Reminder: Get your college degree

[WestCoaster]

I work at a university and this past week I've had numerous high-level managers in businesses, in their 30's and 40's, coming back to school because they've been told by their bosses if they don't have their degree they will either be fired or will not move up in the business.

This is being told to people who have moved up the ladder into management and have been with companies for 10-20 years.

These people did not go to college when they had the opportunity ... many married (stupidly) young, got divorced, life is a mess, had to settle on a bad job, put women first, etc. Others thought they were doing the right thing by not going to college, and now they're paying for it.

Recently I've been in this discussion with high level managers at a steel company, in accounting, management, high-tech, and computer software fields. This demanding of a college degree is career-wide and is not sparing too many people.

So instead of worrying why Ashley, Kristi, or the Homecoming Queen b-tch has shut you down and you can't get a girlfriend, or wondering what to do with women, I suggest preparing for college, working on your degree and career, and putting women way down the list.

You'll be glad you did.

* I know this is old hat for some of you guys, but it still needs to be said.

 

[WishIWas]

What university?

 

[comic_relief]

agreed

I also want to add for high schoolers, studies should come first and women second. To do the opposite is a trap. You might not realize it now but in 5, 10, 20 years from now you will realize it. Find a nice balance and keep with it. Studies are first and foremost because 'knowledge is power'.

My balance doesn't even have women even in it because I simply cannot have time with studies, baseball, and whatever else I have to do.

 

[WestCoaster]

What university

I won't divulge only to say it's in the West/Rocky Mountain region. It's not Harvard, but it's pretty solid academically.

 

[WishIWas]

is it harvard?

 

[humph]

harvards in massacussets retard.

 

[Eternal]

Re: What university

Originally posted by WestCoaster
I won't divulge only to say it's in the West/Rocky Mountain region. It's not Harvard, but it's pretty solid academically.

Ha, I probably know.

 

[oakraiderz2]

Originally posted by humph
harvards in massacussets retard.

...hahaha that was funny...

 

[NRM]

Completely agree. Find out what you're interested in, major in it, get a degree in it.

There are many jobs you can get without a degree. And from that job, you usually are able to move up and get promoted just by showing your skills to the uppers. BUT, the second you lose your job or your company and another company merge, you will be competing against many other people who may not have the skills you have but they have a DEGREE. Your employers are not going to give you some protocol run and jump through a hoop tests, they are going to look at your creditials. Education is important, make sure you do the right thing.

 

[WestCoaster]

What's amazing is the bias towards a degree

I'm obviously not against having a degree -- I have a bachelor's and master's.

But these high-level managers with 20 years experience are coming in and talking to me, saying their CEO said, "Get a degree or you will be moved out or not moved up."

My reply is, "Yeah, but you're doing well without the degree."

The response is ALWAYS: "Doesn't matter, they want the degree, even if I don't learn a new skill."

I have heard this so much the last year it's incredible. It blows my mind that highly-skilled, highly-paid people are being forced to go back to school.

Many of these people regret not getting the degree in their early 20's when they should have.

I know, people can always find exceptions to the rule, but that's what they are: exceptions. Best to be on the safe side and concentrate on that degree and worry about the other stuff like women later. Plus, women are attracted to educated, successful men, you won't need to work as hard at getting the babes.

Each year degree bias is going to be more and more common. Stay on the safe side and get that degree.

 

[Sammo]

University is not 100% necessary. It's a common misconception to think that you HAVE to go to university to lead a decent life financially. That was yesterday guys, plenty of people that go to uni dont end up rich, and plenty of people that dont go to uni do end up rich.

I'll put it this way, if you go to uni: go to LEARN not to get the qualifications. If you are really going to use the **** your learning then thats great you know your in the right place. However if the only reason your going is to get a "degree" then your diluded.

Finally, you don't have to go to uni to be rich. I plan on running my own business/s and investing, so theres not going to be anyone there telling me that "you will lose your job if you dont get a degree".

Did Richard Branson go to university? No. The person i did work experience for (The owner of the best real estate agent in my city) got expelled from highschool and the people working for him have uni degrees.

But hey, that's just me

 

[Centaurion]

yes, but those guys are like one in a million. the average joe needs some formal education, unless you wanna flip burgers at micky Ds

 

[Egyptiandude1]

those guys are not one in a million, however, the mindset and determination is only realized by one in a million

 

[NRM]

I see where you're coming from Sammo, but the thing is, more people fail than succeed in those kinds of jobs. A degree IS definitely a good support backup. And if you don't strive for one now and go on and plan a life without one, you can possibly end up not going to school and getting a degree in your 20's, and going back to school to get a degree in your 35's.

Yes, a lot of rich people don't have degrees. But think about the poor people who don't have degrees either. Even the ones with a plan. If your business fails and you lost money, where are you going to go from there? I believe more businesses fail than actually move forward and make it. There isn't always a demand for everything. And if there is a demand for it, someone usually already has it handled.

