should I go to college or get a job?

[Mr.Kalashnikov]

I have a good GPA, I did well in the SAT's, and I did well on some AP exams. Almost every year they send me letters asking me to join the National Honor Society. What I am trying to get at here is that I am qualified to go to a decent school if I wanted to. But the problem is that I don't think college is for me! I have heard too many times from many diffferent persons, that people go to college not to be able to find a job after graduation, but to learn about life (which I think is bull****, but that's what they say lol).

Now, the only reason I would ever go to college is because I don't want to end up mixing concrete or stocking shelves at a supermarket when I am 25. I think I can learn a good deal about life on my own; I don't need to pay $30,000 a year for 4 years to do that.

It is a tough decision that I have to make. I know people will think I am dumb if I don't have a college degree (that's why I implied in the first paragraph that I am a good student, in case that's what you were thinking lol), but one can also be a jerk with a college degree. I know many.

Do you guys think someone with my attitude would be better off going to a technical school (or just getting a job)?

 

[Harryz]

Well, if you don't enjoy the academic life, get a job. Theres no point putting yourself in misery doing what you hate.

 

[Solaris]

Go to college.
Theres few career prospects if you don't.

 

[Mr.Kalashnikov]

Go to college.
Theres few career prospects if you don't.

Do you mean, if I go to a good school, have a very high GPA, and study the right subject? I know a guy who graduated from college last year, and the last time I checked, he still didn't have a job!

 

[ComradeBadger]

Uni is the best years of your life.

I'm not kidding. Don't go into the souless world of work right now.

 

[Lucid]

College.

Toga parties!

 

[P43.2/1Gig/X800P]

Do you mean, if I go to a good school, have a very high GPA, and study the right subject? I know a guy who graduated from college last year, and the last time I checked, he still didn't have a job!

Yup I have 3 friends.


#1 Friend = He went to college spent alot of money and now he's in mexico teaching spanish in a dump school were kids are constintly yelling and whatever. I was talking to him the other day and he says he likes it but he cant fool me. He sends pictures and he lives in a dirt house WTH! (H = Heck)
So thats him. I dont know maybe i'm wrong. He doesnt make much either.

#2 Friend = This is # 1's friends Older brother they went to the same school spent alot of money and now he still lives at home (26's old) and plays Worls of Warcraft all day I want to call him so we could hang out but he always says no. Hmm dont know what to do with him.

#3 Friend = He's a cool guy and he was taking classes and wants to be a pharmacist and he now works in a cleaners with his parents. Hes 25 years old.
He kept telling me he wanted to be a pharmacist and how much money they make. Hmm i dont know what happin?

And now theres me(24) I didnt choose to go to college Simply because of 1 reason I HATE SCHOOL! HOMEWORK AND ALL THAT BS!! sorry just had to say it. I work in retail for about ten years now with the same company www.LNT.com . I make about $2000 a month which is more than enough for me considering i still live at home. I have everything i ever wanted in life and then some. I am actually glad i didnt go to college god knows were i;s be now. My mom also had a stroke about 3 years ago so thats why i'm sticking around. And as for my older brother(25) he didnt go to college either. Same with my older sister (26) We are all just living at home With no major problems. :thumbs: Just do what feels right for you .

 

[ComradeBadger]

In fairness though, you are working retail at 24 and still living at home.. not trying to attack you there, but I'm far more mobile since being at uni. It just seems to me with the

I HATE SCHOOL! HOMEWORK AND ALL THAT BS!!

That's a rather immature attitude towards learning and bettering yourself.

Oh and Uni is far easier than school.

 

[Harryz]

Oh and Uni is far easier than school.

Not quite true, depends on the course you have chosen.

 

[madog]

College is a good experience. Plus studies show those that go to college make an average of 1 million $ more over their lifetime than people who don't.

 

[JNightshade]

Go to college. Trust me. You'll find something you're interested in, and you're broadening your horizons 10,000fold. When you go to college, you give yourself SO many more opportunities. So go.

 

[Codcommando]

Go to college.
Theres few career prospects if you don't.

You could work in the acid mines :thumbs:

 

[P43.2/1Gig/X800P]

In fairness though, you are working retail at 24 and still living at home.. not trying to attack you there, but I'm far more mobile since being at uni. It just seems to me with the


That's a rather immature attitude towards learning and bettering yourself.

Oh and Uni is far easier than school.

Ok maybe i was i little over dramatic there but you know what i mean, It just wans't for me. I couldnt wait to graduate from Highschool. NOW I"M FREEEEE


DONT GO!! DONT GO !! DONT GO!!!! J/K GO!! .... no dont go ahhahahaha i dont know. i'm crazy

Holy crap its snowing outside weeeeeee

 

[DeusExMachina]

Go to college. Everyone's dune it.

