WP: Some say bypassing a higher education is smarter than paying for a degree

[cypher1]

It's snobbery, but a test technician would be unlikely to be considered for a managerial position.

I'd agree with that statement. At the corporation I work at, I'd say over 60% of our IT management really have no idea how our IT infrastructure operates and is designed. The most valuable/knowledgeable assets are the engineers and architects. Funny how lots of times the corporate world promotes those with no specific experience in their environment, to manage those who support and implement it on a day to day basis.

[jIM_Ohio]

Sure there are some people who have wasted money on a degree, and others who have succeeded spectacularly without one. But if you look at percentages and averages, in general the trend is that the average person who completes college is earning more than the average person who doesn't. I think you really have to look at the individual's strengths, weaknesses, and interests to decide which path to advise him or her to take.

I read an article somewhere yesterday which said unemployment rate for college grads right now is about 3% (2.4% or something like that) and average stay on unemployment is 10 weeks, where as for blue collar work that unemployment rate is about 11% (10.something) and the avergage stay on unemployment was much longer-29 weeks.


**edit to add** I read that in this thread, silly me LOL**

It's not just the salary, its the security of the income.

[Bades]

I'd agree with that statement. At the corporation I work at, I'd say over 60% of our IT management really have no idea how our IT infrastructure operates and is designed. The most valuable/knowledgeable assets are the engineers and architects. Funny how lots of times the corporate world promotes those with no specific experience in their environment, to manage those who support and implement it on a day to day basis.

I work in IT too for a large corporation. Most of the managers and directors came from the "business side", because apparently IT people are too technical and don't know how to communicate with people so we give management positions to people with little or no IT backgrounds.

[elessar78]

So do people put any value on the college experience at all?

Frankly, I had a great one. Yes, I partied but I also did a lot of studying. I spent the better part of my junior/senior/super senior years getting by on 5 hours or less of sleep a night. Met some great people, learned a lot outside of the classroom. I went to a big state school with a great football tradition and that's still a big part of me.

I think the discussion generally has revolved around "employability" and earning power, but I'd advocate that there's more to paying for college than just the degree. It's easy to write it off as a glorified summer camp. It's easy to underestimate the college experience or chalk it up as frivolous. I think it's a defining time that, I'd argue, can't be replicated in many other environments.

For what I did, learned, and experienced—the cost of college was a bargain. Would I have paid more for that out-of-state education? Maybe a little more. Plus at a locked in interest rate of 3% I can't really complain too much.

[jIM_Ohio]

The college experience is important, but if you can choose between a 200k party at Cornell or a 150k party at State U, do the cheaper party.

[gambler2075]

The college experience is important, but if you can choose between a 200k party at Cornell or a 150k party at State U, do the cheaper party.

I would tend to agree... if I had to do it all over again, I would probably have turned down the top-1 school I went to to go to one of the many easier/cheaper schools... I think I probably would have been able to get to med school even easier (coming with a higher GPA) and would have had more fun in college... without all the debt.

g