Poll of the Day > What is your level of education?

(+) Yeah! (+)

College dropout. Liked my job and making money way more than I liked making debt.

it's completely reasonable if you're outside the average, but the average college/uni graduate makes more money than those who didn't

This may be true, but on an individual level it doesnt mean much. Plenty of graduates who earn fuck all and plenty of people with no degree earn well.

'some' post-secondary

Totally true, that's why I said outside the average. It's just a bit of a misconception that "college is a waste of time", when you account for the average experience, so I like to point that out. If you end up scoring good work and learning skills without, all the power.

I graduated with honors from the School of Hard Knocks

Totally fair.

I couldnt do what I do without college, but Ive seen plenty of people who regret going as well as plenty who regret not going.

it's completely reasonable if you're outside the average, but the average college/uni graduate makes more money than those who didn't

Yeah, but college pretty much combined with my depression to try and kill me so happy wins. I've been happier with a career and no debt than I was in classes and severe clinical depression.

100%. I felt isolated in the universities I tried and my depressive episodes got real bad. At work I had things to do and people I knew that were relying on me. Oddly I work for a university, but I would not want to go here as a full time student ever again. I like to like myself.

Yeah, but college pretty much combined with my depression to try and kill me so happy wins. I've been happier with a career and no debt than I was in classes and severe clinical depression.

Pororin is the one who knocks

I have a BS geography... MANY years ago. Knew right after I'd never want a masters. Regret every single thing about getting the bachelor's and haven't stopped regretting for nearly 20 years now. College educations are such a waste of time and money.

Well you better knock hard

phd + postdoc

Associates

it's completely reasonable if you're outside the average, but the average college/uni graduate makes more money than those who didn't

Totally true, that's why I said outside the average. It's just a bit of a misconception that "college is a waste of time", when you account for the average experience, so I like to point that out. If you end up scoring good work and learning skills without, all the power.

I couldnt do what I do without college, but Ive seen plenty of people who regret going as well as plenty who regret not going.

I have a BS geography... MANY years ago. Knew right after I'd never want a masters. Regret every single thing about getting the bachelor's and haven't stopped regretting for nearly 20 years now. College educations are such a waste of time and money.

While also carrying more debt. And basically inescapable debt, unlike other forms that can be discharged via bankruptcy.

When you look at the average graduate, it probably is a waste of time. It certainly feels like most kids who don't go for an advanced degree (and advanced debt) don't even wind up working in a field relevant to their degree much of the time. On top of having debt over their head.

While also carrying more debt. And basically inescapable debt, unlike other forms that can be discharged via bankruptcy.

When you look at the average graduate, it probably is a waste of time. It certainly feels like most kids who don't go for an advanced degree (and advanced debt) don't even wind up working in a field relevant to their degree much of the time. On top of having debt over their head.

Everybody tends to look at the more exceptional cases for college's successes rather than the averages, though. There are a handful of degrees that can lead to better incomes (although, again, debt can be an issue), but most don't really have that performance and even the things that are supposed to lead to a better life are a crapshoot based on either cycles or the market's whims.

Well, it's definitely a significant investment of time and money. On top of the actual time spent, going to college probably shaved years off my life since I'd go one day a week without sleeping and a lot of my sleep habits date back to having to juggle college and working full-time to pay for that college, etc, to ensure I graduated debt-free.

Yeah, I can see that one being a poor investment.

Honestly, if colleges were run for the benefit of students and society rather than to make money for administrators and professors, a lot of programs would be cut.

While also carrying more debt. And basically inescapable debt, unlike other forms that can be discharged via bankruptcy.

When you look at the average graduate, it probably is a waste of time. It certainly feels like most kids who don't go for an advanced degree (and advanced debt) don't even wind up working in a field relevant to their degree much of the time. On top of having debt over their head.

Everybody tends to look at the more exceptional cases for college's successes rather than the averages, though. There are a handful of degrees that can lead to better incomes (although, again, debt can be an issue), but most don't really have that performance and even the things that are supposed to lead to a better life are a crapshoot based on either cycles or the market's whims.

Well, it's definitely a significant investment of time and money. On top of the actual time spent, going to college probably shaved years off my life since I'd go one day a week without sleeping and a lot of my sleep habits date back to having to juggle college and working full-time to pay for that college, etc, to ensure I graduated debt-free.

Yeah, I can see that one being a poor investment.

Honestly, if colleges were run for the benefit of students and society rather than to make money for administrators and professors, a lot of programs would be cut.

I also don't think the average life experience for regular users of an online message board is going to be the same as the average experience of all Americans, so it's worth taking in all opinions about this.

One thing I have discovered is that networking is EXTREMELY important in college, . At the very least that means looking for internships and hopefully continuing with a company once you graduate. Then you'll have the experience you need to continue in that field assuming you leave the company eventually. Unfortunately, no one actually tells you this. At least they didn't tell me. And of course this really sucks for introverts.

In my opinion everyone should be taking a gap year (or longer) in between high school and college. The biggest problem with college in the US that people can actually control is treating freshman year of college like 13th grade, going off to college like two months after graduating high school.

Also the last half of high school are totally dedicated to applying for college, no time to sit back and think about the future and enjoy life. High school kids have no idea what they are doing.