But seriously. Go :|.

 

[jondy]

NOW I"M FREEEEE

Free from what? Cheap student beer, an abundance of promiscuous women and 8 hours of lectures a week?

 

[Mr.Kalashnikov]

You guys make some convincing arguments...but still. What should I study? It's not what I want to study that I should study, but something that will enable me to find a job afterwards. Don't believe me? When was the last time you saw companies hiring philosophy and history majors?(those are the subjects I am interested in). Being a high school teacher sucks big time so don't even mention that. lol.

I don't care about meeting people in college. I am such a geek I'd probably spend all day in my dorm room either studying or playing video games. I wouldn't have time to meet new people ha ha

 

[Harryz]

Okay, let me get this straight. In America, is college the same as University?

 

[DeusExMachina]

Yeah. We even have universities. Which are basically colleges, only bigger.

Kalash: Well, be honest with yourself, unless you're going to be a teacher or anthropologist, a degree in philosophy or history isn't going to get you a job. Isn't there anything else that interests you?

 

[StardogChampion]

If the work you want to do is portfolio-based and you feel you're already good at what you do then don't bother.

If you'll be applying for jobs that go on grades + interview alone, then you better try and get all the grades you can get from college/uni.

 

[Insano]

Choose Life. Choose a job. Choose a career. Choose a family.
Choose a ****ing big television, choose washing machines, cars,
compact disc players and electrical tin openers. Choose good
health, low cholesterol, and dental insurance. Choose fixed
interest mortage repayments. Choose a starter home. Choose your
friends. Choose leisurewear and matching luggage. Choose a
three-piece suite on hire purchase in a range of ****ing fabrics.
Choose DIY and wondering who the **** you are on a Sunday morning.
Choose sitting on that couch watching mind-numbing, spirit-crushing
game shows, stuffing ****ing junk food into your mouth. Choose
rotting away at the end of it all, pishing your last in a miserable
home, nothing more than an embarrassment to the selfish, ****ed up
brats you spawned to replace yourself.

Choose your future.

Choose college.

 

[boglito]

I have a good GPA, I did well in the SAT's, and I did well on some AP exams. Almost every year they send me letters asking me to join the National Honor Society. What I am trying to get at here is that I am qualified to go to a decent school if I wanted to. But the problem is that I don't think college is for me! I have heard too many times from many diffferent persons, that people go to college not to be able to find a job after graduation, but to learn about life (which I think is bull****, but that's what they say lol).

Now, the only reason I would ever go to college is because I don't want to end up mixing concrete or stocking shelves at a supermarket when I am 25. I think I can learn a good deal about life on my own; I don't need to pay $30,000 a year for 4 years to do that.

It is a tough decision that I have to make. I know people will think I am dumb if I don't have a college degree (that's why I implied in the first paragraph that I am a good student, in case that's what you were thinking lol), but one can also be a jerk with a college degree. I know many.

Do you guys think someone with my attitude would be better off going to a technical school (or just getting a job)?

If you can get your foot inside the jobmarket without a proper education, then my advice is go for it! Especially if you can actually get a job with prospects of promotion (no, not burger king).

Personally I have (had) no less than 3 channels to get directly into a decent enough job through family. Those 3 are guaranteed. There are more channels into the job-market for me, but those are more tentative.

My experience is that if you can get a job that is not dead end wihtout an education then that is better and more profitable than going to college. Ofcourse, college can be immensely fun, but so can real life.

I say, go for the job-option, but don't burn the bridges to college until you are sure you get a job you are happy with.

.bog.

 

[ComradeBadger]

You guys make some convincing arguments...but still. What should I study? It's not what I want to study that I should study, but something that will enable me to find a job afterwards. Don't believe me? When was the last time you saw companies hiring philosophy and history majors?(those are the subjects I am interested in). Being a high school teacher sucks big time so don't even mention that. lol.

I don't care about meeting people in college. I am such a geek I'd probably spend all day in my dorm room either studying or playing video games. I wouldn't have time to meet new people ha ha

History has the lowest unemployment rates out of any subject


Oh, but it's taught really badly in America, you guys don't get taught proper analytical skils.. according to my Amercian professor

History teaches you a load of skills useful all across the job spectrum

(Again, I'm talking about British-taught History here though, not sure what you learn over there)

 

[Mr.Kalashnikov]

If you'll be applying for jobs that go on grades + interview alone, then you better try and get all the grades you can get from college/uni.

Huh? Aren't good grades and interviews required for any white-collar job?

