[HeadedWest]

Originally Posted by bobtn

Steven 1"1. Lawyers do not find work upon graduation, can leave law school 250k in debt, and the field has become less lucrative, simply put the law field has dried up."

My niece, an employed lawyer often in the news in her state, must have not gotten the memo.

Applications to law schools nationally have cratered due to high levels of unemployment and underemployment for recent graduates.

So congratulations to your niece for bucking that trend.

[Mike 75]

Originally Posted by HeadedWest

Applications to law schools nationally have cratered due to high levels of unemployment and underemployment for recent graduates.

So congratulations to your niece for bucking that trend.

It was a bubble for many years. Graduates from the top law schools will always get jobs, as will those who graduate at the top of their class at the lower tier schools. But there has been a proliferation of low end law schools that saturate the market with graduates who had no business going to law school in the first place. These grads end up with tons of debt and dim prospects for employment.

[STEVEN 1]

Yes and that's generally what I was talking about, obviously if you go to Harvard, Princeton, or Yale, then sure you have a better shot at becoming a lawyer.

The point I was trying to make was that today young folks have less opportunity then what most of us older folks had and believe it or not college is no longer the guarantee to the white collar lifestyle.

There are people who go and don't do well, people leave in debt, people enter college with aspirations that in the real world may no longer exist for them upon graduation. This is a reality that our world has changed.

I try to tell younger folks that if they want to be successful then go to school and learn something, wether lawyer, executive chef, or master plumber, they all require education and training in one form or another, do something that brings a good salary and joy into your life.

[bobtn]

My niece and all of her University of Florida friends found industry jobs, fully utilizing their skills, paying handsomely.

[STEVEN 1]

Well I know UF first hand and it pays to be a Gator. Shands was one of the best hospitals for teaching and who doesn't love Tebow.

[JayCT]

Keep in mind, it is not only going to school. It is what you do with that schooling afterward. People need to realize that you are not going to walk out of a college or trade school and have a line of potential employers waiting to offer you a job. You have to pay your dues be it working as an intern or apprentice, moving somewhere for your first job or taking a low paying position for a couple of years while you learn the profession. Too many people come out of school and do nothing in their chosen field and them complain about it. Sorry but this is just the way it works. Jay

[Stephy0519]

I went to a state school, after 15 years of previous private school. I actually didn't finish school, because I accepted my first full time job. At the time, I was only making mid 30s. However, I worked my way up, up, and up and--still without my college degree (I only need 3 more classes, silly I know! Eventually...) have landed a role that is highly coveted within HealthCare IT. I DID have to get certifications and training within that and learn a lot (so basically more schooling), but I make well over 6 figures a year, with great benefits (health insurance, pre and post tax employee retirement contributions, 40 days off a year, etc). To be fair, I've been working full time since I was 21 (I started as a financial assistant while still in college.)

I know I'm the exception, but I'm also proof if you work hard and are smart (at least at what you do,) you CAN make it without a degree.

[STEVEN 1]

Originally Posted by Stephy0519

I went to a state school, after 15 years of previous private school. I actually didn't finish school, because I accepted my first full time job. At the time, I was only making mid 30s. However, I worked my way up, up, and up and--still without my college degree (I only need 3 more classes, silly I know! Eventually...) have landed a role that is highly coveted within HealthCare IT. I DID have to get certifications and training within that and learn a lot (so basically more schooling), but I make well over 6 figures a year, with great benefits (health insurance, pre and post tax employee retirement contributions, 40 days off a year, etc). To be fair, I've been working full time since I was 21 (I started as a financial assistant while still in college.)

I know I'm the exception, but I'm also proof if you work hard and are smart (at least at what you do,) you CAN make it without a degree.

I started at 9.60 an hour and now I make 24.50 an hour. I did go to school as I had mentioned earlier for the mechanics and refrigeration stuff and a lot of these type fields I'm in are looking for industry certifications and experience. The school got me into the field as an apprentice technician but I've learned more working as a technician then I ever did in the schools.

I do feel however that without that opportunity for school the door may not have ever opened for me so in that aspect I guess it helped a little.