College: Choosing what you want to do...

[Broncojohnny]

The people that have a degree but dont use it are the ones that did not plan for their futures appropriately. There are many useless degrees out there and the ones that arent are difficult to acquire. You get out of it what you put into it.

Not only that but education is a business, they are going to blow all kinds of smoke up your ass about how that degree in Medieval Agriculture Technology is going to be fantastic but down fall for it!!

I'm just glad I got my degree in TV/VCR repair, I'm making $13 an hour now and I'll be assistant manager next year and we all know that is when the big bucks start rolling in.

[Sean88gt]

The people that have a degree but dont use it are the ones that did not plan for their futures appropriately. There are many useless degrees out there and the ones that arent are difficult to acquire. You get out of it what you put into it.

My sister has a degree in ceramics. And works in a bar.

[8mpg]

Since everyone is throwing out their opinions...here is mine.

I personally recommend the community college thing IF you have a major planned out. You can take the transferable classes for much cheaper. There are certain degrees though at a 4 year that you MUST take in order. My cousin did his Architecture degree at UTA. Even though he had all his basics done, it took him 4 years at UTA to get his BA because the classes must be taken in order. This doesnt mean you cant do both, or take the basics over the summer or minimester at TCC

I would look into nursing, ultrasound tech, possibly radiology tech. They are always going to be here, and almost always in demand. All are 18 month to 2 year degrees. They have major stability, good outlook, good pay, and short educations. I never thought I would like to go to nursing school, but honestly, Im very happy I did. My pay will instantly be $50k a year, full benefits, good job, I will work 3 days a week.

With these careers, you can work at multiple places if you want to make more money. They offer higher rates for PRN work, night and weekend shift differentials (weekend nights at my hospital is $9/hr more). The list goes on. Healthcare is a great place to work. A few of the guys I work with work 60 hours a week. They work 5 twelve hour shifts a week and all average $100-105k a year.

[Skidmark]

Thanks everyone for your replies.

Sean, to answer your question I only have about 12 hours completed. I'm going to start knocking out my core classes like so many have mentioned here.

FATHERFORD, at this point i'd rather get my Bachelors. If I get my Bachelors I might as well go for a Masters. Like already mentioned I view the piece of paper as a foot in the door.

Realistically I probably should go ahead with a Computer Science degree as I already have a few years of experience under my belt. There are many different things to do in this field and I could explore those more with a degree.

In the end, I want to be successful in my career. I know that the piece of paper is not everything, but it might put me in the right place at the right time. I'd like to be able to live comfortably...

[Chuck]

A 3hr class at Collin runs me about $180

That covered about 15 credit hours when I went to Richland. In 1990

[talisman]

That covered about 15 credit hours when I went to Richland. In 1990

I bet you also remember when you could get a Pepsi for a nickel. A nickel!

[Nash B.]

I've always gravitated to computers, so a computer science degree would not hurt. I know there is money in this field, but good god, how many hours a day do they expect people to sit in meetings. So many meetings you can't even get your work done.

My last job was more IT and there were way too many meetings, but I'm a programmer now and I can count on one hand the meetings I've been in since I started in July. I love it. If you like problem solving and computers you might look into it.

That covered about 15 credit hours when I went to Richland. In 1990

LOL, I was going to say, "like 80 years ago!"

[347Mike]

Weird. I was just about to enroll last night but all the online courses were already taken. I am definitely enrolling next semester. My mind, it is made up.

[Skidmark]

My last job was more IT and there were way too many meetings, but I'm a programmer now and I can count on one hand the meetings I've been in since I started in July. I love it. If you like problem solving and computers you might look into it.LOL, I was going to say, "like 80 years ago!"

So I guess the bus driver was just a rumor, lol? Currently i'm more in operations and while I enjoy it, it can be annoying on what you can get done in a day.

In my current role the meetings have dimmed down a bit, so it's not horrible, but I know it'll go back to the non sense soon.

I tinkered with VB and C++ when I was around 15 or so and it interests me, thank you for the pointer, i'll check it out.

Weird. I was just about to enroll last night but all the online courses were already taken. I am definitely enrolling next semester. My mind, it is made up.

Yes, they fill up extremely fast. Go to your campus' site and note the dates when enrolled starts. Set a reminder on your calender for the day before.

Will you be majoring in Computer Science?

[talisman]

You guys might want to check early every morning. People don't pay, or change their minds, and classes come open again.

[John -- '02 HAWK]

Throughout the next couple years I had got all my shit together, but never did end up going back to school. Though a friend did end up recommending me for a job within IT and i've been here since.

I've got about 4 years of experience so far with this company, but my worry is that if I did get let go, what would I do? I understand it's hard to get a job and especially in this economy, competition is fierce. Even with the experience, i'd be competing with folks who have more experience and college degrees.

With all that said, I've tinkered with classes here and there, while actually trying, did well, though never consecutively taking courses.

Didnt read all the posts my suggestion is to take some night classes at one of the local _accredited_ Junior colleges. You can start taking classes that to get yourself back into the school mode (its hard if your a poor student). Talk to the school's counselors they can point you towards the classes that you can take. You can then study for the IT classes and/or an Associates there. Then if you want then you can transfer to a 4 year to get a Bachelors degree. This will also save you some money so you arent spending alot of money on 4 year school prices if you fail.

[suckerdin]

i still don't really know what i want to do. I've got an A.S. from Navarro and i'm currently at UTPA. When i enrolled here at the beginning of this semester i was an Environmental Science major...right now i'm doing a double major in Poli Sci and History. Both degrees are pretty much useless. But it's what I want to do. My overall goal is to be a State Game Warden. whether or not the state accepts my degree(s) is up to them. If they do, that's great. i'll get to do what i want to do. If not, well, at least i'm not stuck with a degree that i really didn't want in the first place.

[Chuck]

I bet you also remember when you could get a Pepsi for a nickel. A nickel!

haha...I remember when I could get one for a dime and I had to throw away the tab.

LOL, I was going to say, "like 80 years ago!"

My El Camino was cooler than yours.

[347Mike]

So I guess the bus driver was just a rumor, lol? Currently i'm more in operations and while I enjoy it, it can be annoying on what you can get done in a day.

In my current role the meetings have dimmed down a bit, so it's not horrible, but I know it'll go back to the non sense soon.

I tinkered with VB and C++ when I was around 15 or so and it interests me, thank you for the pointer, i'll check it out.



Yes, they fill up extremely fast. Go to your campus' site and note the dates when enrolled starts. Set a reminder on your calender for the day before.

Will you be majoring in Computer Science?

That is the plan.

[dblack1]

Halfway through a finance degree I switched to the RN program at the 4 year university I attended.

Go to CC, but take some easy basic courses at the 4 year to pump the GPA. I regret not doing this. I could have kept my few C grades while getting my basics off of my GPA score by doing this.

I saw a friend who graduated with a 3.9 in 03 getting offered really shitty jobs and that is one of the reasons I switched majors. He had a non accounting business degree (international business/finance/minor in french) and was getting these starting pay figures in the high 20's/low 30's and ultimately went on to get a masters at LSU in finance due to this.

I needed to get a job as soon as I graduated and make over $50k a year, so I chose to become a RN. Had a job before graduating, and made almost $40k in the 9 months I worked as a RN.

Good field to get into, job growth is there, can't be outsourced, etc. If I was still doing it I'd have a masters and a government job about now, but alas life changes.

If the shit hits the fan in business I'm going back to school and will attempt to do private practice as a NP, cause working for the man blows harder than most anything in life.