Should I finish my degree or...learn new skills?

[YJ02]

I dunno how much really. A couple of years ago I was doing a four year part-time college course in Informatics and that cost about 1600 euros per year. Not including books, but I lent those free of charge from the library. A full time education might cost more though, and other fields might cost more.

I think the total cost of a complete college or university degree could amount to less than the difference in a year's salary between having a minimum wage job and a job requiring the degree.

what about that "Europeans get a free college education" sphill our liberals are always talking about here?

and whats with the germans giving free college to foreigners, in english? is it just a specific nation by nation targeted program or can EU citizens go as well?

"The number of American students enrolled in German universities has risen steadily in recent years. Currently, an estimated 10,000 U.S. citizens are studying at German colleges -- nearly all of them for free, according to NBC News."

from: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...in-english-an-increasing-number-are-doing-it/

 

[Lord Ba'al]

That is how it is here in the US now. If places like Enterprise Rent A Car are requiring college degrees to do clerk-level jobs, that it does not say too much for the degree. Here, the trend of huge conglomerates absorbing up the smaller companies takes the entry level jobs down to a mere maintenance level in local outlets/franchises, and reserves the good jobs for the corporate offices. Those jobs are gotten by knowing people and being connected socially. Sure, you can have regional managers and other manager jobs, but with no real competition (just expansion) many types of degrees seem pointless. And the cost of the degrees along with the debt incurred to get them is a huge drawback. Is it getting like this in Europe too?

I'm not quite sure I brought my point across clearly. What I meant to say is this.

A minimum wage job in the Netherlands would gross at about 1600 euros per month, so say 19000 a year. Someone who just finished a college degree starting their first job with no experience whatsoever would probably be looking at a starting salary of about 2500 gross per month, so say 30000 a year. After tax we're talking about 18000 and 22500 a year respectively. Hmmm the difference doesn't seem that much after taxes. But that's just an example, the starting salary could be higher, especially if it's a university degree instead of college, then maybe 3500 gross a month to start with. After a couple of years on the job it could easily go to 4500 a month. Meanwhile someone with no degree will still be hanging around minimum wage. Of course there are exceptions. For example, some people who never went to school start businesses and become very successful. Some people become skilled tradesmen like electricians and plumbers and make big money that way. But generally those who get a degree are better off than those who don't.

 

[Lord Ba'al]

what about that "Europeans get a free college education" sphill our liberals are always talking about here?

and whats with the germans giving free college to foreigners, in english? is it just a specific nation by nation targeted program or can EU citizens go as well?

"The number of American students enrolled in German universities has risen steadily in recent years. Currently, an estimated 10,000 U.S. citizens are studying at German colleges -- nearly all of them for free, according to NBC News."

from: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...in-english-an-increasing-number-are-doing-it/

I don't know anything about the German universities or free studying programs. It might be true.

First time I went to university was back in 1998. I received a certain amount of funding from the state, not an awful lot. But I quit about a year and a half later. Then I had to pay it all back. A couple of years ago I started on a college degree but I paid for that myself, only cost about 130 euros a month.

 

[Joelist]

The issue is more that the college costs are astronomical for educations that nowadays lack really practical application (because of the types of courses the colleges offer). It's actually causing some companies in the States to go back to the old fashioned method of testing proficiency and taking that over a degree.

 

[Overmind One]

The issue is more that the college costs are astronomical for educations that nowadays lack really practical application (because of the types of courses the colleges offer). It's actually causing some companies in the States to go back to the old fashioned method of testing proficiency and taking that over a degree.

THIS (bolded). Some of these tests are even testing spelling and grammar! This should not even be necessary, but it is. Diploma mills collect tuition and don't care what their graduates learn or don't learn. Companies value proficiency over credentials (which are purchased now).

 

[Lord Ba'al]

How much does a degree cost?

 

[Overmind One]

How much does a degree cost?

From 40000 on up.

 

[Lord Ba'al]

It's a fair bit of money, but it is peanuts compared to how much money you'll miss out on if you do piss jobs all your life.

 

[YJ02]

I started on a college degree but I paid for that myself, only cost about 130 euros a month

So that is like $145 us right?

