austin is the 9th most unhappiest place to work (Howe: loans, house)

[Jennibc]

Originally Posted by JayBrown80

One of the biggest lies told to my generation (gen y) is that we HAVE To have a 4 year degree or we will not be successful in life. We were told from birth that if we didn't chunk down $120,000 at the age of 18 (an age when no one should technically have debt at all) and get a 4 year degree then we might as well just become hobos.


The majority of "degrees" don't actually help move you up the corporate ladder. You could get a 2 year degree, or just go to a trade school, and still be successful in life. A lot more successful than a waiter with a 4 year degree in communitcation from the University of Texas.

Go to school if you want....but it's not the only option. Not EVERYONE is going to be a doctor, or a lawyer or the CEO of a fortunate 500 company. Not everyone needs the background that a 4 year degree provides them. Most of the time you are getting a $120,000 slip of paper that you are just going to hang on the wall and never think about again.

Absolutely! And Gen X got the same line of BS. I am not encouraging my son to go to college. I am not discouraging him either. He needs to figure out for himself what road he must take.

[Jennibc]

Originally Posted by N. Olikee

And Thank God for all the plumbers, electricians, pest removal specialists, etc. who may or may not have gone to college! There are big bucks to be had if you are a decent electrician!

Yes, a good electrician or plumber makes far more than a file clerk with a sociology or psychology degree. I know there are people that will jump in here and say that going to college isn't just about getting a job. But when you have to take debt out to do it, there should at least be the prospect of being able to pay off that debt when you finish.

[mark311]

I generally agree with the "College isn't essential" argument. That holds true as a lot of my friends from my childhood that didn't go to College all make 6 figure salaries because they got into tech early on. However, a college degree is a great fall-back option and allows you more flexibility if you ever want to change careers.

It definitely isn't needed in my opinion and I know a lot of successful people (who happen to be very smart) that don't have college degrees, but funny enough, it helps the people that aren't as smart to succeed. And if a well-trained electrician decides that he hates being an electrician after 10 years, it could be a lot harder for him to change careers without a college degree. It doesn't have to be that expensive as you can go to ACC for two years and transfer to Texas State to finish. Both aren't going to break the bank.

[Austin97]

Originally Posted by JayBrown80

One of the biggest lies told to my generation (gen y) is that we HAVE To have a 4 year degree or we will not be successful in life. We were told from birth that if we didn't chunk down $120,000 at the age of 18 (an age when no one should technically have debt at all) and get a 4 year degree then we might as well just become hobos.

not sure who lied to you, but my parents told me

1) the world doesnt owe you anything
2) college degree doesnt guarantee you anything
3) college degree gives you an edge, no more
4) engineering is the only degree that will help you to get a job
5) life is not fair

[Trainwreck20]

I went through this about 4 years ago, and would have to CONSTANTLY hear my mother moan and gripe about spending thousands of dollars on college tuition and how her only child still can't find a job and she should have sent me to a basic trade school.

I paid for my own school, so although it made my parents twitch, there was little they could complain about.

Fortunately, college was much cheaper when I went (as was living in Austin in general). I got an engineering degree, which did teach me a lot I could not have learned 'on the fly'. It is not just what you learn, but how you learn to learn/problem solve, that is one advantage of college. Yes, you can do that in some jobs, but some are really, really geared toward grind and output, not thinking and advancing. Also, many jobs do not require a degree, but it does broaden your options. With a degree, I could wait tables or get an engineering job, w/o it, I was stuck more in the waiter type jobs.

OTOH, it is not for everyone. And look for efficient education if you go to college.

Finally, IMHO, there are lots of people everywhere unhappy in their job because they aren't millionaires or jet-setting around the world, or have to be answerable to someone, etc. There is a completely unrealistic expectation out there that you can get it all for nothing, and there is unhappiness when they found out it isn't so.

[sajae90]

Originally Posted by JayBrown80

One of the biggest lies told to my generation (gen y) is that we HAVE To have a 4 year degree or we will not be successful in life. We were told from birth that if we didn't chunk down $120,000 at the age of 18 (an age when no one should technically have debt at all) and get a 4 year degree then we might as well just become hobos.


