From a 'Mickey Mouse' degree to...

[bjcheung77]

In the article, you'll notice a few people with degree's that are less common, these are pretty much a 'check the box' degree to get past the HR systems in place.  Each and every one of these people started from entry level and moved their way up the chain of command, expanding, learning, gaining more knowledge in similar fields to their studies.  My point is... The degree doesn't really define you, it's the way you put the effort and persist in completing whatever goal you have in which career you're in, and for those who switch careers, it's the same mentality and perseverance that gets you there.

Link: ‘I did a Mickey Mouse degree and now I’m a CEO earning a six-figure salary’ (msn.com)

[AlvinG]

I've just come across your threads, and I can't stop from laughing at "Mickey, Mouse." I've never seen that before, and it has me Dying of laughter.

To me, even if the degree is from Harvard, Stanford, or Yale I think of it as a gimmick degree. I've known of only 2 people to get into Harvard, and I met them through the Ferrari forums. One in question went to Phillips Exeter, which costs $70,000/Y for high school, and is known as a feeder school. The other had a father who is a rocket scientist, and the mother a PHD professor. The second had their two parents at that level of wisdom from a baby to adult, and when the parents became busy with work they were afforded a PHD private tutor after school. Being a Gifted student, and receiving an actual admittance based on GPA/extracurricular is extremely rare, but it happens.
When we dig deeper into Harvard University, we can notice that most students are actually in the master programs, which hold weight, but not like Harvard College weight. I've heard from other wealthy families of whom I associate, Harvard usually knows by your freshmen year of high school if you're coming or not. Feel like they are elitist yet?

I'm almost 30, and I as a normal person enjoy the thought of bang for my buck. If you can prove yourself to a company, and build a good enough portfolio, you can make it into FAANG with just a coding bootcamp. I spent my 20's having children, chasing love, and traveling (budget). I've been to every state in America, and I've seen it all. I'd rather have my life experience over a cubicle any day of the week. $200,000/Y sounds nice, until you realize it's 70-80 hours every week and then it starts making sense. I have been accepted into decent schools even before doing this accelerated track, but it's hard to go to a 4 year actual brick and mortar when you have children that aren't school age. No regrets here, we shall all go and do great things in this life. Anything is possible, I've seen it snow in July haha.

[LevelUP]

Your major doesn't limit you to a specific career path. According to a study by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, only 27 percent of college graduates work in fields closely related to their majors.

There are three steps to career success
1. Show employers you deserve an interview.
2. Pass the interview.
3. Have the skills to do your job.

[dfrecore]

$200,000/Y sounds nice, until you realize it's 70-80 hours every week and then it starts making sense.

I know MANY, many, many people who make $200k a year or a lot more than that, and don't work anywhere close to 70-80 hours a week.  More than half work less than 40 hours a week, and the rest maybe 40-50, 60 max.

Some own their own businesses, some are mechanics in elevators, some are electrical contractors, some work in HVAC, some are doctors/dentists/NP's/PA's/PT's, some are in IT, some are in Sales.  Not a single one works in a cubicle, and probably never has.

[LevelUP]

I've just come across your threads, and I can't stop from laughing at "Mickey, Mouse." I've never seen that before, and it has me Dying of laughter.

To me, even if the degree is from Harvard, Stanford, or Yale I think of it as a gimmick degree. I've known of only 2 people to get into Harvard, and I met them through the Ferrari forums. One in question went to Phillips Exeter, which costs $70,000/Y for high school, and is known as a feeder school. The other had a father who is a rocket scientist, and the mother a PHD professor. The second had their two parents at that level of wisdom from a baby to adult, and when the parents became busy with work they were afforded a PHD private tutor after school. Being a Gifted student, and receiving an actual admittance based on GPA/extracurricular is extremely rare, but it happens.
When we dig deeper into Harvard University, we can notice that most students are actually in the master programs, which hold weight, but not like Harvard College weight. I've heard from other wealthy families of whom I associate, Harvard usually knows by your freshmen year of high school if you're coming or not. Feel like they are elitist yet?

I'm almost 30, and I as a normal person enjoy the thought of bang for my buck. If you can prove yourself to a company, and build a good enough portfolio, you can make it into FAANG with just a coding bootcamp. I spent my 20's having children, chasing love, and traveling (budget). I've been to every state in America, and I've seen it all. I'd rather have my life experience over a cubicle any day of the week. $200,000/Y sounds nice, until you realize it's 70-80 hours every week and then it starts making sense. I have been accepted into decent schools even before doing this accelerated track, but it's hard to go to a 4 year actual brick and mortar when you have children that aren't school age. No regrets here, we shall all go and do great things in this life. Anything is possible, I've seen it snow in July haha.

