Is College Worth the Time and Money?
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- Опубліковано 3 бер 2020
- College is often presented as THE best path to success. But it's not the only path. Is college really the best option?
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*How important is a college degree today, really?*
College is often presented as THE BEST option, full stop. Why? Because it's not your grandparents' economy anymore. Back in 1950, a high school diploma could get you a solid, good-paying job. You could go work on an assembly line, save money, and even buy a house. Today? Not so much. Most of the factory jobs have gone to other countries, where labor is cheaper. And good-paying careers out there now are more complex. As a result, college is now more popular today than ever before.
*How much does college cost?*
The average cost to attend a private college is over $35,000 A YEAR! That makes in-state, public colleges look like a bargain at $10,000 a year. College wasn't always this expensive! If you adjust for inflation, students in 1990 were paying ⅓ of what they're paying today. Maybe today's grads are AT LEAST making more money? NOPE! New college grads in 1990 made around the same amount of money -- on average -- as new college grads today. To pay the absurdly high cost of college, students are taking out loans, and that means debt. The typical student leaves college owing around 30,000 dollars.
*What are the pros of going to college?*
The arguments FOR college are that it pays out more money over time -- on average -- than most other options. It can help you transition into living life as an adult. And it gives you access to an alumni network which can help you with job opportunities.
*What are the cons of college?*
It can be risky because you could go into debt and might not even graduate. A lot of people WITH college degrees have jobs that don't require it. And there are other quicker, cheaper options that might get you where you want to go.
SOURCES:
Why Is College in America So Expensive? (The Atlantic)
www.theatlantic.com/education...
Millennial life: How young adulthood today compares with prior generations (Pew Research Center)
www.pewsocialtrends.org/essay...
College Completion Rates Are Up, But The Numbers Will Still Surprise You (NPR)
www.npr.org/2019/03/13/681621...
Why Google doesn't care about hiring top college graduates (Quartz)
qz.com/180247/why-google-does...
The case against college (The Washington Post)
www.washingtonpost.com/nation...
General Education, Vocational Education, and Labor-Market Outcomes over the Lifecycle (The Journal of Human Resources)
hanushek.stanford.edu/sites/de...
Nine out of 10 new jobs are going to those with a college degree (MarketWatch)
www.marketwatch.com/story/nin...
Educational Attainment in the U.S. (U.S. Census Bureau)
www.census.gov/data/tables/ti...
Some 43% of College Grads Are Underemployed in First Job (The Wall Street Journal)
www.wsj.com/articles/study-of...
The Labor Market for Recent College Graduates (Federal Reserve Bank of New York)
www.newyorkfed.org/research/c...
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Are you thinking about NOT going to college -- or did you already make that decision? Did you decide to go to college? How do you feel about your choice? Let us know in the comments below!
I did go to college and other than loans it was amazing. Now I work at a University doing something outside my degree. I completely agree that college isn't for everyone, yet everyone should have the chance to go. Also, does offer the perfect ability to enter Pseudo-Adulthood. Personal freedom to discover new ideologies with a familial safety net basically.
I have a high school degree and two AA degrees (one in Math and Science, and one in Arts and Humanities)
and got accepted into University of California Santa Cruz, Davis, and Berkeley
under different Liberal Art majors (psychology, communications, and media studies).
However, it costs too much and I'm not sure if the major(s) are practical. Yes, it would help with "adulting" and networking, but I don't want to spend all this money just for that. And financial aid doesn't really help because I applied late.
I'm am thinking about either going to the school that gives the most financial aid, or just staying another year to save up more and apply again (on time), or just not going to college at all.
Tuff decisions
I attended college and earned a bachelor degree. fast forward a few years i became a union electrician apprentice . good wages, insurance , retirement plan. i think the trade route is a good way to go if you can get in a union apprenticeship because it wont cost you any tuition. its a earn while you learn system
i have not go to college no man!
I went to the military first then college. Best decision of my life
An electrician here, who did not go to college. Living in california making 65k a year. School wasnt my thing and I dont blame anyone for being pro or con college. My wife went to college and got her bachelors in nutrition. That made it all the better that i had my career down with no debt from school to provide for her financially. Now we're both well off because of our different choices. Make your choice. There are many routes
I'm surprised she got a job with that degree. Its not exactly a degree known land you a job. Good that it worked out for her and kudos to working a trade. Blue collar jobs typically pay better than most degrees do which is a plus.
@@thedude8526 anything STEM is almost a guaranteed job
How much do you enjoy your job?
$65k in CA is nothing. Even $100k a year in CA is nothing.
@@BoredBricks Nobody asked
Skipping college was the best choice I ever made. I've been a computer programmer for nearly 20 years.
Wanna teach me the way?
Wow, that's amazing. Truly the life. I have a question for you: how did you learn coding? (Another question: Was it hard?)
To start with, many jobs won't require college. Imagine walking into a car body shop. You tell them you can fix cars. They ask where you went to school. You point to your 57 Chevy in the parking lot and say "I restored that". They come out and look and are impressed. They like that you can learn on your own without being taught. They hire you.
Meanwhile, consider you walked into a hospital and apply to be a surgeon. They ask where you went to school. You say you haven't, but you've removed splinters from your arm in the past. Obviously you are shown the door.
Computer programming is the first example. You can easily find tutorials, source code, examples, help, and Q&A online. You must treat learning as a full-time job. You must work at least 8 hours a day, 5 days a week, for at least 6 months. 1000 hours.
If this seems like a monumental task, it is. But it is far less hours than going to school. It's also free. That makes it a no-brainer.
