Would love to get your guys' opinion on this. Obviously everybody's situation is different, but which would be the best way to go? The amount of money a 4 year degree will set you back at say UofO, compared to a trade school or Community College. What did you guys do and has it worked out? Or did you just go into the world with a HS diploma? Whats the best plan? Does a traditional 4 year degree really open more doors? Does a company not even look at somebody without one?
Thinking of a career change, HCP? I think more and more companies find talent one way or another. You can be successful with little education, and you can be unsuccessful with a lot of education. That being said, I think at least a college degree of some sort is still a basic way in the door, a conversation-starter, an acknowledgement that you supposedly put in some studying and hard work and should have some basic knowledge. I think more than anything, it very likely depends on the industry. At least as far as I can tell with regards to friends and family and my own experiences, the success, or lack thereof, and the correlation to having a degree versus not having a degree seems more and more industry-specific. As for myself..... My wife and I both got 4-year degrees (Bachelor's) and it's working out well for both of us.
Both are fine. 4 year degrees if you want to be a corporate drone, 2 year degree if you want to work with your hands.
There's something to what El Pres said. If you have a marketable skill to go along with your Associate's (like welding, nursing, etc) then I think you can start well. If you're getting an AA in languages or History or something, I think you need the Bachelor's (and, increasingly, the Master's)
No, just thinking about my kids and what path to put them on. It's just always assumed people should just go the 4 year route. I have a lot of friends who have bachelors degrees and their degree cost them what, $60,000 more than my 2 year degree. There are so many factors in how you become successful or not, just wondering. I know there are success stories and failures with both. Just wouldn't mind hearing some opinions, and see some graphs and pie charts from you guys.
depends on what your kids want to do. If they want to weld shit or be a plumber or electrician, go that route. if they want to do sales or whatevz, get a degree because most companies won't even interview you without one. But seriously, a bachelor's is basically what a high school diploma was worth back when you were that age. practically useless for most cases, corporations slash salaries and benefits and outsource, most jobs will be extreme low level bullshit
A friend of mine makes a ton of money and he went to ITT for like 18 months or whatever. If you enjoy school and enjoy learning then get a 4 year degree. if you don't go to a trade school and do something you might enjoy. If you really hate school then work as a plumbers apprentice and dig ditches until you can be a plumber. if you are advising someone, the best advice I ever got was this. "It doesn't matter what you do with your life, just have a plan"
My experience is that a general 2 year degree is worthless. A 4-year degree is good, but expensive. Depending on what wants to do I like technical degrees/certificates- but do your due dilligence as to the school and the specific program as many are out dated.
HCP, if you're really looking at what could help your kids out most, look into if your district has a Running Start program. I don't know what it is in Portland, but at my old HS you go to Community College for half of your JR and SR year (and I think it's even subsidized)--so instead of taking Calc your senior year, you take Calc 101 at the community college. Same for Chemistry, Physics, English, etc. Two of my friends actually got their AA degree before they walked at their HS graduation (by a couple of days).
I believe PPS actually was the first in the state to do this kind of program, and I think it's free. There was an NPR story about it a couple weeks back.
Wow! That program sounds great. My wife has a Marketing and Business degree from PSU. It was amazing that after the kids got a little older and she was trying to get back to work, she could find nothing. It blew me away that even with this piece of paper, they didn't care. It got to a point where she was applying for office admin positions and NOT getting called back to interview. I was blown away at how her and her parents spent THAT much money and it meant nothing. Amazingly thru a connection I have, she was able to get a job in the field of her degree, but it took me knowing somebody for it to happen.
Yeah, go to school for 4 years to learn how to answer phones and make coffee. Really typical nowadays. :MARIS61:
