What Did It Get You?

[Gooberman11]

Just sitting on the sidelines....

Thanks for the input everyone! Great thread!

[MISin08]

Well...while it isn't for everyone, every teen deserves to have this pointed out to them.

Looking back, 'what degree' is a lot less important than getting it done.

Phillip

[dcan]

Looking back, 'what degree' is a lot less important than getting it done.

I've said it before and I'll say it again: On average, someone with average intelligence and superior discipline will outperform someone with superior intelligence and average discipline. We are killing our kids by focusing on how "smart" they are and allowing them to rest on their laurels and bask in the glory of people fawning over them for something that is largely irrelevant in their life instead of praising them for daily discipline. Regardless of how "smart" you supposedly are, if you don't get up every day and push yourself a little bit farther you'll never reach your goals, you'll just be daydreaming about them.

[danalk88]

I think the other folks have posted some good advice. What decan (#5) and phillip (#12) said, especially resonated with me.

Here's how I see it: Getting your degree is like table stakes: your minimum bet just to sit at the table. You NEED the degree to get anywhere, especially now. I graduated high school in 1992 and I was a big believer in the idea that life/work experience just as valuable as secondary education. Due to various circumstances, I didn't go to college after high school. I'm now 38 and just finishing my bachelors.

Employers expect professional job seekers to have a bachelors. It's a minimum requirement. It doesn't necessarily matter if your degree matches, even, as long as you have work experience that translates wel to the potential position. You also have to keep in mind that during the last years of record unemployment, a lot of people who didn't have their bachelors went back to get it; unemployed folks who already had a bachelors went back for their masters. With the competition out there, and employers' expectations, it's simply a must.

That all said, it's not easy. Try to view it as a journey, though. I think it was phillip you posted that you don't know what you don't know. OMG is that ever true!!!

My last plug: Doing it while you're young is going to be a heck of a lot easier than later on.

You will never regret getting your degree.

[dcan]

My last plug: Doing it while you're young is going to be a heck of a lot easier than later on.

You will never regret getting your degree.

These points are so important to understand. You will always have pride in your degree and carry that pride with you the rest of your life. Also, if you don't get it you will always wonder if you "don't measure up" somehow to your peers or competition for a job -- whether you actually do or not. Better to carry pride than carry stress.

Of course, do it the smart way without going $100,000 in debt, and you will be very proud indeed. Spend that kind of money on a house or investments instead.