Society seems to look down on people that did not go to college. Not so much because of the not having a college education, but because people who did not go to college tend to get lower paying jobs. And I guess it is these lower paying jobs that society tends to look down on.

As far as I am concerned, I really don't care if people went or not. I have meet quite a few people without college educations that are quite intelligent and people with college educations that were idiots.

I went to college because I felt that I needed to. I wanted to be exposed to all the knowlegde that a higher education can provide. And I am glad that I went. I am a much more informed person because of it.

My question is do you think a person should go to college or not?

It all depends, College isn't for everyone. I went to college and I hated it at my first year because I went as soon as I was out of High School. I think that a person should take some time off, like a yr after graduating High School to work and have fun, and then go to College LOL.

Like I said it all depends, College isn't for everyone. I don't look down on people who didn't attend.

It's very true that college isn't for everyone. My nephew hated high school but did graduate. He works for the city and drives a bus, and makes 55 grand a year with incredible benefits. His wife knew college wasn't for her, so she went to school and became a dental hygienist. She works in Boston and makes $45 an hour.

Trade schools are good. I know electricians, plumbers, hairdressers and mechanics who make a ton of money.

My father was a longshoreman for almost 50 years. He retired in 1989 and was making over 125 grand a year.

College is a must for some people, but I don't think it's necessarily for everyone.

I have a college degree while my husband does not. He owned a business for years and made a ton of money.

My best friend's husband owns a roofing company, and they're rich. He never went to college.

I never look down on anyone without a college degree. Some of the smartest people I know didn't attend college, while some of the dumbest people I know are college grads.

^ I agree 100% with what you just said.:wave:

I voted for 'No, it doesn't matter.' Because, honestly, it doesn't. Like Janice mentioned, there are some really good trades out there that don't require a college education. And college definitely isn't for everyone (hell, I've been going for nearly 4 years and I've wanted to drop out many a time). I think people can be perfectly happy with not going to college. It all depends on the person and what their goals are.

I'm more for the trade school route, unless of course you totally have your heart set on becoming something high up, like an engineer, doctor, professor.

Me, I went to college, and basically all it got me was a piece of paper and the ability to truthfully put that I have a BA on my resume. Didn't get me a job at all. It was a learning experience, and in hindsight, I'm half glad I went, half wish I would have done trade school (or something equivalent).

And all in all, my parents kind of made me go to school. And so did peer pressure. I always thought you were a loser if you didn't go to a major university. Ugh...I met some of the biggest losers/drunks at the university level. Needless to say, I don't think that way anymore.

It's true, just because you have a college degree doesn't mean that you'll get a great paying job. I have a college degree and it took me a while to find the career that I have. In my case I needed a college degree in order to get the job that I have. But there are millions of people without a college degree who have great paying jobs.

If you're willing to work hard or have a passion and you're focus you can make a great living.

Look at Oprah she never graduated from college and she's a billionaire LOL

I failed to mention in my first thread that I had a hell of a time getting through college. It took me six and a half years and I even dropped out at one point. However, after working fulltime at Target for a year, I decided to go back. I wasn't happy with the idea of spending my entire life working retail (though that is fine for some people).

It depends.

If you live in rural America, a college education isn't quite important, but try to get a job in L.A., New York City, or another big metropolis without a college degree.

I actually find it quite sickening that people in these areas practically don't have choice of whether or not to go to college. There is no way to live a middle class life here without an education.

For example, my family has long history in the longshoremen field here in the LA port, my parents easily pull over $120,000 each-- now, the new longshoremen only make half of that. It's actually quite difficult to make a living in the LA with that type of money. That's the reason why so many people commute to LA from areas like Riverside County and Bakersfield on a daily basis.

My parents bought one of their homes in 1988 for $500,000-- it's now worth over $3,000,000, that is CRAZY. Regular folks can't afford homes here anymore, my neighbors are CEO's, plastic surgeons, and someone that goes by the name of Donald Trump.

I would like to be a longshoremen, but first of all, it's practically impossible to get a position there nowadays, and secondly-- it's not even a job worth getting anymore.

So my answer is "yes"-- people do need a college education. I'm done venting.

It depends.

If you live in rural America, a college education isn't quite important, but try to get a job in L.A., New York City, or another big metropolis without a college degree.

I actually find it quite sickening that people in these areas practically don't have choice of whether or not to go to college. There is no way to live a middle class life without an education.

For example, my family has long history in the longshoremen field here in the LA port, my parents easily pull over $120,000 each-- now, the new longshoremen only make half of that. It's actually quite difficult to make a living in the LA with that type of money. That's the reason why so many people commute to LA from areas like Riverside County and Bakersfield on a daily basis.

My parents bought one of their homes in 1988 for $500,000-- it's now worth or $3,000,000, that is CRAZY. Regular folks can't afford homes here anymore, my neighbors are CEO's, plastic surgeons, and someone that goes by the name of Donald Trump.

I would like to be a longshoremen, but first of all, it's practically impossible to get a position nowadays, and secondly-- it's not even a job worth getting anymore.

So my answer is "yes"-- people do need a college education. I'm done
venting.


