College and getting rich.

[DJ Bax]

​

Why does the typical high school student choose to go to

college? People have their own personal reasons. I understand that you can be

a personal trainer or bartender, get by financially, and enjoy life. I've seen

people on here and other blogs do that and they obviously enjoy it, more power

to them. But, I don't want to just get by, I want to be highly successful. I

understand that I'm not going to end up in "the 1%" but I would like to be

considered upper class. Driving nice cars, wearing fitted suits, and getting

bottle service at the club until I decide to settle down with a trophy wife with

whom I can produce alpha male sons.


Anyways, I'm currently in a junior college taking core classes to get into the

University of Georgia (known for their business school). I chose to go to junior

college after high school because it is cheaper, I'm not getting financial aid

from the government and my parents are not paying for my school. I know

that I want to do business, I like social interaction and I'm pretty good when it

comes to conversation skill. I realize I have a long hard road in front of me,

but I'm willing to put in the work. The current majors I am considering are

Marketing, Accounting, Finance, or Computer Science. (Possibly a dual degree)I

was wondering on if I could get some input from some of you guys who have

worked in the business world on what your advice would be to a student trying

to decide between these majors. Also what is your opinion of people who have

dual degrees, how much does it improve their chances of getting the job over

someone with similar qualifications but only one major?

I apologize for the long post, but if you read this far, thanks. :woo:

 

[dasein]

Forget marketing and finance. You have the wrong kind of genitalia to compete in corporate marketing, and finance is worthless unless you have a 4.0 and 95th percentile GMATs.

As far as accounting or computer, would lean towards accounting and a double major of a language. Few who are passionate about computers learn what makes them rich in any kind of formal schooling. Unless you were coding at 14 would skip computer in school. You can self-learn everything you need to know about computers. A second language fluency is much more valuable than any particular business subfield as long as it's Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, or German.

What you should be concentrating on most in school though is making lots and lots of friends from good backgrounds and friends with professors. Those connections are the only thing that make college worth it today IMO. Good luck.

 

[DJ Bax]

Well that is disheartening lol, anyone else have any advice?

 

[Fatal Jay]

People are going into debt from college, it is a scam going to school now if your taking loans to go.

 

[SamTheHobit]

Accounting if you are smart enough.

Computer science if you are very logical definitely not for everyone.

 

[Bible_Belt]

I am impressed that you know how to double-space your sosuave posts.

If you have legit sales skills, you don't exactly need college, but some of the better sales jobs prefer at least a bachelor's.

 

[PackDaddy]

OP, are you more creative, analytical, or both? I interned at one of the Big4 accounting firms and I gotta tell ya, the accounting stereotypes and jokes are 100% true. Personality-less nerds who don't know how to talk and relate to people. I only met a handful of people there I considered cool. Finance is for the smart ones with personalities. But you must be an independent alpha to succeed in the field. It's one of the most competitive fields you can go into. Marketing takes personality and communication skills. I don't see going to college for marketing as necessary though. Computer science seems like a viable option, but be prepared to be real bored if you're not passionate about computers.

 

[DJ Bax]

Thanks for all the input guys, I've heard marketing would give me the best job

prospects but it sounds so anti social. I'm not the smartest person I know

but I am very good at thinking on my feet, I can do math in my head much

faster than 85% of the people I compare with and I'm great at persuasive

arguments. When it comes to how social I am there are days where

I enjoy just being to myself but the majority of the time I'm very social.

When I was younger people said I would either be a politician or a lawyer.

I enjoy computers and numbers but if they are both being cooped up in a

room by yourself 6-10 hours a day then I don't think that is the route I want

to go.

Fatal Jay as far as debt is concerned I'm minimizing it, most of the people who

come out of college with 50k plus in debt are living on campus, doing the meal

plans and rushing fraternities. I'm living at home commuting until my junior

year. My goal is to graduate with under 25k in debt, and being a bachelor

who knows how to be frugal with limited funds I should be able to pay that

back pretty quickly with no problem.

 

[Bible_Belt]

If you ever seriously consider law school, I suggest that instead, you set piles of money on fire while beating yourself in the head with a rock until you change your mind.

 

[DJ Bax]

Based on what I'm hearing here and some conversations with people in the

business world I've had this week, its looking like finance at the moment. I keep

hearing people say however that college is not about the grades you make but

the hands you shake. I'm going to try to put more effort into building lasting

connections with people who matter.

 

[Fatal Jay]

you said 25k like it is nothing. Dude how will you pull that off when this country is headed for the second great depression.

do yourself a favor, get yourself a trade, you will always have a job with a trade.

 

[DJ Bax]

Well assuming I find an entry level job (30-50k) after college, I should be able to

pay that off in under two years. And if you're correct about the second great

depression then I can always become a plumber later. I may not get a

second chance to get a degree and I'm not going to put if off and be

one of those people who regrets not doing it when they were younger and goes

back to school when they are 40.

 

[DanZy]

Well assuming I find an entry level job (30-50k) after college, I should be able to

pay that off in under two years.

You do realise how high the costs of living are, especially in America?