I agree that a Harvard degree doesn't mean you get a golden ticket to riches but guaranteed access to the middle class. The average Harvard grad only makes 84k a year. 
https://www.cnbc.com/2023/04/11/how-much...hools.html

I don't blame people for taking the job that pays for the most money they can make. But after a while, some people may realize that freedom outweighs the money.

[AlvinG]

$200,000/Y sounds nice, until you realize it's 70-80 hours every week and then it starts making sense.

I know MANY, many, many people who make $200k a year or a lot more than that, and don't work anywhere close to 70-80 hours a week.  More than half work less than 40 hours a week, and the rest maybe 40-50, 60 max.

Some own their own businesses, some are mechanics in elevators, some are electrical contractors, some work in HVAC, some are doctors/dentists/NP's/PA's/PT's, some are in IT, some are in Sales.  Not a single one works in a cubicle, and probably never has.

Businesses have lots of overhead which can't be counted for as income. Once you decide to open up an LLC/S-Corp the business money and your money become independent, and can't be legally privately interconnected. This leads to a 30% tax rate to the company for anything you can't write off, and then that money is taxed a second time when you pay your own self as an employee at whatever salary rate you pick. It's tough, most people marry the business.
The elevator mechanic apprentice program exists near me, and they hire roughly 10 new candidates every 3-4 years. The top out pay after a 5 year, *not 4 year* apprenticeship to journey is $62hr, which is a far cry from 200k a year. HVAC? there's zero way. As for electrical contractor, it largely depends on the area and if you are a Master electrician, which requires 4 years of Journey level, before you can test. *The journey level requires 4 years of apprenticeship.* So, combined 8 years of effort. PA's/PT's, no. Within their field there's zero overtime possible, much like becoming a Pharmacist. PA's make $80hr, but usually only work 36-40 hours per week, and because it's in a clinic setting the overtime just isn't possible. NP's and Medical doctors/dentists, YES THEY DO lol. We're talking about advanced school, and highly competitive programs which 99% of people aren't ever going to do. There aren't accelerated Medical degree's or Nurse degrees. I know an ER Doctor who works 3 12's, and earns 400k a year. That's far from normal. But, a PEDS MD can earn as little as 150k-176k, because closed on the weekends. I mean just google "how many registered nurses are in the USA?" Less than 1% population. Then, google NP's, and it's 90% more small.

If you're chasing money, go RN bachelor, GO ICU for 3-4 years, and then go into a CRNA program. The CRNA's get 24 hour shifts and their own rooms to sleep in while being clocked in, earning $200-$250hr. It isn't abnormal to see one work 2-3 24's a week and gross $600k+, or even a million if you hit them up for bonuses.
I'll also share that a Graduate even from a Caribbean Medical School, which matches into a US residency, doesn't care about a Harvard Undergrad in English. The biggest bang for the buck was when Australia allowed UK medical doctors to work there. UK medical doctors enroll directly into medical school as an undergraduate degree "just like their law programs." The pay is trash though because of the taxes which the UK does. Anything over 51,000 is taxed at 40%, so it keep the medical doctors making less than someone who earns 50,000 taxed at 20%. Doctors were leaving to Australia in droves and making 400k+ in the market, but then it was rescinded because the UK got angry for losing doctors. Then they all went on strike as of recent. 


I don't know anyone earning 200k+ who isn't earning every penny, and Medical is the only W2 way to get it done 97% of the time. Sure, you can spend $65,000 in flight training, CFi for 2-3 years, fly for Ameriflight doing cargo for 3-5 years which is a feeder into UPS, and then make 200k as 2nd year first officer, but that's 12-14 years from Zero time which is similar to Medical school Etc... even CRNA is 4 year RN bachelor, 3-4 year ICU experience, 4 years CRNA School "which requires 3.0+ RN Bachelor, and is competitive as medical school if not more so."


If you all want to chase money, we can all combine our knowledge to the platinum guild and go on the quest haha.

[AlvinG]

Also, keep in mind FLSA exists.
Medical doctors can’t be paid for overtime, Lawyers can’t be paid for overtime, CRNA’s aren’t required to be paid overtime during normal circumstances “all hours”, but if you elect to go travel, some places will offer an extra $50-$100hr on top of your base pay.

[dfrecore]

$200,000/Y sounds nice, until you realize it's 70-80 hours every week and then it starts making sense.