I got my first job in programming because I worked in customer support. I obtained a copy of the source code to one of their products, and proceeded to find bugs and correct them. They were impressed and gave me a shot.
After nearly 20 years, I am in a good situation salary wise, and in heavy demand. I still receive job offers every week even in these uncertain times. Best of all, I enjoy what I do.
Paul Gardner may I ask where your from because I’m from north Cali and it’s hard to find a career with a sustainable salary to live here
@@jairomendoza9483 I'm from MN. Salary was low the first few years. I was new and proving myself. I was ok with that. The company took a chance on a guy without a degree. They should get some benefit too along with myself. After that it increased rapidly.
College no longer guarantees you a good job, but if you do it right, as in you make connections, get good grades, get internships, and do things that build your resume, you'll be a really strong candidate when you get out
But if you squander the opportunity, it can be a waste unfortunately
But can you say that thats much of a thing anymore, especially with this pandemic?
Go to college to become someone, use that network, use that opportunity. Don't just float through, or it's going to be wasted. Information can be learned online, you must get the most out of everything else it offers.
@@mrknarf4438 im going to trade school instead i want to become plumber no joke
@@shrek19yearsago78 good luck on your education
I didn’t go to college, I own a small business and I made $236,000 PERSONAL INCOME, AFTER EXPENSES last year. I’m age 28. (My gross income was $1.3 million.) IQ is way more important than college imo. I can’t say whether college is good or bad because my IQ is 147, I probably would’ve succeeded at either route. But it certainly annoys me when people say that “I won’t be successful bcuz I didn’t go to college” even tho I clearly fking am, and I own 3 rental properties lol
What's after college?
If you haven't yet answered this for yourself, save your family the cost of tuition.
What's after college? More college, of course!
Facts.
Well I assume it be search look for a job in youre makor
@@joseescobedo7899 Not unless you want to be a doctor or a scientist. You have to do med school or graduate school.
Silly thing to say. Just go if you want to
I went to college for 3 semesters. Then, I gave up. I was working part-time at a TV repair shop. I learned electronics. I became an electronic technician. That was in 1970. About 20 years ago, I took several Microsoft classes and got certificates for each class. I have been working as a computer technician since then, and I love the work and the pay. No regrets about college.
Thanks for sharing your perspective! College is definitely not the ONLY way to go.
When I was struggling in college my dad told me something I'll never forget. He said that you're going there not to learn engineering but how to deal with people. It's a vaccine for real life. That helped me stick it out
Edit : I'm quite surprised at the shit this stirred up in the replies two fucking years later. I will not go into details but when I broke down, struggling and was close to quitting my dad was there for me and told me what I needed to hear. This was my personal experience. If you cannot relate then honestly good for you. God forbid someone else's experience of life is different from yours. Muting notifications. I wish you all well
You can learn by practical experience not even a doctor needs a degree there is library for reason
You can learn by practical experience not even a doctor needs a degree there is libr
@@nikunjmajithia5002 I personally dont want a person who hasn't gone to college to perform a surgery on me
@@alexo.3758 I would if he has worked on my friends and relatives well.
@@alexo.3758 they learn from books and youtube videos dont need degree that what people want you to think
College has worked for me. Went to community college for two years and transferred to a university, seek internship and volunteered in many field of expertise. I make more money then I did without one and I paid of my 17k debt a year after. Just play your cards and make smart choices, like avoiding living like your rich.
That’s great! I just got my master’s degree and making more and more every year as a middle school teacher. I’ve been teaching for 8 years and making solid money.
Congrats man!!! Would you say that most of these things that happened was from the network you built or was it because you made it all work?
@@Aries16603 that’s awesome!!
@@Kiwipre Glad you asked. I would say a little bit of both. Not recently as my last two jobs I had to apply to A LOT of jobs, but starting out yes! I landed on internships because I networker with professors and fellow classmates. It gave me a solid foundation for my resumes which made me get my feet wet and get the necessary experience to get my entry level. So networking indirectly helped me in the long run, but as you build up your levels, you have to solidly know your stuff and retain some of your knowledge from school. For example, the last three interviews I had, they were asking me about purification steps and enzymes. You learn things in the industry which are cookie cutters, but they wanted to know what actually was happening in the molecular level and how it applied to my job, which requires lots of background knowledge. Market is getting harder now not gonna lie, so networking, education, work experience, research all matters.
I wanted to cry when you said it took you seven years and i felt like a failure if couldn't in 4 years,. So thank you bro for motivating me.
Sorry we're late to reply to this comment - but we are so glad that we could provide some inspiration! Good luck with your path.
Don’t go to college right away. You have not the life experience to understand the value of education and it’s cost. Work first, learn how to earn $/save, and take internships/network, or join the military for the GI bill. Don’t screw your life over for students loans. It will delay and hinder your younger years and the debt will prevent you from buying a home or starting a family.
Most people have jobs in high school
Can you still get a GI bill joining the military after college?
Can you go to trade school and then transfer over to a university? (my friend got a full ride scholarship doing this)
@@bernardosanchez5954 fact it's so underrated
Sadly most people have tons of debt to pay and are not doing well because of it.
Everyone is forgetting about the kids that have parents who have no trade or degree and they are the first generation and have no guide!
Yup especially those of us from immigrant families who’s parents never even finished high school in Mexico
My dad is a mechanic who dropped out of college and still got a good paying job.
Bingo. You fall on your face before you realize you screwed up. Now your in debt. Financial education is everything. Get a real estate license and invest early.
@gk5574 What happens if your forced to go to college
that 100k to not go is sounding real good right now
Going to college puts you in massive debt so you'll be desperate to take any job that will help you pay that debt back.