The majority of "degrees" don't actually help move you up the corporate ladder. You could get a 2 year degree, or just go to a trade school, and still be successful in life. A lot more successful than a waiter with a 4 year degree in communitcation from the University of Texas.

Go to school if you want....but it's not the only option. Not EVERYONE is going to be a doctor, or a lawyer or the CEO of a fortunate 500 company. Not everyone needs the background that a 4 year degree provides them. Most of the time you are getting a $120,000 slip of paper that you are just going to hang on the wall and never think about again.

YES! This is true. I was telling my cousin (who is going to be a recent grad this summer from high school) to look into skilled trade schools and to do something he really enjoys....not what his mother wants him to do. Most of those 4 year degrees are actually 5-6 year degrees that come with a great deal of debt. The reality is, the more specialized your area of expertise, the more money you will make. Like someone else mentioned in this forum; electricians, paralegals, dental assistants, teacher assistants, tutors, etc. are now making more money than those with 4 year BA degrees in fields such as Business or Communications.

I have found skilled trade schools online (regionally accredited) that have tuition as low as $1,200 for any given program. I have also found computer programs online, like 'Computer Forensics Examiner' and 'Software developer' programs for no more than $5000. $5000 sure beats $150,000 in school debt!!


One thing they don't teach you in college is that 90% of your "success" in life will be because of networking and socializing and has very little to do with your work ethics or knowledge.

[JayBrown80]

Originally Posted by Austin97

not sure who lied to you, but my parents told me

1) the world doesnt owe you anything
2) college degree doesnt guarantee you anything
3) college degree gives you an edge, no more
4) engineering is the only degree that will help you to get a job
5) life is not fair

Good for you.

I didn't say anyone lied to me, I said it was a lie told to my generation. A misconception propogated by teachers and guidance counselors and well meaning relatives. Everyone I knew was told either you get a college degree or you are screwed in life.

I, however, didn't go to college, I went to a trade school and make a good living. I won't be a millionaire anytime soon, but I don't really WANT to be a millionaire, to be honest. I like my life the way it is.

At what point in my post did I say the world owes me anything, that I was guaranteed something, and that life should be more fair? Why didn't JenniBC get the same finger wagging from you about "life's not fair, get over it" when she mentioned that she noticed the same thing was told to her generation?

[JayBrown80]

Originally Posted by Trainwreck20

I paid for my own school, so although it made my parents twitch, there was little they could complain about.

Fortunately, college was much cheaper when I went (as was living in Austin in general). I got an engineering degree, which did teach me a lot I could not have learned 'on the fly'. It is not just what you learn, but how you learn to learn/problem solve, that is one advantage of college. Yes, you can do that in some jobs, but some are really, really geared toward grind and output, not thinking and advancing. Also, many jobs do not require a degree, but it does broaden your options. With a degree, I could wait tables or get an engineering job, w/o it, I was stuck more in the waiter type jobs.

OTOH, it is not for everyone. And look for efficient education if you go to college.

Finally, IMHO, there are lots of people everywhere unhappy in their job because they aren't millionaires or jet-setting around the world, or have to be answerable to someone, etc. There is a completely unrealistic expectation out there that you can get it all for nothing, and there is unhappiness when they found out it isn't so.

Keep in mind, i am not knocking higher education. I am just saying it's not the ONLY path. I myself went to a trade school. I know a few friends with liberal arts degrees that work in call centers and are miserable.

I don't think it's a good idea to go out in the great wide world with just a high school diploma (or less) and try to make your way in the world. That's a bad idea. But it's also a bad idea to pay 80K to get a liberal arts degree, because trust me, that does NOT give you a leg up in the buisness world. Why put yourself 80K in debt for a minimum wage job?

[Jennibc]

Originally Posted by JayBrown80

Why didn't JenniBC get the same finger wagging from you about "life's not fair, get over it" when she mentioned that she noticed the same thing was told to her generation?

Because I am prettier than you are

[Austin97]

Originally Posted by Jennibc

Because I am prettier than you are

his was the first post