Amen on a meaningful degree... And it's true that the big companies look at the quality of school for the specific degree... Example my sister just finished a contract with Google recruiting engineers... They wouldn't even try people who got cs degrees unless it was one of the top schools... No CO schools were above a C grade on their list
Occupation and income - in the real world
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Yea...it's definitely true about them looking at your school's reputation for the degree you obtained; good point, the name alone isn't necessarily what carries all of the weight. I have college friends working in business that struggle to find jobs because my school isn't really known as a business school; they just established a business school in 2007. However...because Johns Hopkins is a pretty ubiquitous name in the medical field, I haven't had to wait more than 2 weeks to get an interview and land a job in the past 6 years with 3 job changes.
If you know what you want to do...then I think narrowing the options and paying the money can make sense...but if you are shopping for a degree based on potential career options, it may be a better choice to save the money up front and spend it on an advanced degree once you have chosen a career path. As many have already mentioned...a BS/BA degree doesn't set you apart much these days.
If you know what you want to do...then I think narrowing the options and paying the money can make sense...but if you are shopping for a degree based on potential career options, it may be a better choice to save the money up front and spend it on an advanced degree once you have chosen a career path. As many have already mentioned...a BS/BA degree doesn't set you apart much these days.
Not true. There were two hires from mines to google the semester I graduated from mines. One EE and one CS. 1 colorado school above their C grade.
Anyone who cannot cope with mathematics is not fully human. At best he is a tolerable subhuman who has learned to wear shoes, bathe and not make messes in the house. -robert heinlein
Anyone who cannot cope with mathematics is not fully human. At best he is a tolerable subhuman who has learned to wear shoes, bathe and not make messes in the house. -robert heinlein
It matters in tech too - I know way more about this than I will ever speak about in public. I would venture to guess that it matters to any company paying people more than 100K in salary, and sometimes even 100K in bennies.
FWIW - the 2 most wealthy people that I know barely graduated from HS. I mean wealth in money, security, happiness and general life. They did know what they wanted and they also knew how to get it. If one of my kids came to me and asked for her college money to go on hold so that she could work at, and later open, a McDonalds to buy/own/manage with that college money, I would shed a tear of joy and never worry again if she would make it. She would have known what she wanted, and by working her way up high enough to buy in, then have gone out and gotten it. People who do this are nearly always successful in all facets of life.
I guess that my point is that self awareness and working hard (including learning/doing new things) is more important than ANYTHING else.
FWIW - the 2 most wealthy people that I know barely graduated from HS. I mean wealth in money, security, happiness and general life. They did know what they wanted and they also knew how to get it. If one of my kids came to me and asked for her college money to go on hold so that she could work at, and later open, a McDonalds to buy/own/manage with that college money, I would shed a tear of joy and never worry again if she would make it. She would have known what she wanted, and by working her way up high enough to buy in, then have gone out and gotten it. People who do this are nearly always successful in all facets of life.
I guess that my point is that self awareness and working hard (including learning/doing new things) is more important than ANYTHING else.
Heres my 2 cents
I have very little college. I run a multitude of DirectBuy franchises along with a co regional operations manager.
My counter part spent many, many years in college, she has like 3 degrees in business and management, yada, yada, yada!! Shes under me and I make more than her and Ive worked here less time than she has.
Schooling helps get your foot in the door, but is not a reflection of the job you can and will do. I always keep this in mind when hiring people.
I have very little college. I run a multitude of DirectBuy franchises along with a co regional operations manager.
My counter part spent many, many years in college, she has like 3 degrees in business and management, yada, yada, yada!! Shes under me and I make more than her and Ive worked here less time than she has.
Schooling helps get your foot in the door, but is not a reflection of the job you can and will do. I always keep this in mind when hiring people.
Don't forget trades; welding, plumbing, CNC machining, etc. I love IT and Consulting. Its always been a hobby, but now own my own business. Wouldn't trade it for the world. If you're sharp you can start making 50-65k a year or 2 after getting a AS from a community college. Really depends how tech oriented you are though. Have to not be afraid to make leaps and bounds and change jobs every year or two. Its always easier to get an extra 5-10k when you start then try and get it in raises. IMO. I feel that to be successful in IT consulting/SMB you have to have passion for it. If not, software engineers, MS Engineer, VMware, storage engineers, etc offer a lot of positions that aren't customer facing. Though those end up being with large companies which I hate working for. Love working in the 10-30 person area.