It aint about the debt - its the reward that come with it. A good job. With a good job you’ll pay it off in no time.
@@genericchannel126 majority of the college students are in debt. 70% of students take loan and the average debt of a graduate is around 30000$. Average pay of college graduate is 44000$ (all the degrees). If you consider only fields like comp sci, engineering, mathematics, business and health Sciences, then the average salary for these guys is between 52000-71000$. So if you remove the above mentioned degrees and calculate the average of the remaining degrees, then that average will be less than 44000$. There are many trade jobs which pay similar to or more than average college graduate salary. Average salary of electrician is 59000$, average salary of dental hygienist is 74000$, average salary of plumber is 54000$, average salary of carpenter is 46500$, average salary of HVAC technician is 52000$ etc. All these courses are given in either trade school or in community college. It takes 1-2 years to complete these courses (so u are in work force two years earlier) and it costs only 15-30K which is a quarter of what a traditional 4 year college costs. So unless u are in the fields I mentioned above, it is not worth to go to college
my grandparents and parents are so rich they can afford to pay upfront
@@Ryanbros good for you
@@Ryanbros You should go to college, since you really need it.
I wouldn’t ever have been able to afford my 4-year university. I went to my city/community college for 2 years then transferred to my university for the last 2 years. It was the most mentality straining process I’ve been through so far but I’m still very proud of the degree I got from my university.
Congrats on making it through university! That's a big accomplishment, no matter what your opinion is about the question in our video title.
Same here. I went to community college and transferred to UT Austin. I will graduate next year but the path to get here like you said is so straining. Good job!
Can you elaborate
@@alistairlee7604 Same here!!! I am going to a community college to earn my certificate program plus I will try to gain some experience in my field of study. Employers wants applicants to have a degree and experience these days.
I attended college for 2 years, got my general studies and associate of science and liberal arts. After the 2 years my financial aid ran out and I was looking at a wall of debt if I chose to continue college. So, I looked at alternatives. I found a trade school for programming and became a mainframe sys programmer. Now I am working with people who owe 50K in debt for college loans. Note: if you take this path and end up working with people who just got out of college with student loans.... they can be a bit salty toward you because they didn't take a short cut. Really it all depends on you, your options, and what you want to do for a living. A key factor that set me apart was the fact that I grew confident in interviews by going to random interviews for jobs I would never take. Another factor was that I worked my way up to a manager position while in college. Good luck to you and your future whatever path you choose to take and remember the good Lord loves you.
Did you attend a community college or a university ?
@@_mode_9921 well at first it was a community college but then a university bought it to receive more transferring students while I was attending which made everything worse.
Go to the community college first to save money. I wish I could have done that.
sorry i'm going to the JC for one year then transfering to a UC
@@Ryanbros I’m transferring out of a 4 year to go to a community college for an associates lol
If I would have went to community college and found a decent transfer scholarship or slam thing equivalent I would be on top of the world right now
why? Did this work out for you? Hope ur good!!
I chose to go to college. In my generation (I'm 42), you were pretty much promised that if you went to college (Bachelor's at a minimum), you'd land a decent career (read: "career", not "job"), and if you didn't, you were cursed to blue collar low wages for life. *cue retrospective "Okay, boomer."
Now, I've usually generally made varying degrees of 'more money than blue collar wages', sometimes a good bit more, sometimes not all that much more... but also found maintaining a career momentum and taking professional experience as cache from one job to the next extremely hard. Companies tank, you relocate, whatever the reason, and the down time between jobs and time-and-energy put into finding the next one has been enormous... no exceptions. Years at a time in some cases.
My friends who work as hairdressers or waiters or whatever don't have to deal with that drudgery. I'm jealous sometimes. The professional job market is a taxing and brow-beating experience, IME... and that's the path college generally puts you on. I sometimes wonder if I'd just be a restaurant manager making $70k/yr. by now and not stressing the eff out every time I had to make a move between gigs.
Do I regret not going to school? I don't know. I can't look at another timeline where I didn't go to college. I do know I'm not at all happy with the situation as it is.
Thanks for your thoughtful response!
what career is this?
@@justinburns4149 Me? I've mainly worked in product development: coordination, industrial design, prototyping, R&D, market research, CAD design/rendering/technical drawings, etc. I'd eventually like to work as a product dev manager, technical director, creative director, something like that.
Ryan Miller ok gotchyea, you came from the generation that was taught to go to college cus it would make you stand out. the boomers, your generation and much of the millennials are taught this becuase before 1950s majority of the population went to work at factory’s or construction or mechanics. The blue collar jobs that everyone could do made no money. Now in 2020 the gap is huge in these fields and everyone who jumps on the bandwagon from highschool goes to college usually undecided or changes their majors once or twice. We are living in a time period when its just to common to have a degree to get a job, i can tell you now that many kids are trapped in thinking its the only solution to getting a job and living comfortably, this is much the teachers and parents fault. They need to be taught to see what careers interest them if it requires college go, if not don’t.
@@justinburns4149 Yeah, man... I wouldn't even say we were espoused college because it could "make us stand out", but rather that it would literally lock us out of good paying and/or white collar careers. To be honest, I don't even know what anyone looks at my resume for in 2020. Is it my most recent experience? The position that looks the most like what they're trying to fill? What software I know? I had an online portfolio that kept the hit metrics, almost no one looked at it... so I know ACTUALLY LOOKING AT MY PAST WORK is something recruiters and prospective employers don't bother with... which seems so weird to me. I have a sinking suspicion that since I have enough experience to push it onto the second resume page, that no one even bothers to see if I have a degree or not. People hiring product development positions: Feel free to let me know.
