D'oh! SA Makes List of Lowest % of Residents with College Degrees (Houston: homes, unemployment rate)

[majormadmax]

Originally Posted by kevcrawford

Yes and no. Education is important. VERY important. But too much weight is put on college.

Reason being, whether you have a college degree or not, you have to be willing to work hard and pay your dues to be successful. Too many go to college and think that's going to be their ticket to success, and don't have the work ethic to get anywhere.

Success isn't going to college. Success is busting your tail to become the best at something. Yes...doctors go to med school. Yes...lawyers go to law school. But I'll argue that they found what they love doing, and busted their tail to do what it takes to become doctors and lawyers...meaning COLLEGE.

They don't become the best by enrolling at college. They become the best by busting their tail.

THAT'S the difference between successful folks, and those that aren't successful. They found something they love and they busted their tail to be the best.

Kev

I agree, but you miss a key point which is, individuals who have college degrees have already proven that they can commit to a goal and work hard to achieve it.

As stated earlier, I've known a lot of people much smarter than I who never made it through college; which supports the statement that a degree is a lot more than just a reflection of academic achievement. It demonstrates that an individual has the drive and ambition to work hard and complete what they set out to accomplish. That is why such importance is placed on upper education.

Sure, a person can put their full effort into any one of many endeavors and gain success; but we all know their odds greatly increase when they have that diploma in hand. There are exceptions, no doubt; but anyone that argues that having a college degree doesn't give a person an advantage in the majority of cases doesn't know what they're talking about.

That is, of course, is unless they are speaking of service or manual labor jobs that either pay much lower salaries than those requiring education, or ones that require back-breaking work.

We all know the world needs ditch-diggers, it’s just that I would rather not be one if I can help it!

Cheers! M2

[L210]

Very well put majormadmax.

[Mom2Feebs]

Originally Posted by kevcrawford

The drive and work ethic is the difference between those that succeed and those that don't. It may drive them to go to college and work hard, but there are just as many folks that go to college and aren't using their degree as those that are.

You can send a lazy person to college, but you can't make a lazy person successful, no matter how much education they have.

And yes, I have a BA in marketing, so this isn't the case of me trying to make myself feel better.

I look at what DRIVES someone to do well. Work ethic and drive determines a person's success. A piece of paper doesn't. I know plenty of college grads waiting tables.

Boy, ain't that the truth.

What I'd like to see are stats that include vocational schools, etc. along with college degrees-then compare those stats to unemployment and income levels. It would be interesting to see where SA falls, and would present a more accurate picture.

[kevcrawford]

Originally Posted by majormadmax

Kev

I agree, but you miss a key point which is, individuals who have college degrees have already proven that they can commit to a goal and work hard to achieve it.

As stated earlier, I've known a lot of people much smarter than I who never made it through college; which supports the statement that a degree is a lot more than just a reflection of academic achievement. It demonstrates that an individual has the drive and ambition to work hard and complete what they set out to accomplish. That is why such importance is placed on upper education.

Sure, a person can put their full effort into any one of many endeavors and gain success; but we all know their odds greatly increase when they have that diploma in hand. There are exceptions, no doubt; but anyone that argues that having a college degree doesn't give a person an advantage in the majority of cases doesn't know what they're talking about.

That is, of course, is unless they are speaking of service or manual labor jobs that either pay much lower salaries than those requiring education, or ones that require back-breaking work.

We all know the world needs ditch-diggers, it’s just that I would rather not be one if I can help it!

Cheers! M2

I think we actually agree completely. There are just a few posters that are on the high horse saying that "without a degree, you're doomed to fail".

I think that a lot of folks that go to school and get their degree do so because they're driven to become the best. There's absolutely no doubt about that. But I also know that just as many get into school, and then just put it on cruise control because they think a degree will ensure them success.

My only argument is that success (in school, work, family life, etc.) is a result of the work one is willing to put into it. I'll take a driven, hard-working individual without a degree over someone who just punched a ticket to get a nice framed piece of paper anytime.

[L210]

I think some people are underestimating how much effort goes into obtaining a degree. I'm working full-time along with reading, testing, doing assignments, studying, and writing papers left and right. If I didn't work hard, I would fail and not receive a degree.

[SweethomeSanAntonio]

San Antonio's percentage has been improving, so there is a note of hope. Still I don't think percentage point or two is enough to make a difference or even be noticeble. Dallas and houston are at about 27%, a whopping two percent over San Antonio's near 25%. San Antonio has one of the strongest economies in the nation with a good quality of life. Thats what it boils down too.

[Dopo]

Originally Posted by kevcrawford

I know plenty of college grads waiting tables.

All college degrees are not the same,
is not the same having a BA in psychology than a BS in chemical engineering.

[majormadmax]

It's not as easy as it looks!

[Neshomamench]

Originally Posted by kevcrawford

. There are just a few posters that are on the high horse saying that "without a degree, you're doomed to fail".

.

I would be interested to know just where anyone in this thread has said anything even close to what you are claiming a few people have said.

[Dopo]

Give me a little while, and I'll show you why people with degrees get paid more.