I know MANY, many, many people who make $200k a year or a lot more than that, and don't work anywhere close to 70-80 hours a week.  More than half work less than 40 hours a week, and the rest maybe 40-50, 60 max.

Some own their own businesses, some are mechanics in elevators, some are electrical contractors, some work in HVAC, some are doctors/dentists/NP's/PA's/PT's, some are in IT, some are in Sales.  Not a single one works in a cubicle, and probably never has.

Businesses have lots of overhead which can't be counted for as income. Once you decide to open up an LLC/S-Corp the business money and your money become independent, and can't be legally privately interconnected. This leads to a 30% tax rate to the company for anything you can't write off, and then that money is taxed a second time when you pay your own self as an employee at whatever salary rate you pick. It's tough, most people marry the business.
The elevator mechanic apprentice program exists near me, and they hire roughly 10 new candidates every 3-4 years. The top out pay after a 5 year, *not 4 year* apprenticeship to journey is $62hr, which is a far cry from 200k a year. HVAC? there's zero way. As for electrical contractor, it largely depends on the area and if you are a Master electrician, which requires 4 years of Journey level, before you can test. *The journey level requires 4 years of apprenticeship.* So, combined 8 years of effort. PA's/PT's, no. Within their field there's zero overtime possible, much like becoming a Pharmacist. PA's make $80hr, but usually only work 36-40 hours per week, and because it's in a clinic setting the overtime just isn't possible. NP's and Medical doctors/dentists, YES THEY DO lol. We're talking about advanced school, and highly competitive programs which 99% of people aren't ever going to do. There aren't accelerated Medical degree's or Nurse degrees. I know an ER Doctor who works 3 12's, and earns 400k a year. That's far from normal. But, a PEDS MD can earn as little as 150k-176k, because closed on the weekends. I mean just google "how many registered nurses are in the USA?" Less than 1% population. Then, google NP's, and it's 90% more small.

If you're chasing money, go RN bachelor, GO ICU for 3-4 years, and then go into a CRNA program. The CRNA's get 24 hour shifts and their own rooms to sleep in while being clocked in, earning $200-$250hr. It isn't abnormal to see one work 2-3 24's a week and gross $600k+, or even a million if you hit them up for bonuses.
I'll also share that a Graduate even from a Caribbean Medical School, which matches into a US residency, doesn't care about a Harvard Undergrad in English. The biggest bang for the buck was when Australia allowed UK medical doctors to work there. UK medical doctors enroll directly into medical school as an undergraduate degree "just like their law programs." The pay is trash though because of the taxes which the UK does. Anything over 51,000 is taxed at 40%, so it keep the medical doctors making less than someone who earns 50,000 taxed at 20%. Doctors were leaving to Australia in droves and making 400k+ in the market, but then it was rescinded because the UK got angry for losing doctors. Then they all went on strike as of recent. 


I don't know anyone earning 200k+ who isn't earning every penny, and Medical is the only W2 way to get it done 97% of the time. Sure, you can spend $65,000 in flight training, CFi for 2-3 years, fly for Ameriflight doing cargo for 3-5 years which is a feeder into UPS, and then make 200k as 2nd year first officer, but that's 12-14 years from Zero time which is similar to Medical school Etc... even CRNA is 4 year RN bachelor, 3-4 year ICU experience, 4 years CRNA School "which requires 3.0+ RN Bachelor, and is competitive as medical school if not more so."


If you all want to chase money, we can all combine our knowledge to the platinum guild and go on the quest haha.

I like how you know the people I know.  Hilarious.

- One friend who's a pilot makes $240k for something like 10 days of work a month.  W-2. He paid cash for his flight time, and was an instructor as soon as he could be, and came out in less than a year with zeo debt, and worked up to this salary.  As soon as he switches over to captain (when his kid graduates from HS), he'll make $400k starting salary.
- My other friend who's a pilot makes more, because he works more - oh, and he got his experience in the military after going to the AF Academy, so "free."
- The people in IT sales I know all make well over $200k (many make close to $1M a year).  I don't know anyone who makes LESS than $200k a year.  I know dozens of people in this arena.  I'll be my husband knows 200 people that make this amount. Probably more. All W-2.
- The commercial HVAC guy I know makes over $200k a year with overtime. W-2. Plus side-gigs.
- All of the elevator mechanics I know make $100-$200k with OT, but I know of more than a few who make over $200k.  I work at an elevator company and see what they make, and not only do they make plenty with overtime, they have company vehicles, free medical with no deductibles, all kinds of benefits.  We hire people on a pretty regular basis, maybe 1 guy every month or so.  One month last year we hired 6 guys.  Our program is a 4yr apprenticeship program, starting at $23/hr with zero experience, and pay tops out at about $52/yr w/o OT.  With OT, they are making bank.  W-2.
- The traveling nurse I know makes well over $200k/yr and only works part time.
- The electrical contractor I know owns his own business and makes millions.  I think his house is worth $10M right now.  Yeah, I'm sure he's real worried about it being something other than a W-2 gig. He said all of his guys with 10+ years of experience are earning $150-$250k with OT, all W-2.  That doesn't include any side gigs they have.

