Worth it Wednesday

Product: College Degree

Initial Thoughts: Of course it’s important! I knew from a young age that I wanted to get a degree. I had a career path I thought I intended on sticking to, but more importantly going off to college was a way for me to escape the small town I lived in. I knew that the world was bigger and I felt the best way to see it was with a degree.

How’s it Going: It depends on how you view everything. While I may not be utilizing my degrees in a professional setting, I am absolutely applying information and skills I learned throughout my daily life in nearly all of my interactions as well as intrapersonally. I am also actively creating fillers for my resumeI was blessed with the opportunity to complete my education without debt through scholarships and my parents off setting the remaining costs. I recognize that this is NOT the majority of folks that attend college. With that being said, counting the costs is something that you have to go in with eyes wide open. Years have changed and so have the prices and because of this I feel that finding alternatives to cut costs is the best solution for most. If you’re able to take college courses while in high school (Please don’t make me talk about the waste of time AP classes are), take as many as you can so that you’re guaranteed to have some hours in place prior to heading off to the collegiate world. Another option is going to a technical school or community college to complete the initial 2 years of core requirements at a cheaper cost and then transferring to the 4 year institution to complete your degree. There are several schools now that are partnered to ensure a seamless transition for students that desire this path. You could also choose to get a degree from 2 year program, begin your career, and allow your workplace to pay for the remainder of your degree. I know this last option isn’t something that everyone can do (especially if you’re in the social services sector), but it’s information that can be used in pursuit of determining what your future academic and professional goals will be. Now that I’m aware of things from a different perspective, I absolutely will encourage my daughters to be practical while pushing hard to reach all of the their goals. 

The other side of this coin is that there are so many people that have degrees that aren’t working in their fields whatsoever. Many of these people are quite successful. My husband is a prime example of this. *I can admit that I encourage my daughters to consider the STEAM side of professions because of earning potential that you don’t have to wait to get a degree to experience. Coding is something you can learn very young and if proficient enough, you could create a side hustle that produces enough income so that you never see the inside of a retail store or fast food restaurant*. Back to what I was saying, while he uses the information from his Economics/business administration degree he is a Sr. Software Engineer. He is paid well for a career that he became proficient in through YouTube, hands on trial and error, and other programs that are designed to teach coding. There was no formal training, but he’s proven himself to be skilled and competent enough that I am able to stay home.

Is it Worth it: Yes, but it’s dependent upon your field. There are some jobs that just don’t require a degree, but certifications in order to advance. However, if you plan on entering most career fields you need some type of formal training and the more specifically defined the more education required. We will always need doctors, nurses, lawyers, teachers, counselors, etc. That means that people will still need the education required to successfully fulfill those roles. I would encourage anyone unsure to do research. The internet is full of resources that can shed light on degrees that are geared toward your various interests and passions. College is so much more than your favorite colors, or the best football team, or even legacy. You have to take a deeper look at what you really want and need for your chosen career path and determine the best school to fulfill those needs. It may not be a popular idea, but neither is paying off student loans for 20-30 years. What are your thoughts on this topic?