That is sort of the way things are in Illinois actually. The rent for an apartment in even bad neighborhoods is something like $800 a month. That will get you a one room apartment in the skid row district. To get yourself a nice apartment it is well over $1,000 a month.

Going to college was as much my parents choice as mine. My dad sat me down one day during my senior year and asked what my college plans were and when I told him that I was thinking of NOT going to college he gave me this long lecture that went something this: "Do you have any idea how much it costs to survive these days (this was late 1993)? Unless you get yourself a college education you will never get a good job and you will never make it on your own. You want to work at MacDoanld's? Or the gas station. Or you can be one of those guys who comes around in the summer to mow people's laws. How would you like to do that for the next forty years? You are going to college and that is final." :lol:

college is overrated. The average psychologits makes 13.45 an hour.

A local factory here hires in at 12 and tops out at 18. Why go into debt and have four yrs of not making money when you could make more right outta high school?

Now to some money aint evrything. But others like myself would rather make money then go to school and hafta pay fer it.

college is overrated. The average psychologits makes 13.45 an hour.

A local factory here hires in at 12 and tops out at 18. Why go into debt and have four yrs of not making money when you could make more right outta high school?

Now to some money aint evrything. But others like myself would rather make money then go to school and hafta pay fer it.

Seems logical. :)

Of course, since I am in the education field, a college education was sort of expected.:lol:

I can honestly say I hate college and I feel like it's doing nothing for me. I have no idea what i'm doing with my life at 18, so i'm basically wasting $26,000 of my parents money a year because its programed in us that we need to go to college to become successful. My dad graduated college, pretty much got lucky, made millions with his company all from graduating from some crap college with a BA. My mom never went to college, never worked a day in her life until age 35, and now makes more than she needs. Basically i've come to the conclusion that it's all luck. I hate how these days going to college right after high school is expected. I regret not having waited. I would've much rather worked full time anywhere for a year and had that experience. My bestfriend is doing it, and he can't wait to start school so he won't be doing a crappy retail job the rest of his life. Something like that would've been best for me. I'm a spoiled brat, I admit it. As of now going to school full time is just something to shut my mom up for the time being. It's like that with everyone I know, or just a place to party.

i dont make sense i know:lol:

I can honestly say I hate college and I feel like it's doing nothing for me. I have no idea what i'm doing with my life at 18, so i'm basically wasting $26,000 of my parents money a year because its programed in us that we need to go to college to become successful. My dad graduated college, pretty much got lucky, made millions with his company all from graduating from some crap college with a BA. My mom never went to college, never worked a day in her life until age 35, and now makes more than she needs. Basically i've come to the conclusion that it's all luck. I hate how these days going to college right after high school is expected. I regret not having waited. I would've much rather worked full time anywhere for a year and had that experience. My bestfriend is doing it, and he can't wait to start school so he won't be doing a crappy retail job the rest of his life. Something like that would've been best for me. I'm a spoiled brat, I admit it. As of now going to school full time is just something to shut my mom up for the time being. It's like that with everyone I know, or just a place to party.

i dont make sense i know:lol:


There are some awsome dorm parties. Of course, studying is important too. :lol:

There are some awsome dorm parties. Of course, studying is important too. :lol:
I made the mistake of staying home for school..i'm trasnfering next semester, though. thats when the fun begins. i'll probably be kicked out, but what can you do:lol: my brothers away message this past monday morning: "**** goin to math still drunk as hell..i love college" :lol:

Going to college is a personal choice. There are so many people who would like to go to college but just don't have the money to do so and I don't see this "Society" that looks down on people who don't offering to help pay for it.
I think in many cases it's more important to have an education and not a degree. I'm not sure that makes much sense to most people but for a lot of jobs it's more important to know how to do certain things that you can only learn from on the job experience, not in a classroom.

No, it doesn't matter. Some of the most educated, PhD-type people can be the ones who aren't really all that smart other than what a piece of paper says. And I've seen people who don't have an education be the most intelligent about life and everything else.

It's up to each individual, really. Just by going to college, what I am trying to say, is that it doesn't necessarily make people "smarter."

20 Great Jobs That Don't Require a College Degree

CareerBuilder.com

What do Microsoft founder Bill Gates, Oracle CEO Larry Ellison and entertainment mogul David Geffen have in common? Besides being exceedingly rich, none of them has a college degree.

Though it was once conventional wisdom that you needed to have a four-year college degree to be successful, many employment experts believe that maxim has become myth. While a college education increases a worker's chances of earning more money, it's certainly not the only reliable path to well-paid and rewarding work.

Even though good jobs increasingly require some post-high school training, many still don't require a four-year degree. In fact, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, eight of the top 10 fastest-growing occupations through 2014 do not require a bachelor's degree. And these jobs, which include health technology, plumbing, firefighter and automotive repair, are less vulnerable to outsourcing. After all, if your car breaks down in Indiana, you're not going to fly someone in from another country to help you!

