Originally posted by GradyPhilpott
You might argue about the value of a degree, but there is no arguing about the value of an education.

Stick with it and use your electives to acquire a well-rounded education. Take music, art , sociology, literature, business, and history classes and maybe even earn a minor in a field related to your major.

When you graduate, put your diploma on the wall and take your education out into the world.

Even if the the diploma never returns the investment, your education will do so many times over.

There's more to life than money and that's what an education is all about.

for some people, I don't need to be educated, I like to read.... do you know what I mean? If I want to know something I aquire the information... once you learn that what else is there to school unless you need validation for some reason?

Well, you're still a Freshman so of course school is gonna be a bit of a repeat of your senior year for now.

Give it until the second half of Sophomore year.

And also...ask around about which professors are well-liked. I good teacher can turn your outlook around really fast.

If the main reason you are going to college is to get a job (as opposed to immersing yourself in academia), then switch to a trade school or vocational school. I have tried all routes over the past 20 years... started as an English major, switched to Art History... and ended up going back to school for Design at an art school. I wish I would have gone to art school as a 19 year old - it was amazing and exhilerating. It gave me the career boost I needed too, and I have a job that I love - it is partially creative and partically technical. It's perfect. As far as my other interests, I have pursued writing and art history on my own.. for fun. They are still part of my life.

Explain to me again why I should pay $20,000 for a stamped piece of paper when all the information is available for free at a library(you can also sit in on classes if you're sneaky, and that's free too!)?



Anyway travel is the best education you can get.


edit - darn smiley's
[edit on 17-7-2008 by AreaMan]

[edit on 17-7-2008 by AreaMan]

College has become the new high school. It is increasingly common to require a college degree for jobs that don't need one. Is it a scam? Not really, its a recognition that we as a society value a higher education. However, a college degree is not a marker of intelligence. Everyone can name at least one person who is college educated and extremely dumb, I can name several.

Graduate school is where you can actually set yourself apart from the flocks and settle down to study what interests you. Like college it can be done free, but since your more involved with your subject area you get to know it more in-depth. Of course its also much harder if you go into a good program, but its worth it.

Yes, I believe many colleges are scams now..I just heard of one that is offering a video game degree for 40K..Yeah that sounds like a fun job-but get real..One guy teaches all the classes..If there is so much money in them why is he floundering teaching this. I asked the simple question of how many have they put out in industry? Please provide contacts of those to talk about this degree...nothing..

This thread makes me think of the movie "Accepted"
It is one of my favorite movies... its absolutely great.

Are there any alternative colleges like the one in Accepted? Are there any like that outside of the U.S?

If there is not, there definitely should be!

I don't think it's a scam, or it wasn't for me. I don't think college is for everyone, and I know several people who've made an excellent living without going..... in many cases a bountiful living. I was pretty naive though, thinking that my degree would shoot me into instant employment. What it did do was to demonstrate persistance, a modicum of discipline and rudimentary training for the employers who eventually hired me. On-the-job training is usually still required.

Most of all, I think college gave me an opportunity to discover what I liked to do, what I had a knack for doing, as well as ruling out some things I thought I'd like, but turned out to be not for me. Learning how to learn. My Dad said, "matters less where and how you get it, as long as you DO get it" (meaning experience and direction)

Every 10k you borrow to get a degree will cost you $100/month for the most of your working life.

Every 10k you spend on a 30x100 city lot could generate you $100/month in positive cash flow on parking fees or other rental use.

$10k could also purchase you a rural acre full of fruit trees.

For $10k you could have four diehard 1980's toyota pickups.

I owe $40k to accredited institutions, I pay $400 every month. By the end of the year I'll have paid near $5000 to float. I will have paid off a less than $900.

I learned to be a carpenter, by believing I am a carpenter, acting and behaving as my internal idealization of such dictates.

Sri Oracle