Do college degrees matter?

you can have a masters in computer science but when u get called in for an interview they will fire technical questions at u. And if u don't know the material u have little chance of being hired. Studying for Comptia's Network+ and really learning the material will help in the interview. the last place I worked at gave all potential new hires a 40 question networking exam. And all of us on the payroll took the same exam. They gave us some advanced notice and I was one of only a few who really hit the books. Degrees are nice to have but knowing the material is better....

I'd like to think that the guys who designed the bridges I drive over, or designed the plane I fly in went to college...

I'd like to think that the guy who will do an emergency surgery on me went to college...

There are quite a number of things you absolutely NEED to go to college for trust me...

Now do I care when the guy at the fast food place has an English major? NO.

i agree with a lot of people here, once employers see you are in the same financial shit hole as them with the pretty piece of paper they usually agree to higher you over someone who studied only that field and didn't pay 40k for a bunch of random shit in the middle.

I'm certainly not looking for a psychopathic environment. I just want to do something that makes me happy. I'm already poor and used to that. Money isn't a motivator. I got to play that part during my 20s. My biggest hurdle is figuring out what will be fulfilling work.

I have a masters degree in computer science from a Tier 1 University. I barely make 55,000 dollars a year from my regular job and about 10,000 dollars from my freelancing assignments.I do web/mobile software development for a living and its not something you actually have to go to school for let alone get a grad school degree. You can learn it all by yourself by buying a few books or using the free online resources. It's a fucking scam. My Database professor who had a PhD didn't even know what a SQL injection attack is. The reason most of these folks become professors is because they couldn't make it in the real world and that's a fact. They have really easy high paying, comfy jobs if you think about it. Many of them are teaching the same bullshit course year after year using the same book, solving the same problems and giving more or less the same tests. It's a joke. They wasted my time with courses like Theory of computer science, Analysis of Algorithms and Programming languages and while its good to know this stuff, it won't get you job in the real world. Those are not marketable skills in 95% of the jobs in my area.

Let's just say they matter as a way to indoctrinate a lot of people.

Also, way too many people are there that shouldn't be there because of government interference.

At the end of the day the only things that really matter are food, water, shelter, security, and family. A college degree won't help you in the future that awaits us.

Unfortunately, I have to chime in.....I got me a masters degree in accounting...BORING!!, right? Well, about 4 years ago I had to figure out what to do.....I have a B.A. in Business, but they do NOT tell you in college that 90% of the BUSINESS degree jobs out of college are SALES jobs......stupid....they fill you up with management versus labor and how to crack a union........then, when you graduate you are selling insurance, computers, cars, etc......do you know how many sales classes I was offered in my undergrad???? ZERO!!! I toiled around for about a decade with just my B.A. not really enjoying my jobs, because I HATE SALES!!! So, I had to figure shit out.....I did research on what jobs are short qualified people and accounting, CPA jobs are projected to be short on people......As of now, there are more accounting jobs out there than there are qualified people...So, I decided to get me a masters in accounting...I have to say it did get a job with a salary higher than I have ever been paid....No, I'm not rich or getting rich....but, I have a job....graduated in June of 2012 and started new job in August of 2012....No masters, no job...I only qualified for the job because of my degree........So, do college degree's matter?? It all depends on what you want to do....I like numbers and not working outside.....Unfortunately, for us nowadays, a masters is now the bachelors degree of 20 years ago......it sucks.....I have a lot of student debt....but, I have a job...and would not without my degree...in my situation it did matter......I'm pretty sure I'm in the minority.....there are plenty of VERY successful people who did not goto college.....good luck....

Maybe you're correct. Idk. Class=$$$$ Degree not always tied to $$$$, but over averages it kinda is, no?

And fuck working for anyone...

I'm sick of having to work under someone. I'm working for a complete control freak and an asshole at the moment who keeps tracking my browsing history all the time and keeps accusing me of shit that I have not done ("You installed XYZ software", "You logged into XYZ server"). I'm miserable. I would give up all my degrees and savings to live like the Amish do.

Thanks for your input. Diverse points of view = good !