Based on data from the U.S. Department of Labor and the Census Bureau, career planning expert Michael Farr and statistician Laurence Shatkin recently published the second edition of their book "The 300 Best Jobs That Don't Require a Four-Year Degree." Among the 25 top-paying occupations are jobs in sales, education, law enforcement, construction, administration and transportation, as well as management and supervisory jobs:

Here are 20 of the top-paying jobs that don't require a degree according to Shatkin's book:

Job: Air Traffic Controller (http://aol.careerbuilder.com/PLI/QuickSrchV2.asp?QSKWD=air+traffic+controller)
Annual Income: $102,030

Job: Storage and Distribution Manager (http://aol.careerbuilder.com/PLI/QuickSrchV2.asp?QSKWD=storage+distribution+manager)
Annual Income: $66,600

Job: Transportation Manager (http://aol.careerbuilder.com/PLI/QuickSrchV2.asp?QSKWD=transportation+manager)
Annual Income: $66,600

Job: Police and Detectives Supervisor (http://aol.careerbuilder.com/PLI/QuickSrchV2.asp?QSKWD=police+supervisor)
Annual Income: $64,430

Job: Non-Retail Sales Manager (http://aol.careerbuilder.com/PLI/QuickSrchV2.asp?QSKWD=sales+manager)
Annual Income: $59,300

Job: Forest Fire Fighting and Prevention Supervisor (http://aol.careerbuilder.com/PLI/QuickSrchV2.asp?QSKWD=forest+fire+prevention)
Annual Income: $58,920

Job: Municipal Fire Fighting and Prevention Supervisor (http://aol.careerbuilder.com/PLI/QuickSrchV2.asp?QSKWD=firefighter)
Annual Income: $58,902

Job: Real Estate Broker (http://aol.careerbuilder.com/PLI/QuickSrchV2.asp?QSKWD=real+estate+broker)
Annual Income: $58,720

Job: Elevator Installers and Repairer (http://aol.careerbuilder.com/PLI/QuickSrchV2.asp?QSKWD=elevator+install+repair)
Annual Income: $58,710

Job: Sales Representative (http://aol.careerbuilder.com/PLI/QuickSrchV2.asp?QSKWD=sales+representative)
Annual Income: $58,580

Job: Dental Hygienist (http://aol.careerbuilder.com/PLI/QuickSrchV2.asp?QSKWD=dental+hygienist)
Annual Income: $58,350

Job: Radiation Therapist (http://aol.careerbuilder.com/PLI/QuickSrchV2.asp?QSKWD=radiation+therapist)
Annual Income: $57,700

Job: Nuclear Medicine Technologist (http://aol.careerbuilder.com/PLI/QuickSrchV2.asp?QSKWD=nuclear+medicine+technologist)
Annual Income: $56,450

Job: Child Support, Missing Persons and Unemployment Insurance Fraud Investigator (http://aol.careerbuilder.com/PLI/QuickSrchV2.asp?QSKWD=fraud+investigator)
Annual Income: $53,900

Job: Criminal Investigators and Special Agent (http://aol.careerbuilder.com/PLI/QuickSrchV2.asp?QSKWD=criminal+investigator)
Annual Income: $53,990

Job: Immigration and Customs Inspector (http://aol.careerbuilder.com/PLI/QuickSrchV2.asp?QSKWD=customs+inspector)
Annual Income: $53,990

Job: Police Detective (http://aol.careerbuilder.com/PLI/QuickSrchV2.asp?QSKWD=police+detective)
Annual Income: $53,990

Job: Police Identification and Records Officer (http://aol.careerbuilder.com/PLI/QuickSrchV2.asp?QSKWD=police+records+officer)
Annual Income: $53,990

Job: Commercial Pilot (http://aol.careerbuilder.com/PLI/QuickSrchV2.asp?QSKWD=commercial+pilot)
Annual Income: $53,870

Job: Talent Director (http://aol.careerbuilder.com/PLI/QuickSrchV2.asp?QSKWD=talent+director)
Annual Income: $52,840


Though a college degree is not a requirement for these positions, all require moderate to extensive on-the-job training or apprenticeship. In addition, Dental Hygienists, Radiation Therapists, Nuclear Medicine Technologists and Commercial Pilots require an associate degree at a vocational or technical school.


Highest-Demand, Competitive-Paying Jobs

Competitive paying jobs for which there is high demand for workers include:




Vocational Education Teachers at the post secondary level, with annual earnings of $40,740 and 216,000 openings each year;

Registered Nurses, with annual earnings of $52,330 and 215,000 openings each year;

Wholesale and Manufacturing Sales Representatives, with annual earnings of $45,400 and 160,000 openings annually; and

Tractor Trailer/Truck Drivers, with annual earnings of $33,520 and 300,000 annual openings.


"The thing to keep in mind is that there are something like 50 million jobs out there that don't require a bachelor's degree and pay upwards of $40,000 a year," says Harlow Unger, author of "But What If I Don't Want to Go to College? A Guide to Success Through Alternative Education."

He goes on to say that according to the U.S. Department of Labor, by 2010, almost two-thirds of all projected job openings will require only on-the-job training.

So while a college degree was de rigueur for the baby boom generation, that's not necessarily the case now. In today's highly technical and service-related market, workers are judged more on their skills than their sheepskins.