 

[DreamThrall]

Choose Life. Choose a job. Choose a career. Choose a family.
Choose a ****ing big television, choose washing machines, cars,
compact disc players and electrical tin openers. Choose good
health, low cholesterol, and dental insurance. Choose fixed
interest mortage repayments. Choose a starter home. Choose your
friends. Choose leisurewear and matching luggage. Choose a
three-piece suite on hire purchase in a range of ****ing fabrics.
Choose DIY and wondering who the **** you are on a Sunday morning.
Choose sitting on that couch watching mind-numbing, spirit-crushing
game shows, stuffing ****ing junk food into your mouth. Choose
rotting away at the end of it all, pishing your last in a miserable
home, nothing more than an embarrassment to the selfish, ****ed up
brats you spawned to replace yourself.

Choose your future.

Choose college.

brilliant!

 

[Javert]

You guys make some convincing arguments...but still. What should I study? It's not what I want to study that I should study, but something that will enable me to find a job afterwards. Don't believe me? When was the last time you saw companies hiring philosophy and history majors?(those are the subjects I am interested in). Being a high school teacher sucks big time so don't even mention that. lol.

I don't care about meeting people in college. I am such a geek I'd probably spend all day in my dorm room either studying or playing video games. I wouldn't have time to meet new people ha ha

If you are in the United States, you can be quite surprised how often liberal arts people are hired by businesses. Ultimately, it comes down to skills, communications, and maturity.

Companies aren't looking for business majors, and even so, the workforce is still too big even if they only hired them. They are looking for people who can think, communicate, be able to influence and synthesize, and to be ethical. All these things are inclusive with history, philosophy, and english majors. When you go to a uni, there are career fairs, and though some recommend an engineering/business degree, many are just looking for people with experience and skills.

So yes, your prospects to find a GOOD job increase with a degree (even in art history) as opposed to not having one.


And don't forget, college degrees offer alot of perks: Chance for professional school, lower insurance rates, higher credit ratings, tax refunds, and meeting people who may be your future employer/employee.

 

[Mr.Kalashnikov]

They are looking for people who can think, communicate, be able to influence and synthesize, and to be ethical..

OK, that's a convincing argument. But what makes you think I can 'communicate', 'influence', and 'synthesize'? They don't teach that in colleges or universities. Unless you are a communications major ha ha. If by communicate you mean writing reports, I guess we all can do that

 

[RakuraiTenjin]

Hey if you're not ready for University, a good plan that's actually smart economically and most people SHOULD do anyway-

Go to community college for 2 years and get your associates degree, or whatever 2 year credits you can taken care of. THEN head to University for 2 years and get your Bachelors degree. Exactly the same as if you'd went all 4 years, and you save a ton of money.

It's actually a lot smarter to do and a lot of counselors nowadays are trying to encourage students to do it. You'd probably be able to work part time going to community college to and it's in your home town (hopefully)

The big universities don't like you to hear about that because they lose a couple thousand dollars tuition! But it's exactly the same, if not BETTER, education wise. Smaller classes, same material, you get a final BA degree from the big university, etc etc. Unless you're going for a highly technical field like pre-med or something, you should do that.

 

[Zeus]

Well I need some help with this too, my mom is kind of overpushing me to go to college. Because she never went and she wants her kids to go, which is fine and typical of a mother..but I think she is pushing me too much.

I mean she signed me up for an SAT prep course, and shes telling me I can't take a year off and work before heading off to post-highschool education. I wanted to take off a year and think about what Im doing with my life but shes telling me Im not taking a year off..and she said if I don't go to college Im going to have to support myself...so I need some help here.

 

[RakuraiTenjin]

Well I need some help with this too, my mom is kind of overpushing me to go to college. Because she never went and she wants her kids to go, which is fine and typical of a mother..but I think she is pushing me too much.

I mean she signed me up for an SAT prep course, and shes telling me I can't take a year off and work before heading off to post-highschool education. I wanted to take off a year and think about what Im doing with my life but shes telling me Im not taking a year off..and she said if I don't go to college Im going to have to support myself...so I need some help here.

Community college fits this situation really well. Go there for 2 years and get a little footing for yourself, and then you'll be one up on the others that went university immediately.

 

[Ikerous]

Go to community college for 2 years and get your associates degree, or whatever 2 year credits you can taken care of. THEN head to University for 2 years and get your Bachelors degree. Exactly the same as if you'd went all 4 years, and you save a ton of money.