But go ahead and tell me that your experience is EXACTLY the same as mine, and that I am wrong on every count here.

[AlvinG]

$200,000/Y sounds nice, until you realize it's 70-80 hours every week and then it starts making sense.

I know MANY, many, many people who make $200k a year or a lot more than that, and don't work anywhere close to 70-80 hours a week.  More than half work less than 40 hours a week, and the rest maybe 40-50, 60 max.

Some own their own businesses, some are mechanics in elevators, some are electrical contractors, some work in HVAC, some are doctors/dentists/NP's/PA's/PT's, some are in IT, some are in Sales.  Not a single one works in a cubicle, and probably never has.

Businesses have lots of overhead which can't be counted for as income. Once you decide to open up an LLC/S-Corp the business money and your money become independent, and can't be legally privately interconnected. This leads to a 30% tax rate to the company for anything you can't write off, and then that money is taxed a second time when you pay your own self as an employee at whatever salary rate you pick. It's tough, most people marry the business.
The elevator mechanic apprentice program exists near me, and they hire roughly 10 new candidates every 3-4 years. The top out pay after a 5 year, *not 4 year* apprenticeship to journey is $62hr, which is a far cry from 200k a year. HVAC? there's zero way. As for electrical contractor, it largely depends on the area and if you are a Master electrician, which requires 4 years of Journey level, before you can test. *The journey level requires 4 years of apprenticeship.* So, combined 8 years of effort. PA's/PT's, no. Within their field there's zero overtime possible, much like becoming a Pharmacist. PA's make $80hr, but usually only work 36-40 hours per week, and because it's in a clinic setting the overtime just isn't possible. NP's and Medical doctors/dentists, YES THEY DO lol. We're talking about advanced school, and highly competitive programs which 99% of people aren't ever going to do. There aren't accelerated Medical degree's or Nurse degrees. I know an ER Doctor who works 3 12's, and earns 400k a year. That's far from normal. But, a PEDS MD can earn as little as 150k-176k, because closed on the weekends. I mean just google "how many registered nurses are in the USA?" Less than 1% population. Then, google NP's, and it's 90% more small.

If you're chasing money, go RN bachelor, GO ICU for 3-4 years, and then go into a CRNA program. The CRNA's get 24 hour shifts and their own rooms to sleep in while being clocked in, earning $200-$250hr. It isn't abnormal to see one work 2-3 24's a week and gross $600k+, or even a million if you hit them up for bonuses.
I'll also share that a Graduate even from a Caribbean Medical School, which matches into a US residency, doesn't care about a Harvard Undergrad in English. The biggest bang for the buck was when Australia allowed UK medical doctors to work there. UK medical doctors enroll directly into medical school as an undergraduate degree "just like their law programs." The pay is trash though because of the taxes which the UK does. Anything over 51,000 is taxed at 40%, so it keep the medical doctors making less than someone who earns 50,000 taxed at 20%. Doctors were leaving to Australia in droves and making 400k+ in the market, but then it was rescinded because the UK got angry for losing doctors. Then they all went on strike as of recent. 


I don't know anyone earning 200k+ who isn't earning every penny, and Medical is the only W2 way to get it done 97% of the time. Sure, you can spend $65,000 in flight training, CFi for 2-3 years, fly for Ameriflight doing cargo for 3-5 years which is a feeder into UPS, and then make 200k as 2nd year first officer, but that's 12-14 years from Zero time which is similar to Medical school Etc... even CRNA is 4 year RN bachelor, 3-4 year ICU experience, 4 years CRNA School "which requires 3.0+ RN Bachelor, and is competitive as medical school if not more so."


If you all want to chase money, we can all combine our knowledge to the platinum guild and go on the quest haha.

I like how you know the people I know.  Hilarious.