 

[DJ Bax]

Yes I do realize, I have lived on my own for the past year. I just moved back in

with my parents. If I was able to survive on 7k a year from an hourly job, I'm

pretty sure I can survive on a 30k salary. (that is a very very low

starting salary)

 

[The_flying_dutchman]

I work in corporate accounting. I can tell you that it's an field where you see the pettiness and childishness of people come through...it's an industry where adults throw tantrums and think it's "type-A" alpha male behavior.

I learned the truth too late in life: the real way to make money is to go to a trade school like auto mechanics, plumbing, electrician and own your own business.

I've met electrical contractors that make bank. I've met plumbers that make bank. My mechanic that owns a smog testing and repair shop is a muthafvckin high roller.

Here I am with a college degree, a white collar, and only making a fraction of what they make and endure endless hours of stress and fatigue.

Do I regret going to college? No. So what do I regret then? I regret placing too much faith in a college degree and not developing other marketable trade skills such as welding, electrician, truck driving...etc... When you get your college degree, you're basically stuck constantly looking for corporate jobs, which in actuality is slavery with a white collar, the only good thing is that you get a steady (but meager) paycheck in relation to the work you put in.

In today's world where managers' compensation is based on the bottom line and they only care for the quarterly financials, layoffs are a common occurance and there's no such thing as security anymore.

The only true security is to be your own boss and owning your own business. Your success or failure is based entirely on you and not on office politics.

 

[user43770]

Telling post by dutchman.

Let me piggyback and reference The Captain's blog. He specializes in the futility of most higher education degrees. Check out his book "Worthless" on Amazon. It covers exactly this.

 

[DJ Bax]

Edit: Alright I'm going to get the book, will respond when I have read it.

 

[crossedup]

Im currently working towards my master's degree in electrical engineering and will say that if you go the college route, be prepared for some incredibly hard work if you want to make serious money. I have played the politics game at my consulting game to perfection, being someone with social skills in engineering is huge because it is such a rarity. If you have the social skills, I would recommend it since you will literally have no competition in corporate politics. It's easy to make people do what you want and lead them in the direction that suit your self interest. Realize what your boss wants of you, and do it over and over again. My boss is incredibly insecure and always takes any opportunity to talk about himself, so I constantly flatter and ask him about himself, never stealing the spotlight. I mean, I'm a great engineer and know the technical skills, but recognizing these types of social cues are what make you the favorite of those above you.

There is a guy at my job who works far more hours than me who received a much smaller bonus than me because he lacks the ability to get others to do what he wants. It sucks because he works so hard, but it's reality. You have to play the game.

As far as school goes, I have a goal to achieve a 4.0 for my degree and want to make as many connections as possible, so I maybe jump ship and go to a more highly recognized company, depending on the potential for pay. I didn't do that for undergrad and had to settle for a less prestigious firm. I'm 23 now and should make around 90k in a couple years with this degree, would highly recommend it if you are driven enough and can put in the effort.

 

[The_flying_dutchman]

Im currently working towards my master's degree in electrical engineering and will say that if you go the college route, be prepared for some incredibly hard work if you want to make serious money. I have played the politics game at my consulting game to perfection, being someone with social skills in engineering is huge because it is such a rarity. If you have the social skills, I would recommend it since you will literally have no competition in corporate politics. It's easy to make people do what you want and lead them in the direction that suit your self interest. Realize what your boss wants of you, and do it over and over again. My boss is incredibly insecure and always takes any opportunity to talk about himself, so I constantly flatter and ask him about himself, never stealing the spotlight. I mean, I'm a great engineer and know the technical skills, but recognizing these types of social cues are what make you the favorite of those above you.

There is a guy at my job who works far more hours than me who received a much smaller bonus than me because he lacks the ability to get others to do what he wants. It sucks because he works so hard, but it's reality. You have to play the game.

As far as school goes, I have a goal to achieve a 4.0 for my degree and want to make as many connections as possible, so I maybe jump ship and go to a more highly recognized company, depending on the potential for pay. I didn't do that for undergrad and had to settle for a less prestigious firm. I'm 23 now and should make around 90k in a couple years with this degree, would highly recommend it if you are driven enough and can put in the effort.

Excellent post my friend and you're absolutely right that social skills matter so much in the real world.

What I've noticed most is that the vast majority of bosses are in fact extremely insecure. Most of them need constant reassurance that they're smart, or worthy, or competent, etc....if you master the art of making them feel comfortable you'll gaurantee your position with the company. In fact, this is one of Robert Greene's laws of power "Never outshine the master" even if the master is a damn fool.

 

[crossedup]

Excellent post my friend and you're absolutely right that social skills matter so much in the real world.

What I've noticed most is that the vast majority of bosses are in fact extremely insecure. Most of them need constant reassurance that they're smart, or worthy, or competent, etc....if you master the art of making them feel comfortable you'll gaurantee your position with the company. In fact, this is one of Robert Greene's laws of power "Never outshine the master" even if the master is a damn fool.

Dutchman, I would recommend that book to anyone. It's a solid pragmatic piece of writing that I attribute to many of the early successes in my career. Knowing psychology and recognizing what other people like allows you to make friends with more powerful people, and everyone knows connections are critical to getting the top positions within companies.

Additionally, developing your social skills is fvcking fun and exciting, you meet so many more interesting people who can provide you with excellent experiences and opportunities, and of course, you meet more women.Who wouldn't want that?