Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Do you have a degree?

Squilly, don't worry about the degree. Worry about getting an education. Learn to think, and learn to be thoughtful. Learn to analyze, and learn to criticize.

Mind you, learning takes work. It takes lots of work, and sometimes it is hard.

Yes I have a few degrees, and I didn't limit my education to my fields of study. In fact, learning is a lifelong pursuit: I still sit down to study various topics that pique my interest.
 
mobilehaathi said:
Squilly, don't worry about the degree. Worry about getting an education. Learn to think, and learn to be thoughtful. Learn to analyze, and learn to criticize.

Mind you, learning takes work. It takes lots of work, and sometimes it is hard.

Yes I have a few degrees, and I didn't limit my education to my fields of study. In fact, learning is a lifelong pursuit: I still sit down to study various topics that pique my interest.
Click to expand...

Some of the bold. But get the degree
 
I have a:
BS in mechanical engineering
MS in atmospheric science

I would very much recommend getting a degree. Not having one would make life hard in terms of finding consistently nice career opportunities. My parents, who do not have degrees, have a very hard time finding any work, and those they find are largely 100% commissioned based.

Fun fact....if you can get into grad school in a STEM field, most programs will pay you to go (as in a salary/stipend) as well as pay your tuition. Going to grad school effectively paid off my loans I got as an undergrad.....and I got a degree in the process
 
chrono1081 said:
Honestly the only thing a degree got me was access to higher jobs. I went to three different schools (Penn State being one of them) and school in the U.S. is a giant ripoff.

If you like engineering don't let math hold you back. Most people aren't bad at math, they're just taught poorly. I used to think I was bad at math until I took to learning it on my own. Also, using it for a real reason other than to just "solve the problem" makes it much more useful.

For example, I remember in highschool thinking no one would ever use the dot and cross products but then when I started using it for creating frameworks for game development I used it all the time and it made much more sense when used in a practical sense.

Sorry for the tangent ;)
Click to expand...

Thanks. Definitely agree with the second paragraph. Professors here are just... Bad. I won't blame it all on them though.
 
dukebound85 said:
I have a:
BS in mechanical engineering
MS in atmospheric science

I would very much recommend getting a degree. Not having one would make life hard in terms of finding consistently nice career opportunities. My parents, who do not have degrees, have a very hard time finding any work, and those they find are largely 100% commissioned based.

Fun fact....if you can get into grad school in a STEM field, most programs will pay you to go (as in a salary/stipend) as well as pay your tuition. Going to grad school effectively paid off my loans I got as an undergrad.....and I got a degree in the process
Click to expand...

Not to go off topic, but weren't you recently finishing a phd? If not it must have been someone else with an orangutan avatar.


chrono1081 said:
Honestly the only thing a degree got me was access to higher jobs. I went to three different schools (Penn State being one of them) and school in the U.S. is a giant ripoff.

If you like engineering don't let math hold you back. Most people aren't bad at math, they're just taught poorly. I used to think I was bad at math until I took to learning it on my own. Also, using it for a real reason other than to just "solve the problem" makes it much more useful.
Click to expand...

+1 to that. I'm fine with math but always did poorly on math tests. Typically I ran out of time due to obsessively checking my work, as I do make arithmetic errors. I was always able to properly reverse the work, so if I consistently made egregious errors, I would have catch many of them.
 
I wouldn't have my current career in automotive with out a degree (B.S. ME). I would like to go for a Masters in the near future...just playing things by ear right now. More immediately, I have my sights on a P.E. certification.
 
No degree here. I'm an intelligent, yet technically uneducated, guy doing just fine for himself in IT. Could never justify the time and cost when my career is going so well without it.

Would I be more successful at this stage in my life if I'd have gone to college? Well, that could've been the case had I done a number of things differently, so who can say.

What I can say right now, however, is that I have no debt, and thus far, no regrets. :)
 
someguy said:
No degree here. I'm an intelligent, yet technically uneducated, guy doing just fine for himself in IT. Could never justify the time and cost when my career is going so well without it.

Would I be more successful at this stage in my life if I'd have gone to college? Well, that could've been the case had I done a number of things differently, so who can say.

What I can say right now, however, is that I have no debt, and thus far, no regrets. :)
Click to expand...

The peace of mind that brings has to be refreshing. Not fun subjecting yourself to essentially indentured servitude
 
Yeah I do

An Associates in Liberal Arts. I wish I could back and get my Bachelors without loans, but even the State colleges are too expensive now and thanks to the rising cost of health care, money saved from changing my commute will be considerably less than I hoped. I would take credit courses at UCLA if I knew they would transfer out of California (most of them won't.)

OP, if you can stick it out and stay in school do so. Find a major that appeals to you and keep at it.

Stay with it and good luck.
 
I have a College Degree and a Masters Degree. I have been blessed in that my parent's agreed to pay for my college as long as I applied myself to the task. I paid for grad school on my own with the help of tuition reimbursement from employers in my field.

My advice is to carefully consider the cost if you are paying for your own education. A degree is often necessary depending upon the field you would like to enter. However, do your research and make sure the future job will pay for the education required to obtain it. For example, it's silly to rack up over $100,000 in debt for a degree that will only grant you a job that pays $30,000 a year. If I were to do it all over I would cut every corner I could in terms of cost by testing out of as many courses as I could and utilizing community college for basic course credits as much as possible. Higher education costs have risen tremendously over time and America's approval/dependence upon credit is not a wise plan. It's just silly to bury yourself in debt that will take years to pay off all while you are trying to establish a career and possibly start a family.
 
