Both my parents are public school teachers. My Mom has been teaching first graders for 20+ years and my Dad has been a high school band director for 30+ years. They continue to live their lives based upon core principles and values and did their best to pass along some of these traits to me and my brothers as we grew up. Obviously, one of the most important things they valued was education. And rightfully so. Their experience and wisdom had proven that a college degree was often the ticket to a better future.
I graduated college with a marketing degree and a music performance degree. I also finished my M.B.A. last fall. My little brother will soon be graduating from law school. We both value our education and while I can’t speak for my little brother, I wouldn’t have done too much differently. I have a good job, albeit the pay is lower than I had originally hoped before enrolling into graduate school. But despite the name of this blog, I consider myself far from broke these days. And I’m able to work at a job I currently enjoy.
However, it seems that when economic times are tough, more and more people go back to school to weather out the storms. Obviously the laws of supply and demand are applicable to everyone, including white collar professionals. There seem to be more and more articles and blog posts popping up about how law graduates can’t find work and M.B.A.’s taking secretarial positions because a job is better than no job at all. Take a look at 10 of the most expensive colleges. Number 1? Connecticut College will cost you over $53,000 per year.
It’s no secret that Mark Zuckerberg, who might be my generations’ Bill Gates or Steve Jobs, does not have a college degree. What about the military? I would dare say many entrepreneurs succeeded due to their lack of a college education. The phrase “street smarts vs. book smarts” comes to mind.
Obviously college teaches critical thinking skills and other important life lessons that may not be obtainable elsewhere. I know there are all kinds of priceless intrinsic and intangibles that my college degree provided. To be honest, I’m not sure how to measure those intangibles.
The cost of tuition continues to sky rocket. In 2002-2003, I was a sophomore in college at my alma mater. Tuition was about $88.00 per hour. Today, it’s $162.50 per hour. I’m glad to see that today’s college students are receiving an education that is twice as good as mine.
Obviously, there are all kinds of reasons people attend college and I often say to each their own. So, what do you think? Is college still worth the price tag?
While reading this, the ad at the bottom said I should apply to Baylor. Irony, much?
I think an undergrad degree is a must have just to compete in the job market. Graduate degrees are a little more tricky and I the payoff has to be obvious before you decide to go back. I think going back to school during tough times is a sort of therapy that will possibly waste your time and money. I’m all for graduate school, you just have to make sure your skills will be marketable.
not easy to find the right college.There are some attributes you should look for when choosing a distance learning international university, such as academic programs, school’s accreditation status, financial aid benefits and other international benefits offered. It is best to do an extensive research so that you can make a well informed decision that will be best for you.
Finding the right college is the big challenge, getting in the next one. And after that getting a good job is still not going to be easy.
You mentioned:
“street smarts vs. book smarts”
For an education that combines book smarts *with* street smarts, I’d say the cost of attending college is still worth it.
I personally feel like college was a fun experience and it helped me figure out what i wanted to do in life, but as far as the education i received, i feel like i should have just gotten an internship.
I was a communications major and learn absolutely nothing that has helped me with business or earning money. I had no idea what i wanted to do at the time, so i picked communications. But i always felt that an internship could have got me started in a career just as easily as a degree and that would have been free.
I do think that going to a trade school is a good move if you know exactly what type of work you want to do. But i think most college kids go because they think that is what they are supposed to do (like myself).
No it is not worth it, especially if you are a lawyer. They are now a dime a dozen and most of the ones graduating now will never get a job in law. Save the money.
I graduated from college in 1988 and the market was terrible for Finance (and most others)graduates. One thing that did help get interviews was that I did have a college degree – regardless of majors. Some places would not even look at someone without a degree.
I believe that it shows perseverance that you have actually stuck with it and completed something regardless of your major.
A college education has other benefits besides the tangible one of a high salary. Some people enjoy learning for the sake of learning; it exposes you to new ideas and concepts. Not to mention the fact that connections can be made in college which can be useful later on in one’s career. A degree also shows prospective employers that the candidate is tenacious and has the ability to set a goal and execute it.
I’m a big fan of college. But it drives me nuts when people go into debt for a “going through the motions” degree. It can definitely be worth it if you go at it intentionally, work a part-time or full-time gig to pay for it and don’t come out w/ a bunch of debt. But going $100K or more into debt to earn $40K per year makes it tough to get ahead.
So “college” can be worth the price. But just the generic “I’m going to (or back to) college” can be dangerous.
You know, I’m not sure it is still worth it. Perhaps I am a pessimist. I know there are great schools out there and my university is not the worst but I honestly learned the most with respect to critical thinking in courses that I chose as electives. Most of the course that comprise the core of my business degree are theory, cut and dried, text-book blah. I’m happy to see a change in some of the profs in that they bring ‘real life’ to the table, where I actually learn something. Half the time though, a course leaves me rather disapointed.