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Got my B.A. and M.A. in Administration of Justice. I later got my J.D. The G.I. Bill payed for 90%. I did 40 years in law enforcement. I use my law degree performing pro bono legal aid. I have a B1 state contractors license, too.
Got my B.A. and M.A. in Administration of Justice. I later got my J.D. The G.I. Bill payed for 90%. I did 40 years in law enforcement. I use my law degree performing pro bono legal aid. I have a B1 state contractors license, too.
My last IT employer paid for my last three degrees. Looking back, it was worth it. It gave me enhanced credibility and the satisfaction of accomplishing something.
I hear so much today about college grads leaving school with a boatload of loan debt ending up as barristers.
So I'm wondering, how is your degree serving you? What was your major? Are you in your chosen field?
Importantly, do you believe you'd have been better off learning a trade and becoming a journeyman in those years it took to get your degree (and your debt load)?
Oceanography. Can't work as an oceanographer with out one, so yes its working out great.
I wanted to be a scientist, can't be one without a degree. WRT to my graduate degree, I use that information everyday.
My daughter is also an oceanographer but in a very different discipline, she graduated with just under $40K in debt. She is going to grad school with a grant, so that will be paid for. She will likely get a post doc in her field around $60k, not very high for a PhD but enough for those who are passionate about what they do.
This isn't meant to judge people who didn't attend college. It's not for everyone, and you shouldn't attend if it doesn't fit into your future plans. Nevertheless, this never ending topic on City Data Forum questioning the value of a college degree gets old.Was college worth it? Yes it was, and that's the end of the story. It's my own personal experience that the majority of the naysayers fall into the below categories.
1. You never attended.
2. You attended, but you never finished.
3. You graduated, but you did nothing meaningful personally or professionally with your life, and you really did waste your time.
BS in Physics; MS Aerospace. Plus enough courses to equal a couple more if they were actually in a defined program. My job pays for advanced training, so I'm happy to take whatever they offer.
Career wise, I'm doing what I wanted to do on some very cool projects that I would never have been able to do if I didn't have the degree I had. It was what I wanted to do since being a kid in the 60s, so I'm living the dream. My "debt" was paid in exchange with my Uncle. Sam told me where to go and I went.
My daughter just graduated this past week with her degree in physics as well. Looks like she will start grad school this fall. She has about $60K in debt. My son cut the same deal with Uncle I did.
Some people think it only takes a degree to be successful
Quote:
Originally Posted by High Altitude
Yes, it was the degree.
You could take the poorest of the poor, get them a college degree and bam, instant middle class. Why? Because of the degree they where hired on the spot into good paying jobs.
I graduated college from a small state school in 2006 and was $20k in debt. Quickly paid off the debt by living at home for a few months and working side gigs, temp jobs, etc.. Couldn't find a real job until 2008.
Now make well over six figures and get to travel to a bunch of cool cities for my job. I dont think the college degree really did much except prove that I could stick with something for 4-years.
Failed/dropped out of high school
Later in my early 20s, came back and got a HS diploma
Went to college, got bored (passed all classes) dropped out
Ended up in the exact field I was studying anyway without the actual college degree. Was promoted up the ladder like everyone else due to my work ethic and real world knowledge and book smarts. Now I still don't have a degree but I'm certified in whatever got me in the door of the big companies and I've been here ever since
The difference for me degree vs cert is basically with a certification in something specific you learn what you're supposed to about that topic, project etc...
Degrees are great for management stuff imo
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