The favorite thing that I like about my degree is that it tells employers that I know how to learn something and put it to use. I think they're more willing to present you with opportunities if they think you'll have a good chance to succeed. I may be wrong but I think a college degree gives them more confidence in you. I know a lot of people who've gotten good jobs that aren't related to their degrees but were given a chance because they had a degree.
Great point!
I had a chief of maintenance when I was in the military. Her degree was in social sciences. Didn't know a damned thing about working with people, but that sheepskin made her an officer. Thank God the military is actually run by NCOs.
The most important thing to me: college opened up my mind to new ideas and experiences. Take courses outside your "vocational" center. They can be the most interesting.
I wish I would've gone to a trade school before I went to college. College teaches you too many useless courses that don't pertain to any real life applications in the career of your choice. Atleast with trade schools, you're taught skills that pertain to the career you want and get done quickly to get into the workforce.
@@sierrablackwell2223 I’m an electrican at 19 and I agree most people my age don’t know what they’re doing but if you show up to work and soak in all the knowledge you can master being a electrican...it’s just a matter of how bad you want it
@@sierrablackwell2223 I don’t understand on how people can’t measure
So glad I went the community college route for my undergrad. Watching my friend garner debt just to attend a “prestigious private” university and then not ever graduate. Just blows my mind.
I hate college....
Same
High school was SO MUCH WORSE (for me).
@@EhCloserLookhow??
@@EhCloserLook how bruh lol highschool suppose to be easy
@@EhCloserLook high school is a cakewalk compared to college. I went to school high every day and had A's and B's. You can't really pull that off in college...
This topic highly depends on the person and there really isn't a right or wrong way of what you choose (or chose) to do. It's just a matter of time and how you use it.
Exactly
Trades are awesome! There isn't a field that doesn't have trade schools you could go to instead of college.... beauty, construction, medicine, mechanics, computer &tech, cooking, real estate, business fiance, education, animals, bartending, art& Cinema etc. the list goes on there are trades for all fields something for everyone
Well the thing about me is that I plan on being self-employed, and run my own business, and I just don’t think college is built for that kind of profession.
Isaac, you're correct! I know two people who went to college to get a degree in business management. Both of them currently run their own businesses and BOTH of them said looking back on it now college was a big waste of time and money. Today's society is so conditioned and transfixed on college it makes you think you have to have an engineering degree with a specialization in hydrodynamics just to unclog a stopped-up toilet. They ballyhoo about getting a degree but if you get that degree only to make X-amount of money whereas your trade-degreed Joe Six-pack neighbor who works on cars make three times what you make it tells me something is very wrong with that picture.
The way I currently see it college is becoming a lot like the housing bubble from years ago and just like the housing bubble sooner or later its going to pop and the fallout from which isn't going to be pretty!
You’re acting like taking on a business is easy lol get a job to build your funds and use that money to invest into your business
That’s what I did atleast and it worked for me
The decision of college was pretty much made for me by lack of money. Couldn't afford to go, and couldn't afford to not be working. So it was regular hourly jobs for me.
I think the usefulness of college depends heavily upon your goals. If there's a particular field you want to work in, college may be a necessity, or it may at least be a very sound path.
But if it's something you can practice and improve at on your own, then if you have the dedication, you can build a strong portfolio and establish yourself in a career faster and with less expense than you would have if you had gone the college route.
Thank you for sharing your experience and perspective.
@@AboveTheNoise Anytime! Thank you for making these videos. They're well done.
I actually got a huge chunk of tuition taken off first years of college due to a parent being a university employee. I had experienced both the good parts about college and the bad parts about it. There were things that I thought needed to be improved with the way programs worked, but I do not regret going.
I understand you advocate for college, and as a former college student myself, I think college is the biggest waste of time, energy, and money. I left my third semester and went to the trades where I got my tuition free education while working. I will never regret that decision. The trades are an excellent option and I encourage it over college degree. Anyway. You see like most high school kids I was confused. Thinking that college was the only way to live comfortably and happy. As I got older I realized it was not. At all. I realized that the trades were looked upon by ignorant people. Including teachers and professors. Pure ignorance. Trades schools are pure gold for job security and satisfaction. Overall, I think college should be free for people since their risking a lot of factors for attending.
I went to a community college for 3 years, it helped in keeping my brain in use, but I eventually got my CDL through a job and 1 month of schooling gets you into 60k+ driving jobs, it's not for everyone, but there's a lot of opportunity in it with little to no cost
I hire programmers, and although a highly relevant degree is not immaterial, I'm almost entirely interested in other things: the skills I need from the appicant, their ability to pick-up new technical skills, their people skills, their good character and honesty, their ownership of actions and customer focus. If you show me that you spent a year studying a language in antoher country, or doing volutary work; that's going to weigh heavier with me than a degree certificate. I have one of those, so I know their actual value!
You make a good point. But, just want to point out that you (with your degree) are the one doing the hiring.
@@AboveTheNoise In tis case, you're right; but it's my own business and if I acquired any useful knowledge from that to help in an IT business, it's honestly nothing I couldn't have got much cheaper and just as effectively from reading a few choice books.
What University gave me was a chance to make some friends. But I made friends later in a Japanese language school and subsequently in a Spanish language school. Those two studying parts of my life have been much more useful to me, and far cheaper then my university degree. As an IT contractor for hmmm, 20 years since university, I was never once asked for a degree. (It's true that contractors inhabit a place somewhat "outside the system".)