You'd be lucky to find even a part time course where the price is that much PER CREDIT!! So 145 x 3 for the entire course!

thats what i am getting at--between the growing distaste for higher ed in the us added to the incredible and very bloated cost-the jobs one can get with a 4yr degree here just do not pay that debt-maybe service the interest

<<one reason a lot of us college grads are going to places like china and korea to teach english--the cost of living is lower and the money they make lasts longer>>

in europe, it SEEMS to me, that
1- a college education is more valued socially and professionally
2-the cost, if not free, is quite low and therefore makes more sense to get a degree there based on the job and money one would make with a degree in europe

 

[YJ02]

It's a fair bit of money, but it is peanuts compared to how much money you'll miss out on if you do piss jobs all your life.

perhaps, but a properly credentialed HVAC tech or plumber or welder can make over 6 figures in many parts of the US without any schooling beyond HS

and we are running out of these trained service sector techs/specialist

kids are programmed to think that "go to college and everything will be great!" from 8th grade through 12th. they are further told that doing these in demand labor jobs are demeaning despite the amount of money one could make with little to no 'education' debt

see some of Mike Rowe's comments (there is a thread here about him though i forget the name)

 

[YJ02]

All of us chiming in and HEISENBERG hasn't told us what he's going to do!

 

[Rac80]

What is really disgusting is that many universities now offer REMEDIAL classes in math and english because the high schools aren't doing THEIR jobs.... ALL community colleges and trade schools do this too. Back when I was in high school you could graduate high school as an apprentice welder or electrician or car mechanic. those were the "shop" programs. High schools also taught secretarial courses so you could know how to take shorthand and type before graduation. You were set to actually enter the workforce. not any more.

 

[YJ02]

What is really disgusting is that many universities now offer REMEDIAL classes in math and english because the high schools aren't doing THEIR jobs.... ALL community colleges and trade schools do this too. Back when I was in high school you could graduate high school as an apprentice welder or electrician or car mechanic. those were the "shop" programs. High schools also taught secretarial courses so you could know how to take shorthand and type before graduation. You were set to actually enter the workforce. not any more.

Now,now RAC...
all of those essential and marketable skills would be very hard to test for on standardized testing or to teach under common core

though
-while I blame the liberals for eviscerating the modern ed system (well, their ideas and the conservatives not giving enough money thru funding for a double team on education) one would think, that they, still the party with the most union spt, would be the ones fighting to keep HS vo-tech fully funded-even mandated

it goes against their base to not spt teaching/training the children of their base spt's to NOT be ready to enter the workforce

 

[heisenberg]

All of us chiming in and HEISENBERG hasn't told us what he's going to do!

Sorry I have been very busy with work so as a result, I have temporarily put my studies on hold. It's a bit overwhelming so I can't dedicate that time to studies at this stage.

 

[YJ02]

Sorry I have been very busy with work so as a result, I have temporarily put my studies on hold. It's a bit overwhelming so I can't dedicate that time to studies at this stage.

any change Heisenburg?

just wondering om what you have decided--none of my beeswax of course, just interested

 

[Overmind One]

The issue is more that the college costs are astronomical for educations that nowadays lack really practical application (because of the types of courses the colleges offer). It's actually causing some companies in the States to go back to the old fashioned method of testing proficiency and taking that over a degree.

In IT, that is the standard method. They do not care about or need to see your Computer Science degree. They want you to demonstrate your knowledge and pass specific tests which are based upon the IT infrastructure of said company. And they will test the shit out of you. What good is knowing about bubble memory and quantum computers if you are applying for a Systems Administrator position in a Windows/Mac/ESX VDI environment?

More and more, college degrees in the US are becoming useless in terms of getting a leg up in the market. Although, the majority of firms want their employees to have college degrees. Enterprise Rent A Car requires a Bachelor Degree just to work there! (LOL).

 

[heisenberg]

any change Heisenburg?

just wondering om what you have decided--none of my beeswax of course, just interested

I don't see the point. I am working but now it's just moving up the corporate ladder. Though that's easier said then done when you are dealing to bureaucracy.

 

[Lord Ba'al]

I don't see the point. I am working but now it's just moving up the corporate ladder. Though that's easier said then done when you are dealing to bureaucracy.

Please clarify this for me because I can't decipher what your opinion on the whole previous discussion is. Did you mean to say that you have decided to quit the degree?

 

[heisenberg]

Please clarify this for me because I can't decipher what your opinion on the whole previous discussion is. Did you mean to say that you have decided to quit the degree?

Yes i have quit. Knowledge is one thing but if you lack critical thinking or perhaps are really shit at application, what good are you?

 

[Overmind One]

I don't see the point. I am working but now it's just moving up the corporate ladder. Though that's easier said then done when you are dealing to bureaucracy.

I saw a Dislike rating from me on here, and it was a mistake! I changed it.