways for your progression through life, and give you an increased pool of resources. Unfortunately, somewhere along the way, college changed its suit. Now, instead of being a center for all the intellectual pursuits mentioned above, it has taken on a more sinister bearing -- that of a hinderance to society in general. Today, if you DON'T get a college education, you're pretty much left for dead. Any braindead shmuck with enough money can get themselves a college degree, and do it while boozing, screwing off, sleeping around and all other kinds of college student "activities," many of which go completely against the ethos of the true college experience. And you know what? Even getting that degree isn't necessarily an ace-in-the-hole. I know plenty of other "students" who pissed their way through their college education, just because it was the thing to do. And they still succeeded when they got out, most often because they (or their parents) knew someone who got them into a job. I on theother hand, know no one. So therefore my road is a much tougher one.

At any rate, I still recommend you go for it (especially if your parents are willing to pay for it, or at least help you out with other things along the way like mine did.) Find a college that interests you, get into a QUIET dorm (don't spend your college years partying, you have the rest of your life for that WITHOUT having to pay thousands of dollars) and spend your first year or two exploring things that interest you before you start to settle. However, BEWARE OF SPECIALIZING IN SOMETHING (at least while you're an undergraduate.) I spent a bunch of money on IT schooling, got a couple certifications, and then watched helplessly while my job prospects burst along with the tech bubble in early 2001. A year later, I was back in school, and earned my AS.

Do you know what I found I enjoy the MOST about college though? As fleeting as it may be, just the feeling that I'm actually working towards something inspires me. Right now, at 23 years old, sitting here with nothing going on besides an empty 40 hour-a-week job, watching the days and weeks slip by, I feel like a waste. As much as a pain as it will be come Fall (juggling work and school) I look forward to it. Even if (between now and then) I happen to find a real career that matches my skill set, and gives me more of a direction in my life, I'll probably still go back to school. Because, like everyone else here has said, knowledge truly is power. I just put the whole debt thing out of my mind :lol2:

I read this fact the other day which I thought was interesting:

The average American with a highschool diploma will earn $1.4 million over his/her entire lifetime

The average American with a college diploma will earn $2.1 million over his/her entire lifetime

That equals out to 50% more earnings over an entire lifteime.

lol you aparently didnt go to public school. Saying that everyone should attend college is outrageous. Not everyone has the mental capacity to successfully complete even a semester of college. College does not help people prepare for the real world either, it gives you an education that you can apply to a real world job but going to college in no way prepares you for the "real world", it is probably as far from the real world as you can get. Also college is not cheap, if it didnt cost you much then I need to start letting you manage my money. Tuition, books, bs fees, housing, food, bills, gas, insurance, etc. It is hard to pay for all of that while attending class.
I didn't say everyone should, I just reccomended college over not going. And I did not go to a public school by any means, I went to a Catholic school, that wasn't government funded like a State (public) school, but was accessible to just about anyone and trust me, I encountered some right dumbasses, who filled the "State school" stereotype and they weren't stupid, they were just lazy. Unless you have a serious learning disability (Like many do) or have screwed up your brain on drugs or alcahol (Unlikely at that age), then there's no reason why you can't complete some kind of tertiary degree.

It may not be a University degree, but ANYONE who has even a slightly decent work ethic would be able to get one from a Polytechnic.

Yes I was bought up in a system completely different to the US, there's no such thing as "College" in New Zealand, you either went to Uni or Tech, Uni being pretty much the same as College.

Most people don't view Uni as cheap and they're right, I mean it cost me about $5000 per year on average for 4 years, for a Commerce degree and you're looking at the same for a BA, a small bit more for a Law degree (Which also takes longer) and as much as $100,000 all up for Medicine/Dentistry. Now obviously the more expensive ones would cripple you for years, but I managed to pay my $22,000 student loan off in two years.

I had no trouble getting a part time job at Uni, I think you'd find there are many places that understand that Uni students have class and they tailor your hours around that and I earnt enough to pay my (admittedly cheap) rent, food and power bills and fuel my car (Which was a Yugo, isn't that amazing, you pay less for fuelling a small car).

