Is College really necessary?

[The732]

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?

[fredjacksonsan]

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.

[sivic02]

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.

[fredjacksonsan]

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

[DGB454]

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.

[ec437]

Originally Posted by The732

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.

[82KnightRider]

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

[Robs71Nova]

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

[YogsVR4]

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.

[fredjacksonsan]

Exploring your options before making the decision is good advice.

[Porsche]

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.

[thrasher]

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.

[RickwithaTbird]

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.

[2Slow4U_Noob]

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.

[bighauns]

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.