That's what I'm doing, and it's definitely a really good idea

 

[Mr.Kalashnikov]

I thought community colleges were for "not so-intelligent" people (or at least for the kids who ended up with Cs and Ds in high school). At least that's what a good chunk of our society thinks anyway. Are you sure you can attend a *good* college or university with a community college degree? I mean, I could always go to a state school and pay $10,000/year.

 

[RakuraiTenjin]

I thought community colleges were for "not so-intelligent" people (or at least for the kids who ended up with Cs and Ds in high school). At least that's what a good chunk of our society thinks anyway. Are you sure you can attend a *good* college or university with a community college degree? I mean, I could always go to a state school and pay $10,000/year.

Um no, the ones who do that typically don't do anything at all. A lot of students attend community college at the same time as high school like in their senior year or during the summertime to get college credits chipped away at. It's the same curriculum. You have to test into classes just the same as university with the same scores so if you are failing at high school you probably wont make it into community college even.

 

[Javert]

I thought community colleges were for "not so-intelligent" people (or at least for the kids who ended up with Cs and Ds in high school). At least that's what a good chunk of our society thinks anyway. Are you sure you can attend a *good* college or university with a community college degree? I mean, I could always go to a state school and pay $10,000/year.

Community colleges are not neccessarily "for dumb people", but it is a stepping stone for people who 4-year uni's are too tough for. Depending where you are, some community colleges offer deals that if you get good grades for your first two years, they will guarantee you admittance to a state uni to transfer to for your next four years, which is what most people do anyway.

For example in California, getting good grades at Los Angeles Community College guarantees admittance to any UC, including UCLA and Berkeley (Go Bears!!).

State schools are tricky. They're better than community colleges, very local, yet difficult to transfer out of if you want to go to a better schoool. They're mostly for people who KNOW what exactly they want to do, because some state schools excel in one-two specific things, and generally suck in everything else. Do your research.

OK, that's a convincing argument. But what makes you think I can 'communicate', 'influence', and 'synthesize'? They don't teach that in colleges or universities. Unless you are a communications major ha ha. If by communicate you mean writing reports, I guess we all can do that

Yes they do, and they even teach you that in high school. Ability to write good papers (even if on the causes of World War I), to do team projects, to be able to "not summarize", and create data. That sort of stuff most majors teach, and employers like that.

Also, all uni's allow non-majors to take business classes as well, a big plus. For example, I'm an English major/Music minor. But I was also able to take Financial Accounting, and I plan on doing Stats and Marketing next semester. So you won't be totally out of the loop for anything.

So in short, goto uni!

 

[Ikerous]

I thought community colleges were for "not so-intelligent" people (or at least for the kids who ended up with Cs and Ds in high school). At least that's what a good chunk of our society thinks anyway. Are you sure you can attend a *good* college or university with a community college degree? I mean, I could always go to a state school and pay $10,000/year.

I had a 4.2 my senior year and got a 5 on the ap calc test. And some of the ppl i've met at community college are extremely impressive. You get all kinds of people going there. And i can transfer into almost any UC school in the state from community college. And with the agreement my school has with UCSD, it makes it a lot easier to get in than it is straight from highschool. And that's a pretty dam good university

 

[DeusExMachina]

Yeah, the new thing is going to a community college then transferring to a regular college. I'm thinking about doing it.

 

[Zeus]

Im actually thinking about doing it too deus

 

[OvA]

Move to Tiajuana, Mexico and breathe fire for money

 

[satch919]

I thought community colleges were for "not so-intelligent" people (or at least for the kids who ended up with Cs and Ds in high school). At least that's what a good chunk of our society thinks anyway. Are you sure you can attend a *good* college or university with a community college degree? I mean, I could always go to a state school and pay $10,000/year.

First off, I've met a lot of extremely intelligent people at community college. And of course you can attend a good university with a community college degree. As long as you meet the university's general breadth requirements, you're in.

I chose community college mainly because it was a lot cheaper and, to a certain extent, easier than a university. I was at my community college for about three years trying to decide what I wanted to do. I finally settled on Administration of Justice/Criminal Justice and got my Associates degree last summer. I transferred over to a university this quarter and I'm taking classes to get my bachelors and then my masters degree.

A lot of people I've talked to at the university have spent tons more money achieving the same general requirements. So, I ended up saving a load of money by going to a community college. Plus, I was able to transfer a lot of credits over towards my bachelors.

Try out a community college and see how you like it and go from there. Good luck.

 

[Mr.Kalashnikov]

Well... I guess I was wrong when I said community colleges were not for intelligent people. Now I also want to attend a community college

How much did you say a semester costs at the average CC?

 

[Ikerous]

In California it's pretty chap. I only pay 26 dollars a unit and a semester is about 15 or 16 units. Although apparently it's more expensive in other states.