Education and career decision...

It's interesting to see so many profiles on CS listing a masters degree yet they are working in a flower shop making less than $25,000. Not every high degree guarantees a good job. I have coworkers who immigrated from Brazil and some have college degrees and trained as designers and architects, but they couldn't find anything suitable in Brazil, so they came to America for something better.
My nephew has a 4-year degree in political science... great. He sold used cars and now he's a soccer coach. I question his father who paid for the education... Why did you let this happen?
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Comments (17)

It's the done thing to get a degree even if the knowledge is fast-becoming obsolete or irrelevant to begin with. Education is much closer to wearing the right shoes and I don't know if they ask you to get a degree if you want to kick a ball straight, but it's in the same area. A degree in art is a chance to work in something completely different. Personally I think it's because there's a lot less anyone can teach us in 2023, there'll be whizz kids running rings around you. The whole setup doesn't know, like 100 years ago
Chat...

It is about the ability to learn and to follow through...a desired quality...putting a degree to work for you can open doors...if you want it...that is the question...

Some are born with the innate ability to succeed despite not obtaining a degree...but is not always the case...thinking outside of the box is difficult for some...

wine
You have to be willing to study something really hard until it hurts your head, and then not use most of it. We often need students from abroad to go through that. Education is more about credentials, helping professions to become a closed shop, and selecting for a certain temperament of obedience.
A degree doesn't make you a professional instantly.
And let's be honest there are way too many people with useless degrees.
If you studied internal design and you work in a flower shop then you are crap in designing interiors.
Or you are too lazy to put an effort and prove your talent and knowledge.
There are professions where you can not bluff your way up.
And thank God for that.
Where I came from, I started a career in IT with no degree, but you couldn't do that nowadays. It took 15 years for me to finish my first degree. But as to questioning the father 'why did you let this happen' he/we have no say - my two have incomplete degrees, no problem, maybe they will finish, or not, their choice.
I'll be back in a few hours, but this came to mind...

Great respect for those who when to a technical trade school and have certification for it.
Electricians, Plumbers, Air conditioning technicians who learned skills (in an intensive environment) specific to what they wanted to do in life and it's okay (with me) they didn't learn about the 1808 war between the Spanish and French that may have been a requirement had they gone to a 4-year college.
Chat...

Not looking for an interview...lol...laugh

I am not interested in who is faking their credentials here...I simply am stating that formal education has its merits...including gaining a trade to enable you to live better...that is what it is about...of course most would like to enjoy what they do for a living...but that is not every one's reality...

I flipped houses with my ex and managed to educate myself without a student loan...and I also worked 3 casual jobs to make ends meet...school was full time...we also housed international students...

Many people get by doing other jobs along the way...student loans can ease the burden but you have to pay it off eventually...so it is important to choose wisely...

wine
@ll regarding cost of American degrees - I recently enrolled in an online masters in Datascience at Austin U of Texas, where the 2-year course was $10k; similar courses in Moscow and Australia were respectively $24k and $50k - so the American university stacks up pretty well on cost, and Australia very poorly.
"Electricians, Plumbers, Air conditioning technicians who learned skills (in an intensive environment) specific to what they wanted to do in life and it's okay (with me) they didn't learn about the 1808 war between the Spanish and French that may have been a requirement had they gone to a 4-year college."

However, with a certificate in the trades, a newbie may soon be able to afford a "Liberal Education" so esteemed in Victorian times. A practically-useless academic degree with a 5-figure student debt strikes me as a handicap.
I know of a lady that had a 'standard' degree, applied for a vacancy in the US, and had to wait while they reevaluated her degree which was then reclassified as a 'masters' in US educational standards . This happens believe me. True story.professor
I've heard a few times that you can get a better education abroad.
That said, not all educational systems are equal and the opposite would explain why many medical students come to America to study here.
Something they cannot get at home.
Fargo...

I am specifically pointing out institutions like Harvard, Yale and some other institutions of higher learning...these prestigious schools are very expensive...and have money due to donations from the wealthy...it is an advantage that few can afford...

=
The academic degree can be a handicap...the debt can be quite large and hinder some from getting ahead...choosing a career wisely is paramount...you need to earn a living!...

My friend who is an artist ( went to college for) works on sets in the movie industry and on top of that has furthered his education to become a Licensed Practical Nurse...he is very happy what he is doing...being creative but practical in his approach...

wine
The problem with foreign students who have degrees...specifically medical related is that it tied up with proving that their degree is deemed worthy of practicing here...speaking about Canada...the bureaucratic red tape hinders many, making it quite daunting to earn a living...and we have a shortage of General Practitioners...doh
I'll insert an interesting twist.

I started in manufacturing at an early age and sometimes worked for large companies with more than 200 employees. Nearly all of the company owners of these successful businesses never made it to college!
One had only a few years of college and was running 3 companies that grossed over $75 million. Maybe he learned by 'street-smarts', but it did him well.
I do not doubt some do not go through traditional schooling to become successful...but they are not average people in my mind...some are quite intelligent and far exceed anything taught in schools...but life is not all about earning money...meeting people and the connections made while at college or university are beneficial...we need to be around people and find or interact with others...preps us for life...

I went to school for a vocation but have met good friends for life and connections for future job prospects...I was fortunate not to be drowned in a sea of debt...

wine
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