Is college worth it?

[OlympicTim]

Hey guys so I have a job offer that I could start my career now at 20 years old. They are willing to train me on the job instead of having me take the 2 year course in college. However part of me wants to just go to college for the 2 years.

What do you guys think would be the better option. The main reasons I want to go to collage are

A) meet new people

and

B) If the company ends up tanking/sucks at training me atleast I have the college education to show to a different employeer.

What do you guys think

 

[Tictac]

If you're going to 'major' in clapping for credit or gender studies, no - college is not worth it. If you're going to borrow $150,000+ and be an English Lit major, no - college is not worth it.

It's a good experience though. Just take something that might lead to an actual job. You don't have to be a 'business' major or an engineer just get some skills.

 

[FCB]

Just don't blow huge amounts of money on tuition and it most definetely is. You never want to be desperate or without options in anything, going to college helps develop yourself in ways that are extremely valuable, but being a slave to student debt after graduation can severely limit your freedom, ability to avoid being in a dead end job you can't leave.

 

[dustmuffin]

Will your prospective employer pay for college at a later date. Is it on the job or a certified training? What kind of jo b?

 

[El Payaso]

Depends on your major.

If you're going to school for Mid Asian Art History in the 1800's, then no.

If you're going to school for Science, Business, Math, then yes.

 

[Jetleg]

I'm studying medicine in europe, even though i'm not paying sh1t, its still basically doesnt worth it. you can find a nice job without college

 

[OlympicTim]

Okay i was pretty vague.

Basically i want to take a 2 year program that will prepare me for the job i am going to do. Its the career i want to get into the college is just a pre-trade course that isnt required but teaches you the basics of what you would need to know

 

[Bible_Belt]

The only reason people would take that course is that they don't have the job already. Experience is going to trump education. Take the job.

 

[dustmuffin]

Okay i was pretty vague.

Basically i want to take a 2 year program that will prepare me for the job i am going to do. Its the career i want to get into the college is just a pre-trade course that isnt required but teaches you the basics of what you would need to know

Do you get some sort of certification? Is it given on the job ? Trade school? Count as college credit?

 

[OlympicTim]

Do you get some sort of certification? Is it given on the job ? Trade school? Count as college credit?

Need to apprentice for 9000 hours, the job would count towards it school wouldn't school is a pre-apprenticeship program.

The main concern is if the company tanks and I'm stuck with an unfinished apprenticeship and no education.

Atleast with the college course I will know the basics, if the apprenticeship ends up sucking I may not learn everything because I want to start my own company when I am licensed

 

[Jaylan]

It depends on what you want to do as a career. Though tbh, it never hurts to have a degree. Im in IT, and a combination of degree, certifications, and experience will make you highly sought after.

Plus if you ever make a career change, a degree might possibly open a small door. Its nice to have nowadays, though degrees arent what they used to be. They are much more common than they were in the 80s, which may make you think they arent worth it....

BUT many HR professionals will toss your resume in the trash if youre missing a degree. However, if you career doesnt call for it, it may never be needed. Doesn't hurt to at least get a trade school degree at least either.

And I agree with Ruler, that its better to go to college while youre young and hungry. I was a go no where slacker in my late teens, and finally decided to head to college at 20/21. Im glad I did so. I made some great friends, had some really fun times, and have a degree that will help me for years to come.

While Im not in the field I studied for, the degree still helped open doors for me. But like I said earlier. I think a combination of degree, certifications/licenses in your field, and experience are a great trifecta.

PS - Theres nothing like being a young guy in college. Itll give you a lot of dating experience that cannot be replicated in other stages of life. Even though I wasnt a super casanova during undergrad, all those experiences taught be a lot about women.

 

[thatfeel]

The only reason people would take that course is that they don't have the job already. Experience is going to trump education. Take the job.

I'm with bible belt on this one. Forget about the women, better your own position early so you won't be scrambling to do it later. You can always take the college 2 year program later after you've earned money and experience.

 

[YawataNoKami]

My brother is a plumber , my cousin is a electrician. They are partners and 23 employees ,last year they make almost 2.2 millions. One of my cousins (my brother's partner sister) has a PhD in German Literature , she is an assistant manager in a KFC. Who the fvck went to college to get that type of Phd?Her and others stupid people like her. Her boss is 21 hahahahhahahha.

 

[Tenacity]

College is only worth it depending on what you want to do. I will tell you this, you don't need a brand name degree from a brand name college unless you are looking to apply for the top 1% of jobs such as a major Executive in a large corporation, large academia position, or to be recruited into a Wallstreet I-Banker position.

For every other job (99% of jobs OR starting your own business), going to the local no name college that's still regionally accredited will work. Just make sure the college is indeed regionally accredited with a good standing in the marketplace. Make sure you don't over pay for any degree, a degree is just A PART of your professional package, you also need applicable professional experience to go along with it.

My rule of thumb is this:

Bachelor's Degree: Shouldn't cost no more than $25,000 for the entire program including books and supplies.

Master's Degree: Shouldn't cost no more than $35,000 for the entire program including books and supplies.

DO NOT stay in dorms, a dorm is nothing but an apartment with inflated pricing. If you are under the age of 24, stay with your damn parents if they will let you rent free or paying a much lower amount for rent than if you were living on your own. Go to community college first and then transfer into the 4 year local college to keep costs down.

Try to have a career plan laid out, work in the jobs that are at the lower scale of the career but are the required experience positions that qualify you for the "entry level" position. Your college major should integrate into this plan with you majoring in some type of field related to Science, Math/Finance/Accounting, Healthcare, IT, Engineering, Computers, or a particular Trade.

 

[Desdinova]

Hey guys so I have a job offer that I could start my career now at 20 years old. They are willing to train me on the job instead of having me take the 2 year course in college. However part of me wants to just go to college for the 2 years.

You're eventually going to see a lot more companies training people on the job instead of focusing on schooling. The reason being is the baby boomers are exiting the workplace which means there's going to be more void than people to fill the positions. Providing paid, on the job training is one way to get those positions filled quickly.

I did everything kind of backwards. I got myself the job first, and my workplace paid for half of my college education. Then I went and got a better job in the health care industry. Health care is a great place to be right now because of the baby boomers getting older which is putting a demand on more services. Even if you don't get yourself a job with an already established company, you could easily create your own business because the demand will be there.

 

[dillj]

in 30 years, the US (and probably the entire world) is without doubt going to be a complete mess, very high risk of such in 20 years and possibly in 10 years. They can't stop inflating the $ and there's very little value left in it.

 

[LiveFreeX]

If the pre-apprenticeship training is a trade then absolutely do the schooling first. If its some vague subject at college that has no immediate job opportunities then don't do it. My brother did a Bachelors/Masters of Linguistics and has been unemployed for 6 years and living off my parents since finishing. He's developed an attitude where he's not willing to do a job for under 80k to start and apparently too 'intelligent' for general labor. I did a few small certifications and a $1500 week long TESOL certificate and they've kept me steadily employed for the last 12 years.

If you just want to have the 'college experience', go down to your local university bar/cafe, throw 10 textbooks on the table with the goal of getting through them while getting really drunk and avoiding false rape accusations.

 

[OlympicTim]

Just a little update im gonna go to school first. I spoke to a guy in the trade and he said guys who go to school usually make more and move up higher in the companiea

 

[dillj]

if you can't be assured of both a job after college AND student loan forgiveness, BEWARE, college is likely to be a big loser for you. you can get a Registered Nurse license after just 2 years of college, get VA nursing loans to go to college half time as you work full time. All nursing loans are forgiven, and somewhere in the US, you'll get hired for at least 60k per year.