- One friend who's a pilot makes $240k for something like 10 days of work a month.  W-2. He paid cash for his flight time, and was an instructor as soon as he could be, and came out in less than a year with zeo debt, and worked up to this salary.  As soon as he switches over to captain (when his kid graduates from HS), he'll make $400k starting salary.
- My other friend who's a pilot makes more, because he works more - oh, and he got his experience in the military after going to the AF Academy, so "free."
- The people in IT sales I know all make well over $200k (many make close to $1M a year).  I don't know anyone who makes LESS than $200k a year.  I know dozens of people in this arena.  I'll be my husband knows 200 people that make this amount. Probably more. All W-2.
- The commercial HVAC guy I know makes over $200k a year with overtime. W-2. Plus side-gigs.
- All of the elevator mechanics I know make $100-$200k with OT, but I know of more than a few who make over $200k.  I work at an elevator company and see what they make, and not only do they make plenty with overtime, they have company vehicles, free medical with no deductibles, all kinds of benefits.  We hire people on a pretty regular basis, maybe 1 guy every month or so.  One month last year we hired 6 guys.  Our program is a 4yr apprenticeship program, starting at $23/hr with zero experience, and pay tops out at about $52/yr w/o OT.  With OT, they are making bank.  W-2.
- The traveling nurse I know makes well over $200k/yr and only works part time.
- The electrical contractor I know owns his own business and makes millions.  I think his house is worth $10M right now.  Yeah, I'm sure he's real worried about it being something other than a W-2 gig. He said all of his guys with 10+ years of experience are earning $150-$250k with OT, all W-2.  That doesn't include any side gigs they have.

But go ahead and tell me that your experience is EXACTLY the same as mine, and that I am wrong on every count here.

So… you work in a cubicle? “Literally every desk job.” 

Also, I only went on my rant because you claimed “half the people I know who earn 200k a year work less than 40 hours a week.” I just want to illustrate how that sounds.

You mention 200k a year pilot gone 10 days. That math is gone 60 hours a week average. Being gone is being gone when it’s work related. 240 hours a month isn’t a breeze, flying 80.

Then you mention the elevator guys.. notice you said “overtime.” Of course you can make 200k+ with overtime in a $60hr+ industry. Those elevator guys do a lot of travel though, because they’re a small highly trained group which can sweep a region.

You then mention “travel nurse.” And “part time.” Those definitely don’t mix lol.
Travel nurses easily can make 200k+ in the PNW/West coast and NE regions, but they work more than 40 to achieve it. The $9,000wk Covid days are gone.

Unless you’re in some crazy lucky niche, earning 200k+ requires insane hours.

---

I've just come across your threads, and I can't stop from laughing at "Mickey, Mouse." I've never seen that before, and it has me Dying of laughter.

To me, even if the degree is from Harvard, Stanford, or Yale I think of it as a gimmick degree. I've known of only 2 people to get into Harvard, and I met them through the Ferrari forums. One in question went to Phillips Exeter, which costs $70,000/Y for high school, and is known as a feeder school. The other had a father who is a rocket scientist, and the mother a PHD professor. The second had their two parents at that level of wisdom from a baby to adult, and when the parents became busy with work they were afforded a PHD private tutor after school. Being a Gifted student, and receiving an actual admittance based on GPA/extracurricular is extremely rare, but it happens.
When we dig deeper into Harvard University, we can notice that most students are actually in the master programs, which hold weight, but not like Harvard College weight. I've heard from other wealthy families of whom I associate, Harvard usually knows by your freshmen year of high school if you're coming or not. Feel like they are elitist yet?

I'm almost 30, and I as a normal person enjoy the thought of bang for my buck. If you can prove yourself to a company, and build a good enough portfolio, you can make it into FAANG with just a coding bootcamp. I spent my 20's having children, chasing love, and traveling (budget). I've been to every state in America, and I've seen it all. I'd rather have my life experience over a cubicle any day of the week. $200,000/Y sounds nice, until you realize it's 70-80 hours every week and then it starts making sense. I have been accepted into decent schools even before doing this accelerated track, but it's hard to go to a 4 year actual brick and mortar when you have children that aren't school age. No regrets here, we shall all go and do great things in this life. Anything is possible, I've seen it snow in July haha.

I agree that a Harvard degree doesn't mean you get a golden ticket to riches but guaranteed access to the middle class. The average Harvard grad only makes 84k a year. 
https://www.cnbc.com/2023/04/11/how-much...hools.html

I don't blame people for taking the job that pays for the most money they can make. But after a while, some people may realize that freedom outweighs the money.

I agree 100% with you. There’s definitely a balance which must be performed. 
I personally would never want to be a celebrity. I’d hate being gone like that, even for the money

[dfrecore]

Ok AlvinG, you win. You know everything, everyone else knows nothing. Maybe we should all leave, and you can run the forum. SMH.