What is the point of school?

[rickyjo]

I think the school system is just another machine. I'm in it for the paper.

I learn from PCStats, CNet and Google.

[Elinor]

I'll pipe in here. This is something I've often wondered about myself. I graduated high school in 2007, but I didn't start towards any type of degree until January of this year. The primary reasons it took me so long to get started was 1. that sense of overwhelming relief when you're finally done with a lifetime of book work (aka, graduated high school), and 2. it seemed unnecessary at the time. Also, my mother's an English Journalism major and looked over the stuff I'd have to know to pass the literature CLEPs and didn't really want me filling my head with that stuff. Who would have guessed I could pass them without getting the full Faulkner experience!

Why am I working towards a degree now? The main thing was to be ready just in case, someday, the laws of the land change enough to require teachers (including homeschooling moms) to have a degree. Of course, my thinking there says if the laws go that far, it's only a matter of time before they require a teaching degree, but at least I'll be one step closer...

So, to sum up, I'm working towards a degree because one day I want to homeschool my kids, even if the laws change.

Hope that makes sense to someone other than me.

[rmroberts]

First of all, because no one will even look at you for a decent job without a degree. Second, it prepares you for your career (assuming you get a job in an area related to your degree). And some of it is just fun and interesting. Lastly, I'm 16 what else am I gonna do? hilarious

[2014hunter]

Inspired by another thread, I am working on some soul-searching. I am an idealist, but have become disillusioned with the reality of formal education.

What say you? What do you hope to gain from college that you couldn't gain otherwise, beyond just a degree? Would you be doing the same thing even if the degree served no purpose in your life?

I must say that I have posed the same question to myself.If you are in a University you can gain alot of quality insight and help from your professors.
But I must agree with the other guys that college is expensive,so I would recommend that you research,and find a more cost efficient avenue.As for the direction you would want to go with your life try Life Purpose Planning.
Take it easy.

[Maniac Craniac]

First of all, because no one will even look at you for a decent job without a degree.

That is a myth. Certain jobs, yes, do require degrees and in others it is preferable, but there are many, many, many (often overlooked) jobs that require no degree at all yet still over good salary and benefits.

Very few of my friends have degrees, and they are all doing just fine. Many of them (like myself) are even able to work part time and still make a full living.

[ryany]

I think the school system is just another machine. I'm in it for the paper.

I learn from PCStats, CNet and Google.

Ditto. I learn from those same resources, and some similar ones.

[creative]

Very few of my friends have degrees, and they are all doing just fine. Many of them (like myself) are even able to work part time and still make a full living.

could you please give some examples of part time jobs that make a full living... inquiring minds want to know

[TMW2010]

could you please give some examples of part time jobs that make a full living... inquiring minds want to know

When I was doing IT consulting in DC, I had a decent amount of clients, and only spent 10-15 hours a week actually working, but was able to make as much as I could have at a desk job. Money was definitely nice, but I got burnt out on it after a few years.

[NC Coach]

That is a myth. Certain jobs, yes, do require degrees and in others it is preferable, but there are many, many, many (often overlooked) jobs that require no degree at all yet still over good salary and benefits.

Very few of my friends have degrees, and they are all doing just fine. Many of them (like myself) are even able to work part time and still make a full living.

I agree with this for the most part. Surely having a degree looks great if you want to go interview for a job compared to if you don't have a degree. It will without a doubt get you some interviews you'd never otherwise get. That's why I'm here...to get that degree just in case one day I need to get that interview that requires it.

Certainly, you can't say you can't get a decent job without a degree. I know quite a few six-figure earners (including myself) who have not spent one day in a college classroom. I personally have achieved the level of Chief Operating Officer for my company and a very comfortable living without the benefit of a degree, or for that matter hardly any college credit. I had 6 total credits through distance learning at our local community college when I found this website a few months ago...now I have 18 and counting.

And yes, I too, know people who work very minimal hours and make very large incomes...in financial services industries like mortgage, insurance and investing where being good at closing deals and building a repeat customer/referral base (which does take years of hard work) have paid off in a way that you can make big money and work part time. And in those fields while you do need specialized training and licenses, you do not need a degree at all to be wildly successful.

Nevertheless, I will strongly encourage my teenage son (who is starting his Junior year in high school) to get his degree. It will open doors he could not otherwise open. Of that I am certain.

[MomOfMany]

It's not necessarily about getting a job either.

My dh does not have a college degree and it has absolutely frustrated him to no end to have to train his supervisors and managers at his previous employer of 15 years. For no reason other than they had a degree (any flippin degree!) and he didn't.

Now he is doing contract work for only slight more than he used to make, but that was after a year of unemployment and contract work does not come with any benefits either.

There are lots of decent jobs that don't require a degree, but sadly no matter how good one is at the job, many employers have a degree as a requirement for promotions.