I had to write an essay about why college is important and why we should go even tho I’m not fond of the idea
Interesting video! Elevator installers make almost as much as PAs and, more than health educators . My kids are attending community college and work-development programs. I think once parents can get over worrying about their kids "making it"😟💸 or, the ego thing ("What does YOUR child do?"👨🏻⚕️😤), more of us will encourage our kids to engage in innovative life options, after high school (other than convential college).🙄 I wish you ALL the best of success in your positive endeavors. 👋🏾👨🏾⚕️
Thanks. Great video.
Didn’t go to college. Didn’t go to trade school. I went military for electronics and then apprenticed as an electrician. At 29 I started my own contractor’s business. I’m 38 now and take home about 250k a year.
No, I don’t regret “missing” college. I learned discipline in the military, best lesson I ever received. I don’t begrudge anyone who chooses college, but don’t assume you’re more intelligent than I because you did.
I think intelligence has nothing to do with education. You have it or you don’t. Good job on your business! 👍
Yep, and you can not get leadership and discipline in college
The liberal arts education you receive at a university is archaic and focuses far too much on subjects outside of the major course of study. Having gone through the experience twice now, and with some life experience under my belt, I fell like this is partly down to the way bureaucracies work. In some way bureaucracies function to continue and extend themselves even if neither are particularly useful. General ed. requirements at colleges and universities often fall into this trap where it seems like the function of the course is more to provide a staff position, and thereby expand the bureaucracy necessary to support those positions, rather than to impart any meaningful or useful education.
So very true a lot of people that do not have college usually owned businesses that the people who go to college work for
DEFINITELY include me in that 51% statistic! I graduated from a renowned engineering school in the states, but I definitely regret it. Now I’m back in college going for a second Bachelor’s in a field that I am much more passionate about. 😩
Universities have 2 sales pitches to hook students.
One is to sell them on the more marketable majors like: STEM or business.
then, for the students who do. not want to. major in a maketable major, there is still the idea that its the professional networks and. connections you make that really get you a job. Problem is, there is tens of thousands of students graduating with marketable degrees from prestigous universities, and some of them are having a hard time finding a job. So, if you have a liberal arts degree from a mid tier state. college, you are competing with them and still have student loans to deal with.
There is a lot of truth to making social connections, you need emotional intelligence to make. social connections.
I got paid by the GI Bill to get my first college degree but the only thing I actually got out of it was promotion points when I reenlisted in the Army which was what paid for most of my second college degree. Do not take out a loan for anything. If you do you'll always spend a lot more time paying it off with interest than you would just saving up for whatever you want the loan for. Some jobs require a minimum level of education to qualify for of course but staying out of jail gives you a lot more opportunities than any college degree will.
Well said! I am doing rather well with no college education! 0 debt and unlimited possibilities!
Skipped college to work at the post office and begin building my rental property portfolio at 18.
It’s sad how they are trying to gut the USPS.
Good videos, Miles! One thing, maybe to away with the "peace out" at the end
My girl work needed her degree from
her last week and I was worried about her loosing her job 😴 but everything good now only because of deelscafe good work 👍.
I got into the beca program at sf state that they probably went to. But I cant afford to live work and go to school in SF.. as someone who wants to return for that major it seems really difficult to invest in it.. especially when its not that difficult to learn on our own
This spoke to me directly. Good work! 👏
I decided to go to college. I am about to graduate with a 4 year degree plan and start working in Texas with a job salary of over 75k. Graduating with my bachelors degree and a wonderful transition from HS to college to the real life. Worth the experience and study for me.
Hello, are you in STEM? I hope you’re doing well 1 year later! ☺️
Good video, very valuable information, I am thinking about my son going to college, and I will keep saving money to pay for it.
Glad you found the video informative!
After graduating high school I went to a trade school and then work I now balance 2 jobs and go to school for welding my little sister and brother both go to different colleges one Clark Atlanta the other is trying to go into either georgia southern or fsu. Am I doing something wrong here because I feel like I messed up
SF State represent!!! 🙌
So I'm wanting to go to school to become a pe and health teacher. I was thinking about going through with it online for my bachelors. And minor in coaching. This is through William Carey University. Or I was thinking about going to school for plumbing and try and walk on for basketball too. I know I'm more passionate about becoming a pe teacher though. But I just don't know if it's worth it. Also wanted to get my personal training certifications/strength and conditioning one too and do that as a side hustle. Definitely need advice. Thanks!!
I was in your shoes. I ended up quitting all that nonsense and finished nursing school. I will never be out of job!
I got a degree, in the mid 90s, that I’m not using. My old job required it, not my current one. I wish I had started the trade in which I now work, sooner. University was a good experience for me, but I wouldn’t do it today, when one semester costs more than my entire education. It’s not worth it.
Currently I attend graduate school to get an MFA. For me, the college route was the right one because I find the academic environment to be the one I feel most comfortable in. So I concede I am biased towards it and will always promote it.
That said, I know that it isnt the route for everyone. You bring up excellent points about the value of things like trade schools and apprenticeships. I think if a person believes those paths would be more beneficial to them, they should explore them.
My preference is for people to research and consider at least community college, both for lower costs and the experience. But I dont think anyone should ever be pressured into going. They shouldn't be made to think that they can't have a successful life without a degree.
If someone wants to pursue a Bachelors or Masters degree, they should do a ton of research. Really consider what they are passionate about and what schools they would want to spend several years attending. In addition, they need to develop a financial plan. Research grants and scholarships and see if its viable to work and go to school. I can't in good conscience recommend taking loans because I believe its too risky.
These are some of my thoughts. Thank you for reading them and thank you for an informative video.
What did you major/ are majoring in? :)
@@hc1ee353 When I was in undergrad, I majored in Theatre Arts.
Now that im in grad school, my major is the Master of Fine Arts in Television, Film & Theatre/Acting. Sorry, we're required to write it all out when listing it. Haha.
