Shit, they make good money. You didn't know? I know Pharmacists have to go through some rigorous education, but I couldn't believe it when I saw what they made. Aren't they replaced by machines or robots yet?
Unfortunately at my age I'm completely out of touch with the level of expense it now takes to get a degree. Personally I think getting a 4 year degree from a university is the way to go, but obviously it is very expensive in today's world. I got a bachelor's degree in accounting and then went to work. I was lucky enough to get my employers to fund my MBA from that point.
Yeah, I know a few, they break six figures pretty easily. really cushy life for working at Target. boring as shit though.
Not to be a schill for my Uncle Sam, but the reserves is also a pretty good deal for a 17-18 y/o who's not quite sure what they want to do with their life. Get a little bit of pocket money, pick a field that will train you in a trade (like Welding, electronics, engineering, media, or even cooking for that matter), do your 3-6 years of reserve weekends (with probably 1 6+ month deployment in there somewhere) and get out with 60k of college money to use. It's not for everyone, but it's an option. And many people have a much better idea what they want to do in life at 22 than at 18.
Of the 30 people that graduated with me in, only 1 is in the TV Broadcasting field. He's a camera guy in Bend at a news station and I know he can't be making more than $30,000. So I'm obviously the exception not the rule with my class.
As others have said, it really depends on the interests and goals of the person. I also think it depends a lot on the maturity level of the person. Here are two people's profile that I know really well. Person A: Went to a local 4 year university and graduated in 4 years. Then took a year off and went to law school for 3 years. Has been a successful lawyer ever since. Has a ton of debt, but makes a comfortable living. Person B: Went to a 4 year university on the East Coast. Got home sick and depressed, withdrew from university after 6 months, enrolled in Community College and trade schools (never knowing what they wanted to do). Has changed jobs multiple times and is just now (in their mid 30's) trying to complete a community college education.. I would not send your kid to college merely because it is the thing to do. If they are not ready for it, it could be a waste of money and time and cause them to lose confidence in themselves.
Its pretty easy 1. Go to college 2. join a frat 3. bro out 4. then work for your frat bro's uncle's hedge fund 5. Profit!
I wish some of those programs to finish high school at community college existed when I was in high school - I was bored silly. I can speak to my field, biotechnology. There has been a push to 2-year community college programs to train people, they learn lab techniques, basic chemistry, and the idea is they can go into the field after 2 years and it costs less. But, and it's a big but, they are in dead ends jobs forever. With a 4 year degree I was able to move from manufacturing to quality to technical writing. The 2 year people will stay in manufacturing forever, doing the bottom jobs. And their knowledge of chemistry and biology never gets past 101 level. Also, they never took so many of the other courses I took in college that are not directly related but often, suprisingly, have unexpected benefits. Or are just part of being, you know "eddicated". In college I took Tolstoy, French literature (in French), conversational Chinese, also independent study in a genetics lab, a course on women in the criminal justice system, etc. And my science training included population biology, molecular biology, genetic mutation, qualitative analysis, botany, things not taught in the 2 year tech course. You know, sometimes it's just interesting to learn something interesting.
I graduated four years ago from osu and it was only like 8,000 a year for tuition and books, I don't know where some people get these crazy numbers for what it costs. I got my first accounting job making 40k a year straight out of college. My fiancee went to school for like 18 months and spent like 8,000 at Clackamas community college to be a dental assistant and she started at $16/hour. So she made money faster, but trust me, I'll have the better career in the long run, unless she goes back to school to be a hygienist of course. It really matters what you study for your four year degree. Accounting and engineering almost guarantee you a good job. General business or ethnic studies guarantees you nothing.
Also, I got a second bachelor's in marketing too. 1% or so are working for research companies or ad agencies, 90% go into sales. It's not a degree that guarantees you much when you get it. Places like massmutual and pacific office automation were trying to hire me. I got the marketing degree just to get to 225 credits to sit for the cpa exam. I never had intentions of using it, always wanted to go into accounting.