Truth is, while most of these kids are in high school, they should be striving for an education and actually think about higher education, whether an AA, Bachelor's, or a Doctorate. Just give you something to work for.

I do believe one thing for certain though. Education is DEFINITELY NOT overrated. So don't pass up the chance.

 

[Sammo]

Originally posted by Centaurion
yes, but those guys are like one in a million. the average joe needs some formal education, unless you wanna flip burgers at micky Ds

So you have allready decided that your an "average joe". You find your self incapable of being one in a million.

Originally posted by NRM
I see where you're coming from Sammo, but the thing is, more people fail than succeed in those kinds of jobs. A degree IS definitely a good support backup. And if you don't strive for one now and go on and plan a life without one, you can possibly end up not going to school and getting a degree in your 20's, and going back to school to get a degree in your 35's.

Yes, a lot of rich people don't have degrees. But think about the poor people who don't have degrees either. Even the ones with a plan. If your business fails and you lost money, where are you going to go from there? I believe more businesses fail than actually move forward and make it. There isn't always a demand for everything. And if there is a demand for it, someone usually already has it handled.

Truth is, while most of these kids are in high school, they should be striving for an education and actually think about higher education, whether an AA, Bachelor's, or a Doctorate. Just give you something to work for.

I do believe one thing for certain though. Education is DEFINITELY NOT overrated. So don't pass up the chance.

Sorry but im not going to spend 3 (or more) years of my life just to get a "support backup". I'll take my chances. Did you consider.. people who have degrees and are still poor? If you have the right attitude and enough determination you are going to succeed eventually.

Starting your own business and property investment has made more millionaires then any other method (at least here in Australia). Having said that, its probably made the most poor people as well.

But hey, i like that risk, and if i do it properly there really isnt that much risk.

I still stand by my claim that education is over rated. It used to be if you had an Arts degree then you were the ****, but now degrees are to common. It's to hard to suceed in the world of emplyment, i'd much rather be my own boss.

 

[WestCoaster]

Different down under

Have at it down under, but I'm working on the front lines in career counseling and talking to CEOS, managers, and so forth.

And they tell me it's only going to get more and more demanding in having to have that degree. I hear this on a weekly basis by the way.

It may be different in Australia.

But who are you going to believe, someone who is talking to these CEOs on a regular basis and has factual information? Or some teenager in Australia, who is setting himself up for a huge fall just because he's too stubborn and/or lazy to make the sacrifice in college to better himself?

Go ahead, listen to some guy on the internet and not the CEOs and managers doing the hiring.

It's amazing that some people don't take this seriously and think they can change the minds of CEOs just with their own whacky beliefs.

 

[Centaurion]

Originally posted by Sammo
So you have allready decided that your an "average joe". You find your self incapable of being one in a million.

dude, i dont want to brag or anything, but i co-funded a small company with only 40$ in my pocket when i was in the 6th grade, selling t-shirts from a stand (yes, it sounds stupid). It grew from there and now, Im in Uni doing a double degree in Eng and Com, while this company makes 700.000US$ a year. The profit could have been much higher. but I have basically been away from it for the last 1,5 years due to the army, and the fact that i moved to australia.

Yeah, i know that you can succed without a formal education, you can become a big ass millionarie, but thats rare. Pretty rare. Listen to WC, go to uni/college and get your degree and take it from there.

 

[Centaurion]

Originally posted by Sammo
But hey, i like that risk, and if i do it properly there really isnt that much risk.

there is a risk unless you are able to start up a Ltd of Co right away, which btw requires a good deal of capital. Being a sole proprietorship/sole owner is risky, since there is no legal seperation between owner and business, so the owner has unlimited liability, ei personally liable for ALL business debts. That means that if you **** up (unable to pay creditors/rent/ or whatever), you lose everything. Your house, car, your pc or whatever you have.

and btw, im from norway, not australia.

 

[Tiësto]

Degree

College is important.

But not that important.

You're paying for a piece of paper in most cases. Chances are most of you won't apply what you majored in during college to the real world (i.e. work).

If you're seriously interested in being an intelligent and well-informed man you're going to have to educate yourself. Always remember that there is a difference between being educated (i.e. "I have a college degree") and being smart. The two , while not mutually exclusive, are not one in the same.

Do not rely on professors and study partners. Rely only on yourself, because ultimately, if you want to go anywhere, that's the only person you'll be able to count on.

 

[Sammo]

Originally posted by Centaurion
dude, i dont want to brag or anything, but i co-funded a small company with only 40$ in my pocket when i was in the 6th grade, selling t-shirts from a stand (yes, it sounds stupid). It grew from there and now, Im in Uni doing a double degree in Eng and Com, while this company makes 700.000US$ a year. The profit could have been much higher. but I have basically been away from it for the last 1,5 years due to the army, and the fact that i moved to australia.

Yeah, i know that you can succed without a formal education, you can become a big ass millionarie, but thats rare. Pretty rare. Listen to WC, go to uni/college and get your degree and take it from there.

You just helped prove my point. That you dont need to go to uni to reach financial independance.