Jeremy Leochner That’s super cool! I would love to act but I can’t sadly haha. I wish you the best in grad school!
@@hc1ee353 Thank you. :)
I am an instructional tutor in a graduate program to be certified elementary teacher. Lots of tests, costs, parking permits, long days, and student teaching coming up. Look forward to being in the career when done.
This is why we need to get the government out of higher education, it simply props up prices and makes people think they NEED a college degree. Our workforce is no more useful with people who have religious studies degrees (I have one, so I can say that) than with people who have high school diplomas. It's an extra four years of debt and lost income, plus in the case of a lot of majors doesn't increase your skills nearly as much as those lost four years of work experience or perhaps trade school would. We need the government out of higher education so tuition isn't artificially propped up and people can make their own decisions on whether to make this investment or go another route.
Bulls-it!! College can help you have a secure life.
Not going to college was and currently my best decision. 4 solid years to work on my business. In just a few months alone in high school, I'm making more than the principals.
What business are you in?
@@anthonymonterroza7875 Ecommerce
How did you do it?
Although I know it’s not the right choice for everyone, going to college (4-year university) was definitely the right choice for me. However, I didn’t go right after high school which I really recommend doing if you can. Because I waited to go, I got a few years of my college completely paid for by the state/gov because I was old enough to be seen as fully independent from my parents meaning more financial aid. I do have some student loan debt but I did much better than my peers because I waited to go. And before I left for college I spent a few years after high school working which helped me save some money before I left.
Why I think the 4-year, traditional path was best for me? I believe it was because I needed the structure and I also met so many people (expanded my network) by attending a large university. I think I could have done trade school and still been successful but my bachelor’s degree gives me the opportunity to apply to jobs in a variety of fields that I wouldn’t have had with just a trade degree. So for all those reasons it was worth it for me.
However, I definitely think the US can do better. Even with all the financial aid I got I still worked throughout college to pay for my other various expenses. It would be great if college could be less expensive or offered more financial aid that doesn’t have to be repaid. Private loans are very predatory and it’s going to take me at least 5-6 years to pay off the balance I have! So my advice is to avoid private loans at all costs and wait to go if you can so you’re seen as independent from your parents. And, in my opinion, there’s no need to go to an out of state school. It costs so much more to be out of state and unless your family is rolling in dough it’s just not worth it. And state schools are just as good as private and are far cheaper! Most companies don’t care what college you went to as long as you have a degree!
How old were you when you went if you dnt mind me asking?
@@Isaiahkool1671 I started college at a public, 4-year university at the age of 21. Graduated at 25. 😊
@@ToopidPonay , interesting! Thanks for sharing your experience!
Graduated college in a pandemic.. a once in a lifetime thing.. 🤧
All college teaches you is to look down on those who never graduated.
I’m currently studying at a private campus and it’s got me thinking is this all there is to life?. I don’t know where to go from here, I’m lost😪and college is damn expensive
Same here Tbh
I feel like all there is to life is working and slaving for someone else
I'm currently a college freshmen who's failing 2 classes 66 and 65 and I feel like a failure
BPJ Reacts TV then why stay
@@bpjreactstv4998 Why not try a trade or an apprenticeship? You can be an electrician or plumber and make fairly good money as you are learning. School is definitely not for everyone.
A college degree is important for the medical field and law anything else I can understand that college isn’t necessary for other jobs but it is helpful it helped me to know what I actually wanted to do
I went to college and I graduated but it was a painful experience and I am really glad that I do not have to go to college ever again.
What did you study? 😅
can you make a video on how your mom made it on the radio?
If you think college is a learning environment you're wrong but not entirely. Sure you "learn" but most topics can be covered from self learning. With how the internet is in 2022, knowledge is so easily obtainable from the web in professional and scholar sites at no cost. College is an environment to see if you qualify for a piece of paper. Even if you attend co-op or interns, build connections and meet new people it means nothing without that certificate.
As a senior about to grad college I highly suggest you find what you want to do as a career before attending any programs; and if you do and dislike it leave asap. I waited too long so I've chosen to finish the 3 year program just so I can get the diploma and something out of my wasted time.
So im debating if i should go or not i want to animate which im doing rn but i feel that college isnt for me because i dont really need it for what im doing.At the same time im pretty much covered by fasfa and rds(im going to community btw)so if i go it wont be too bad.Im a senior in high school :(
Research the programs very carefully and make sure that they will give you the skills you will need to be employed in that skill set. In art, BFA and MFA degrees are still valuable, but its important to recognize that some programs are much better, and much better connected than others. If a school does not give you those skills and connections, you will have to create both yourself and you can do that without any school.
Faster than the speed of sound
Want a degree without debt? Three years in the army. I"m 28 with a bachelors and ZERO debt of any kind.
I chose to go the trade school route, and have made a pretty decent living. I believe there is a need for both. Of course there are exceptions, but just a high school degree is a very bad choice.
Again, the opinion of someone who didn't go to college: there are two kind of college students, one who plans are getting the education to secure a good paying job, and a good way of life. and those working on their PHD in basket weaving, (college is just party time, and a great place to hang out on mom and dad's dime).
2012 Age 23: Earned bachelors in psychology. Moved to NYC for model agency internship. Left after 1 week due to living arrangements.
2013 Age 23: Back home. Waiter at a pizza place. Was to start grad school in Global Marketing Communications and Advertising
2013 Age 24: Waiter at a museum cafeteria because grad school plans fell through (got accepted, didn't plan correctly financially).