I have a degree which I obtained later in life, and I used to think that it was a waste of time...apart from the fact that I really enjoyed it...but it's since been pointed out to me that even if I haven't used it for it's intended field, it still counts for a heck of a lot on a CV. I didn't ever really want to do anything apart from music work anyway, but my partner at the time went to get her's and I accompanied her, working a couple of jobs and playing in a band so we could afford to do it. I'd say get it while you are young, and the heavy weight of family responsibility doesn't not lie on your shoulders.
 
I have two degrees, AS in accounting and AS in Management Information Systems. At some point I was hoping to get a Bachelors, but kids and work have effectively deferred that.

my advise Squilly, get your degree and get it in a field you love to work in. Its a waste of money, time and effort to get a degree in something that you tolerate or don't like. I know too many people who opted for degrees in fields that they didn't care for but they chose it because they saw those fields providing the biggest paychecks. Most of those people I know, now have careers in something other then what they got their degrees in, and when they were working in their chosen field, they were miserable.

Secondly too many jobs require some higher ed degree. Unless you plan on working in the trades (like plumbing/electrical) you will need a college degree. Don't get me wrong about the trades, they need their own training.

My wife works as a legal secretary and her job requires a bachelors degree. So the requirements of a degree are far reaching.
 
afireintonto said:
I just finished my undergrad in accounting in july, still job hunting...:confused:
Click to expand...

You and millions of others. I hope your search goes quicker than mine has, it's still continuing. I've tried getting jobs in the meantime, but no one wants to hire a college grad who will only be with them for a few months until something better comes along.
 
I have a Bachelor of Fine Arts- original intent was commercial art, a cut-throat profession, until I got going in aviation.
 
Last edited:
@OP A piece of paper will get you a long way, especially in business/engineering/IT. It gets your foot in the door.


malman89 said:
You definitely should get a degree, but if you aren't quite sure what to major in, then I say it's not a bad thing to take some time off to figure that out - particularly if you are incurring a fair amount of student debt (out of state, no wealthy parents).

Hell, most people don't really figure that out until after they graduate or well in to their adult lives.

I double majored in two tough sell liberal arts degrees, but have had no issues landing full time/salaried jobs after graduating. However, I now know what I want to go into and I will need to go back to school for it. I am saddled by private out of state debt, but I will go back to school part time at a local community college while working.

I recommend a college education for almost anyone; however, I would recommend an affordable education for absolutely everyone. If I could go back in time, I would have just done 2 years at a community college to begin with instead of paying $408/month in student loans (used to be $520 but lump sum paid two off).
Click to expand...
Community college is great for students who have good counselors. I had a bad one and ended up having an excess of 20-credit hours. Now, I still saved money, but I graduated a semester late. Understandably, it was up to my responsibility to make sure the credits transferred, but the counselors kept reassuring me and it ended up not.
 
chrono1081 said:
Honestly the only thing a degree got me was access to higher jobs. I went to three different schools (Penn State being one of them) and school in the U.S. is a giant ripoff.

If you like engineering don't let math hold you back. Most people aren't bad at math, they're just taught poorly. I used to think I was bad at math until I took to learning it on my own. Also, using it for a real reason other than to just "solve the problem" makes it much more useful.

For example, I remember in highschool thinking no one would ever use the dot and cross products but then when I started using it for creating frameworks for game development I used it all the time and it made much more sense when used in a practical sense.

Sorry for the tangent ;)
Click to expand...

Hi friend,

I'm really struggling with getting myself to do calculus and I'm considering changing my major just because of the math. The thing is, I think I'm capable of doing it, but it's just so boring that it gives me terrible anxiety sitting down and working through problems that exist purely for the sake of being answered. How is it that you were able to apply math and use it for a real reason on your own? I'm new to learning python and I'd love to get into game development. How do you utilize math? Thanks so much

Kieran
 
Would anyone recommend an information technology degree? I've heard it's kind of a "joke," kind of like getting a BA in psychology. I had hoped I could complete an electrical engineering degree but I really am not enjoying the math, physics, construction stuff...the "electrical" component to the degree doesn't seem to kick in until junior/senior year. I was thinking about trying to get an associates in programming but after reading everyone's input here it seems to agree with what I've heard from a lot of people- just get any bachelors degree, it's better than nothing. Is that true?
 
Last edited:
I attended college for a couple years but do not have a degree. Though I do have a nice, comfortable job at a local financial instituation, making a fair salary + full benefits and a nice retirement package. My current annual income has allowed me to buy a nice modest house and a good car, with money to spare each month (fully supporting myself, no spouse/parent help). It took some struggle to get to where I'm at, but it has been worth it.

I have found that just getting your foot in the door with a good organization is important. Being humble and thankful, doing entry level work for a couple years, busting my ass, and exceling at the work I've been given have done wonders for my career. I've slowly and steadily moved my way up. I've found that employers (in some industries) prefer real life experience, proven success, and functional ability over college degrees. I see it far too often when people get college degrees they feel entitled to some amazing, high earning career right off the bat and they're above any type of "entry level" work.

Working most of my life rather than attending college has allowed me to actually EARN year after year rather than struggle like the typical college student, I haven't buried myself in a ton of student loan debt, and I have networked and made a great deal of professional connections over the years. I've found my work experience and professional connections I've made to be more valuable than most college degrees (at least in my local area and compared to my peers).

This isn't to say that earning a college degree isn't a great idea - it certainly is it. It just isn't for everybody and it isn't the only way to succeed professionally in life.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back