+1 Our electricians at Xcel make the same per hour as engineers with the same experience, but often make more cause they get paid for overtime.
Anyone who cannot cope with mathematics is not fully human. At best he is a tolerable subhuman who has learned to wear shoes, bathe and not make messes in the house. -robert heinlein
Anyone who cannot cope with mathematics is not fully human. At best he is a tolerable subhuman who has learned to wear shoes, bathe and not make messes in the house. -robert heinlein
Been a Diesel Mechanic for the last 15 years. Didn't go to school for it, learned from my dad and got very lucky that the first Freightliner dealership I worked for was very progressive about schooling. When we moved out here to Denver from Omaha, the jump in wages was very surprising. Went from 26 and hour to 35 and hour. I am now at 37 and flat rate. I average 80 hours every 2 weeks worked but 95-100 hours every 2 weeks paid. I don't know that I would recommend a diesel mech career, its tough work. Tools are expensive. Engines, and trucks are becoming very complicated. Some of the older guys at at where I work are really struggling with the changes. If he did decide to get into a Mechanic trade I would say that Dealerships, whether it be engine or truck would be the best bet. Highest chance of schooling and learning trick and such from the older guys at dealerships.
There's a big need in my field of being a machinist. Since they dropped basic metals and shop type classes in high school, kids don't even know what it is. It seems like every kid I talk to now wants to be a video game designer!?! Most guys at my shop never even went to college and make $25 an hour. When we put an ad in the paper hardly anybody even comes. Guess people don't wanna make stuff anymore. That's what I live for and gives me satifaction at the end of the day...
PS - Whatever you do, don't start studying for a field that is saturated. Look for a occupation that has a need for workers. Then you'll actually find a job!
PS - Whatever you do, don't start studying for a field that is saturated. Look for a occupation that has a need for workers. Then you'll actually find a job!
One question that still needs to be asked is what is your kid interested in and what is he good at? I know in my case, I took to electrical engineering because I was always tinkering with electronics when I was a kid and didnt mind an occasional shock. Then when I got to high school I started building my own circuits and made a working electric guitar in shop class. Since I was good at math, EE was the obvious choice.
Anyone who cannot cope with mathematics is not fully human. At best he is a tolerable subhuman who has learned to wear shoes, bathe and not make messes in the house. -robert heinlein
Anyone who cannot cope with mathematics is not fully human. At best he is a tolerable subhuman who has learned to wear shoes, bathe and not make messes in the house. -robert heinlein
He should find his passion, and find a way to get paid for it. That's the best advice any kid today can get. That, and be flexible, develop multiple skills, and be ready to shift industries and jobs as needed. The days of having the same career for 30 years are done.
I got a bachelors in International Affairs.
I was a stagehand for a few years, made decent money at the time, but it was tough on the body. Not for long term career, but a great job while it lasted. It was my 2nd job (meaning I was working 2 jobs at the same time, not that it was my 2nd job ever), so I might've lasted longer in it if I hadn't been so worn out.
My day job (the one I left to go do stagework) was a career as a defense policy analyst. As a contractor, made more money (40k-70k/yr depending on experience) than my gvmt counterparts. Morphed that into doing international cooperative programs, also for DoD. Once you reach a certain level in that field, it pays to become a gvmt employee so you can move into 6 figure positions.
Currently retired.
I got a bachelors in International Affairs.
I was a stagehand for a few years, made decent money at the time, but it was tough on the body. Not for long term career, but a great job while it lasted. It was my 2nd job (meaning I was working 2 jobs at the same time, not that it was my 2nd job ever), so I might've lasted longer in it if I hadn't been so worn out.
My day job (the one I left to go do stagework) was a career as a defense policy analyst. As a contractor, made more money (40k-70k/yr depending on experience) than my gvmt counterparts. Morphed that into doing international cooperative programs, also for DoD. Once you reach a certain level in that field, it pays to become a gvmt employee so you can move into 6 figure positions.
Currently retired.
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