2014 Age 24:Fled to NYC due to job frustrations and worked as a fashion photographer and caterer
2015 Age 25: Moved back home. Quit call center job after day 2. Quit Sears after 2 weeks.Worked in another call center.Was to start Art Direction program. Continued working in call center because school plans fell through again (Dad changed mind about consigning on Sallie Mae loan).Freelance photography
2016 Age 26: Still worked in call center (growing tired a frustrated).Freelance photography
2017 Age 27: Still worked in call center. Grew very tired and frustrated and got fired.Freelance photography
2018 Age 28: Full-time freelance photography. Worked at call center #3 and quit after 2 weeks. Worked in call center #4 and quit after almost 2 months. Started grad school for Urban Design
2019 Age 29: Graduated grad school finally. Worked at Amazon warehouse (would stand in one place in shock from time to time then get back to stocking shelves and pushing carts. Occasionally asked if I was "ok" by coworkers). Worked at call center #5.Freelance photography
2020 Age 30 *Covid-19*: Fired from call center again. Worked at call center #6. Left call center after 3 weeks. Starting 2nd masters program in Architecture in fall
Thoughts: Still can't believe I'm 30/had NO IDEA this would be my path after college/searched for direction, meaning, purpose, fulfillment, peace. hope. satisfaction,stability, truth, respect, power,love, money, God, and happiness
How did you go about quitting? - a person who just stops going
I hope things get better for you mate. As long as you're healthy and happy that's all what matters
my life will probably be like yours, congrats though, you beat me at getting a degree first.
Thanks for sharing your life experience
Me in middle school learning from online school:
My teacher:gives video of college
Me:do I look old to you
I want tk be a electrician. Im in high school currently. If there are any electricians out there, could you give some general advice?
1:12: If you want to work in a job that requires a college degree, then yes, it's the ticket. On the other hand, there's the old saying: a person with a Bachelor of Science degree says "How does it work?", a person with a Bachelor of Liberal Arts Degree says "Do you want fries with that?" The term "liberal arts" means "studies for those who don't need to work." Look it up.
I have an AAS (two of them, actually), and I proofread the work of a neighbor who got a MBA they probably didn't deserve (often I had a hard time trying to figure out what they were tryng to say, and had to make a phone call, or infer from other cues: yikes!). The most important factor in my job is State licensing. I'm not saying that college education is not important if you want to be a doctor or an engineer (don't get me started on lawyers), and I'm not saying that if you have a few hundred grand to spend for a degree in art appreciation, you shouldn't be allowed to do that, but the concept that EVERYONE should have a college education is ridiculous. I have worked in the homes of many college-educated people who have no clue how the infrastructure of their house works. I also worked in a food lab for awhile (as an intern for my second associates degree, and hired mostly because of my experience in electronics work to fix the out of warranty equipment in the lab), and the degreed microbiologists asked me what a piece of equipment I was working with was: it was a soldering iron.
(Decided not to write a novel.) The truth of the matter is that a college education is only one of many paths to success in life, and all of these paths are necessary and equally valid.
Can someone explain to me if when he says college, is it the same as university education, as for trade i understand it as vocational training.
still, majority of the Filipinos were college graduates but the unemployment is still occurring before the coronavirus.
hi does this show have the episode where they had job actors, talk about stealing from the company, it was funny
My wife has a bachelor's degree, I've been to trade college twice (Job Corps and Seattle Maritime, different careers) and I pay more in taxes after deductions than my wife ever grossed in a year. Yeah, college has potential, but it's a MUCH more expensive gamble than trade college, takes a LOT more time and investment (both my programs were a year or less), and pretty much destroys you financially in the hopes that it'll pay out "in the long run". Granted, most trades take a special kind of crazy to work in, but for people like me who prefer to work with their hands rather than breeding paperwork, traditional college just has no appeal.
What jobcorp?
The key to success in life is to know what kind of crazy you are.
Great video..but don’t forget the trades..electricians, plumbers, auto technicians, hvac to name a few..they provide great pay and we need more of them..remember trade apprenticeship was the first “college degree”..in Europe the path is clearer either university or trade school..problem is in the United States trades are not promoted as much as college..
It’s sad how many people look down on trade jobs, I want to be an electrician for many reasons, but some people laughed in my face which scared me until my dad and family told me otherwise. Society is weird
Bob Gray Dont be afraid. We need people like you. Not everyone is willing to put in physical work but it’s what keeps countries running. Also I’m pretty sure being an electrician pays very well.
Cdj Thg thanks! I’m pushing myself towards becoming an electrician, and hopefully starting my own business after I receive my masters electrician!
@@bobgray6911 , are you doing it? A year later…
this video was uploaded on my birthday :)
I really regret going to college when I did given how I'm about to graduate and there are no jobs
what field
sometimes is good sometimes it isn't. It depends on what u wanna do. Naturally a scientist or an engineer that will work with technical skills will need college, there's no way around it. Or an intelectual that is into history something like that
There's no way I'm doing college for 4 years in CC since i'm not really good academically.. ( I know it's 2 years but since I have disability learning it takes longer).. But I might think of trades instead
What did you end up doing
Went active duty military, been in for 12 years and still going. Free college, over 400k saved up and retirement coming soon.
How do theses numbers add up? If you’re a doctor or a lawyer I understand but trade school people make more including debt and advancement over 60 years than those who get their Bachelor’s. No doubt on average
Neither, just go to a company and work your way up. I've done both trade and college.
What do you mean explain please
How are you getting hired by that company if it requires that college degree (bachelor)
Mariano Marini Most don’t it’s not 1980 no more
sorry i'm going to med school ( doctorate )
@@Ryanbros well good for you
Short answer: Yes, but only if it'll qualify you for a big time six-figure or professional job.