And college IS the real world, mummy and daddy are no longer there to change your nappies, you are left to take responsibility for your own actions if you screw up or don't go class, no-one's going to be checking up on you, you have to work around your schedule- no-one cares if your life is so hectic that you can't do your assignment- unless you're sick (Medical certificate needed) or someone's died.

Hmm

Well, I tried the 4 year university. Didn't work out in the end. My parents (mom being a doctor, dad an electrical engineer, and my sister a veterinarian) wanted me to become a doctor or engineer. So What I did was go to the college of Engineering at UMass. Man i hated it. I Finally dropped out after my first semester of sophomore year, and went to a tech school for auto mechanics. Now in aobut 4 more weeks, i'll earm my associates degree into Automotive Technology, and i couldn't be happier. My parents don't like it, and they gave me hell aobut it, but i just said "screw them!" and did what makes me happy. And the last year and a half of this tech school has been a REAL real life awakening. No dorms, i have to dravel 15 miles into Boston everyday to get there, I have bills to pay, and a very very shaky car to do it on :D . But I'm still happy, and i'm looking forward to actaually doing what i love and making some money at it.

Is being an auto tech the best paying job in the world? Certainly not, but i'm ok with that. Its got it's plus sides as well - my job will NEVER be outsourced, i can get a job anywhere I want to live, and now that cars are becoming unbelieveably complicated, my pay rate will only go up.

University is't for everyone, but i think that ANYONE who wants a good job after high school should go to some sort of schooling after.

Is college nessary to earn a living? no
Is it nessary if you want a better life? yes

For the most part I think the key to success is who you know and your personality. I have neither of these and I spent 4 years in college. Now i'm breaking my back 55 hours a week for about 33K a year.

Of course if you want a meaningful career like a doctor or some kind of technical job, by all means go get the formal training. But a degree in accounting/business is pretty much worthless.

In my situation about 35,000 was blown on college over 4 years. If I had just lived with mom and dad, worked those 4 years making even 25K a year with that 35K tuition back, i'd be able to pretty much buy a house for cash right now instead of paying rent and trying to save a down payment, but that is another story for another time.

That equals out to 50% more earnings over an entire lifteime
And 50% More Bills

For 4 years of undergraduate, its cost me about $155,000 and now I plan to spend about 3 years in graduate school. For grad school it'll probably cost another $40,000...I have to admit that its very expensive to further your education and that it's not for everyone...but while I'm paying this much, I'm gonna get a job that'll start me at 90k+ a year plus benefits and such, its not a bad deal IMO. I mean, i could have gone to all state schools and my education would have cost about $80,000 a year, so I could pay it off easily. College isnt for everyone, some people should go to tech school and some can just get good jobs with out it. I've been looking into it and with for example with a BS in psychology, you make about $30k a year, and that tends to be high end. It's becoming more and more common that you need to have more than a 4 year degree to make quality money because the gap between less than hs,and hs diploma is staying the same. HS diploma and some college stays the same, and some college and more than a bs is increased greatly...The latest statistics I have on this is from 1998 although I have looked for more recent research. A fact of our society is that education generally can get you further and while your bills will increase, so will your income in most cases. But money does not buy happiness, and while many people think it does, make sure that whatever career you choose, its something that you enjoy and can handle doing for the next 30 or so years because statistics show that 64% of workers would choose a different career if they had the chance

Im military so I dont know if i count but here goes. I work in an avation life suppourt equipment shop maintaining flight equipment, now everyone who has left the army from my shop did not go to college and all of them are making no less than $22.70 an hour. I also am a trained CH-47 helicopter mechanic (you know the big ones with two horizontal blades)
which there is always a demand for. Starting salary for that one is about 56k a year. And Im not even 20 yet so I do bleave college is a watse of time.

http://pictures.sprintpcs.com/i/62222736261_330_2.jpg?ext=.jpg&rand=-2486415083986135590&border=2,255,255,255,1,0,0,0,0&outquality=90
2000 Nissan Xterra