I've been attracted to the Amish way before. But I wouldn't last. I'm too independent minded. Especially regarding religion. If you went that way, you would be expected to submit the sovereignty of your own mind; control over your unique relationship with God.

Ah yes, a college degree. Another arrogant incompetent buffoon who has to be trained in order to be of any use to a company.

At least with the degree, you have proven that you are teachable.

Statistically, a degree means you will earn more. Your best bet is to get it in a field that will be of most use to someone. Hint: Sociology and related studies is not it.

Uh huh. I worked for a complete douche too. Single mom, degree not done, job market in the toilet. And I told that smug, ignorant jew troll to fuck off. I walked. Stress like that will kill you. Get away from that jerk asap.

I don't have a degree. I started as a secretary in a corporation and worked my way up to sr mgmt./6 figures based on skill and ability to play the game. And that's a key point I don't think many understand. The degree is necessary to open a lot of doors, but if you don't have the SOFT SKILLS, you will probably not be able to get hired, let alone thrive in the corporate world.

I did decide to go to college long into my career, and my employer paid for all of it. $40,000 worth of tuition, FREE to me. So that's a good thing to know too...find a job in any company that pays for tuition. It's well worth it to not have that debt hanging over your head.

Another thing...corporations hire people with business degrees that can add and subtract, but these people cannot read and write, so there IS a good selling point for liberal studies majors in the corporate world. If you have the soft skills, you can sell it!

Meh fulfilling work. Building and creating things that outlast you.

College degrees never mattered.

EVER.

University is the way too go. And even then its a waste these day's.

Don't go in debt for it. If you are good enough and have applied yourself you can get scholarships.

If you haven't been serious, don't go in debt to get it, get it a class at a time at your community college.

There is nothing wrong with a degree from a cheaper state school.

A college degree with grades of C is pretty useless. If you are going to go, make A's and B's. You need to stand out and make the most of it. If you graduate with A's you'll do quite well if you have a decent major.

If you major in something like History or Art then you might as well plan on getting your Masters or a Doctorate because those degrees can be pretty worthless unless you have a plan from the start on how to use them.

When you go to college remember that you are there to learn a discipline to spend your life on....not earn scores and graduate.

Yep, these days you need a fucking degree to be a garbage man.

You pay for the credits not the education, so no. Anything you learn in school you can learn just as well out of school. We as humans learn everyday, without the help of the educational system.

Thanks for sharing :) !

Yes

The paper isn't important, it's the education you retain from the classes that are important. So yes, an education is important.

I've learned in life, true. *but* I will say that I did go to community college directly out of high school (I didn't finish, though), and I had an extremely positive influence through my history professor that I feel made me a richer person. I feel like a true beacon of light was transferred to me from him that I don't feel would have happened outside of the academic realm. I've talked with acquaintances that finished college who did not have such an enriching personal experience, so I'm not sure how common this is during an individual's post-highschool academic growth. I am grateful for that.

I don't think I have good soft skills or may be I do but this place is just too demanding. I have a hard time getting along with people at work. They are all overly sociable, loud while I like it keep it strictly professional and don't engage in loose talk which gets me a lot of heat from others. I don't really trust anyone and others probably think I'm just stiff or whatever but its a mental blockade for me. How do you get friendly with people at work ? All of these companies say they are like a 'family' but people don't get fired or fucked over in a family under normal circumstances. To me Boss-employee can never be a relationship based on friendship, that's bullshit. Its a relationship based on fear and servitude.

Yet, the worlds second richest man - with an estimated wealth at $56B, is Bill Gates and guess what? No college degree.

^this. only people who say they don't matter are one of three types:


1) inherited wealth, thus has invalid opinion on all things

2) started own business young, thus has no idea how hard it can be to get a job without a degree because has never experienced that problem

3) retarded

Oh no, so now the masons run the computer industry?



Dude, you're crazy. The computer world is heavily anti-masonic. Thought you would realize by now with all of the 'awakening' the internet is doing. If they run so much, why haven't they blocked it?

Yes, they do.

Perhaps.

I believe of course, he simply proved that degrees are for the sheep. William Henry Gates the 3rd. Sounds a lot like royalty to me.