Are there any non-financial reasons to consider going to college?
@@AboveTheNoise getting to learn about what you love and getting your dream job ?
You forgot about going to the military after highschool
That’s what I plan on doing, and while I serve I plan on getting a degree in space studies through AMU for the time after my contract is up
I know it’s about money but why sell your soul to rich people that don’t care about you?
@@lacosta0892 Bro... you prob gonna get cancer or sum from the shit places you’re going to be forced into. Just saying.... your autonomy may not be worth the US army
I'm in community college and I feel pathetic. I didn't realize that full time would be hard and I just can't handle the pressure(especially trigonometry) I dont know how am I going to make it and I feel l hopeless. I feel like dropping out but I dont have the money and I dont want to disappoint my family.
Take a gap year or two then come back. if you drop out, you will start all over when you decide to come back in the future. i think community college will keep your record and everything for 10 years before the system deletes everything.
I got an AA and that’s it. I just work to live and didn’t have debt from [community] college. I live a humble life as long as I can eat and pay the bills and rent. A 4-year university would’ve been too risky.
What do you work in? I am getting my AA and getting my high school diploma at the same time.
@@Melissa-ht2fp I used to be a personal trainer, but I've been furloughed. I honestly don't really care to go back into that. I now work in retail.
That background music sounds awfully familiar...
Especially the intro
go through the college with GI bill LOL
i want to go to college for the experiences and hopefully play basketball while there but trade school seems like a better option especially because i don’t wanna have debt. can someone who went to college help me out here?
community college can provide you with similar experiences to a 4 year college like sports, while preparing you for a 4 year college and being cheaper to boot. btw, CC's are cheaper than trade schools too and if your lucky, they might have trade programs (not always guaranteed). But you have to research their programs of study beforehand.
Your career choice dictates weather you need a 4 year degree or 2 year. You will be a success either way if you are following your passion and know how to manage your finances.
i need two four year degrees
College is a good idea, but we are operating it in an inefficient way, for the work force. The job market should be looked at and projected. The jobs that are going to be needed are the degrees that receive the best financial aid. This would funnel people into the jobs needed for the future. Im not saying you should prevent people from getting a basket weaving degree.....but I dont think thats something the public should have to funnel money towards. I also think colleges are requiring classes that are not required nor needed. I dont think a high priced PE class is required for a Nursing degree
I really don't know what to do. Wanted to go to college, but I have no idea what I would be majoring in so I decided to save myself from the debt it would throw me into. I'm not smart, my grades steadily declined in highschool due to my low motivation and mental health. It feels like there's really nothing out there for me to do.
I get where your coming from I'm a senior about to graduate and I'm deciding if college is worth it or not. The trick is no matter what you do you have to be good and passionate about it. Every excuse you use to not follow your dreams is just a hurdle, it'll be a tough path but nothing is easy if it's good. I hope you figured out what you wanted to do.
I am a sophomore rn about to be a junior and I have no clue what I want to do. I wanted to be a engineer so I took some college engineering classes and now I have college credit but now idk what to do.
My advice to you is that you still have a year before you need to start applying for admissions. If your passion is engineering, try looking at a specialized field (software, mechanical, civil, etc). Take your time and see which one stands out to you. Once you find it, see what it takes. Some jobs only require trade schools, some require a two year. Only throw your money into a four year university if you absolutely want to.
If you can’t get any good scholarships, you can always go to a community college, and in most cases, provided you do well in school, you will be offered transfer scholarships and grants to a university.
Just take this year and really look at things. And if you don’t like it, you can always change your major or switch schools or whatever. There is always going to be an opportunity waiting. Oh and don’t let anybody tell you what school to go to, what to major in, etc. Do what makes you happy.
Having that college credit already has saved you more money and has put you in front of more college applicants than you know lol. Just remember that your grades matter these next two years
ABCDE FGHIJK yeah I think I might do that because I wanna have a career that I look forward to and not dread going to work everyday. I’ve been trying to take a couple more college classes so I don’t have to pay as much when I graduate and go to college so thank you for the advice I appreciate it.
@@baileywilliams5419 hope you like calculus bud lol. Not trying to discourage you whatsoever, but if math isn’t your specialty, you won’t have a good time. Personally I wanted to go for mechanical engineering, but when I realized that I absolutely despised math it was a quick turnaround for me.
I was a residential electrician, commercial painter, and a sushi chef but I'm in a university now and plan on pursuing a master's degree soon as I finish my undergrad studies; Better to have an education than not.
I went and i highly doubt i wld be as successful and independent had i not went...going away to school is good and so is getting a trade..heck do both! Teach your kids and invest in them gttn great grades so they will not hve to pay..stay positive !
Automation and technology is taking many jobs that require a degree..PTA community college student here
I been on both sides for many years.
Union Trade=$46 an hour
College Degree=$3000+ a week.
( Fyi: It depends on what career you choose as well) Frankly, the question you need to ask yourself is...are you in it for the money?...or for the love of the game?
When you go to college. Not only do you pay the fees but you also dont work as much as you would if you worked a full time job. After you finish college. Your net worth gained might be $0. But the person who worked full time might have 50k or something.
If both people then earn the same salary then it wasnt worth it at all.
If the college grad makes 10k more per year (so around 6k after tax)
It would take almost 10 YEARS to catch up in terms of net worth to the person who skipped college and worked full time
Do you need a hs diploma to go to a trade school or college ? 🤔
Don Bergaz09 if you don’t have a diploma yet they just have you take a test to see your skills on reading and math basic stuff if you have your diploma already you don’t have to take a entry test you can in with just your diploma